The 2017 ISC census has revealed that cross-sector partnerships continue to prove hugely popular and successful. Ten thousand different partnerships now exist with state schools, a figure which is 7.5% higher than last year. The types of partnerships vary from academy sponsorship to seconding teaching staff and from serving as governors in state schools – and sharing facilities – to partnering for activities and projects. The census also shows:
- There are now a record 522,879 pupils at 1,301 ISC member schools – the highest number since records began in 1974.
- 16% of pupils aged 17 and over in England go to ISC schools.
- £900m was provided in fee assistance for pupils at ISC schools, an increase of 4.9% compared to last year.
- Average fee increases this year were 3.5%, in line with last year and the lowest since 1994.
- ISC schools are equally divided between those who use academic selection and those who do not.
- 32% of ISC pupils are from a minority ethnic background.
- ISC pupils, on average, spend 4-5 hours a week engaged in sporting activities. This compares to less than 2 hours a week nationally. ISC pupils spend, on average, 1-2 hours a week in performing arts activities.
- 91% of all ISC pupils went on to higher education, with 55% going on to a Russell Group university.
- Between £10m and £15m was raised for charities at ISC schools this year and 851 ISC schools organise volunteering opportunities for their staff and/or pupils.
Completed by all schools in ISC membership for the last 43 years, the ISC’s census provides a picture of where independent schools sit within the UK’s education landscape and is regarded by government, policymakers and opinion formers as the authoritative source of such data.
Julie Robinson, general secretary of the ISC, said: “The role independent schools play in our diverse educational landscape should not be underestimated. They are not only supporting the development of academically successful, conscientious and confident young people, they are also providing a huge number of learning and sporting opportunities through partnerships with state schools.
“Many people do not realise that 88% of our schools have a partnership with a state school, a statistic made even more noteworthy considering the average size of school is only 400 pupils and 77% of our schools are charities.
“What is so important about every single partnership is that they are undertaken as voluntary agreements between independent and state schools. This is what makes them so successful and we look forward to extending this work going forward. Forcing partnerships which are not agreed by both parties would clearly be counter-productive.”