THE VALUE OF
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
2021
The ISC brings together seven associations and
four affiliate associations to represent almost 1,400
independent schools. These schools educate more than
half-a-million children. Around half of UK independent
schools are ISC schools, educating around 80% of all
independent school children.
Supporting education for all
Every child deserves an excellent
education and a good start in life.
Independent schools share this vision. The
sector is a small part of the school system -
educating approximately 7% of children -
yet independent schools make a valuable
contribution to our nation’s education by
providing excellence, extra capacity, and
innovation.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,
independent schools have been part of
the national fightback against the virus.
They stepped up in March 2020, along
with state schools, to ensure that learning
carried on at home, and stayed open to
protect the vulnerable and the children of
key workers.
Now, independent schools are supporting
the recovery. Schools are working in
partnership to help disadvantaged pupils,
recover lost learning, and share expertise
to benefit all children. The sector is keen to
work with government and political
parties to further help young people. We
want to develop education policies that
support the widest range of children
across the country, help raise educational
standards for all children, and support
those who have fallen behind during the
pandemic.
Independent schools are aware of their
social responsibility. Our 2020 Census
showed 85% of ISC member schools
already have partnership relationships
with their state-maintained colleagues –
meaning there were
more than 11,700
partnership projects
between independent
schools, state schools, and community
groups. These include the sharing of
sports facilities, joint lessons in arts and
drama, teaching A-level subjects which
would not otherwise be offered, and
support for university applications.
COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible
to deliver face-to-face partnership
activities. While some schemes moved
online, schools also re-focused on how
they could support their communities
during the pandemic. As we move into the
new academic year, schools are keen to
resume regular partnership activities as
soon as possible.
We invite everyone to find out more about
our schools and the role they play in local
communities. The Schools Together
website
(https://www.schoolstogether.org/)
provides thousands of examples of the
work independent schools are doing.
Independent schools are playing a positive
role, and they want to do more. By
working together with our state partners,
independent schools can make the most
of our combined capacity and specialisms
for as many young people as possible.
Julie Robinson
ISC chief executive
Supporting the fight against COVID-19
Independent schools have been
playing their part in the national
response since the start of the
pandemic. They have supported their
local communities, working together
with state schools and critical services
to continue education, protect
children, and limit infections:
• More than 10,000 beds in boarding
schools were offered to NHS workers
who needed accommodation near to
their work, and away from family
members to reduce the chance of
passing on infections.
• Independent schools donated their PPE
from science and design labs, and in
some cases used their resources to
manufacture additional PPE for local
NHS and care services. Approximately
425,000 pieces of PPE were donated by
independent schools in the first six
months of 2020.
• Schools shared online resources to
enable state and independent schools
to continue learning remotely. This
included teaching material and
curriculum resources, as well as
guidance on safeguarding and
resilience during home learning.
Now they are using their partnership
relationships – and forging new ones – to
tackle learning loss, support
disadvantaged pupils, and bridge the
digital divide:
• Schools have been donating laptops
and digital devices to partner schools
and fundraising to buy more for local
schools in need. For example, ACS
International Schools donated 300
brand-new laptops to 20 partner state
primary schools in and around Cobham
to support local children who do not
have access to technology at home.
• Summer schools have been run
between partner schools – focused on
those in exam years, or students who
have joined sixth forms during the
pandemic.
• Schools have also made online
resources available to all state schools,
whether local or across the country.
More than 1,000 state schools have
signed up to EtonX, granting 420,000
secondary school students access to
online resources on leadership skills
and university preparation.
At the same time teachers and senior
leaders in the independent sector have
been affected by the work and emotional
strain of keeping schools running during
the pandemic, while schools themselves
have faced financial challenges. Financial
pressures while maintaining physical
teaching and online provision has put a
squeeze on many schools – with a
number having closed since the onset of
the pandemic.
About independent schools
Parents who choose independent
schools do so because they believe it
is best for their child. The money
spent on fees comes from taxed
income – with many families
stretching resources to support their
children in this way.
We know that parents strongly value
school choice – and the ability to access
independent schools. As the UN
Declaration of Human Rights states:
“Parents have a prior right to choose the
kind of education that shall be given to
their children.”
Assumptions about independent schools
are often based on stereotypes that mask
the true diversity of a sector that
encompasses a wide range of schools
and approaches. Parents might choose
independent education for some or all of
their child’s education, or in order to meet
particular needs. Independent schools
offer specialisms in SEND, single-sex
education, music, drama, dance or
boarding, which are not always available
in state-funded schools.
ISC schools vary significantly in size from
fewer than 20 pupils to over 2,400,
although half of all schools have fewer
than 300 pupils. In reality, many
independent schools are small and not as
wealthy as people may imagine. Fewer
than 90 schools (or 6% of ISC members)
have more than 1,000 pupils.
Data from our annual school Census also
show that:
• Selection: More than half of our
schools are not selective.
• SEND: 17% of pupils at our schools
have SEND.
• Diversity: A third of pupils at ISC
schools are from ethnic minority
backgrounds – about the same
proportion as in the state sector.
• New pupils: Over a quarter of new
pupils to ISC schools joined from the
state-funded sector.
The impact of independent schools
on the UK economy
2,444 schools
618,603 pupils
1,317 schools
524,879 pupils
£11.6 bn
Demand-side
support for
annual GDP
£3.0 bn
Savings to
taxpayer
£13.7 bn
£3.5 bn
£62 bn
Supply-side
boost to annual GDP
£73 bn
£1.8 bn
GDP supported by
non-British students
Wider contribution to
publicly funded education
system and society
£3.5 bn
Annual
tax
£4.1 bn
302,910
All independent schools
ISC schools
257,020
Jobs
Oxford Economics 2018
The ISC annual Census was carried
out in January 2021. All 1,377
schools in UK membership of the
constituent associations completed
the survey. The Census covers
532,237 pupils and provides a
detailed snapshot of the schools
and of the wider social and
economic trends in the UK.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Pupils for every teacher on average
at ISC schools. There is a total of
57,136 full-time equivalent teachers.
8.9
Et
Our
tha
with
Higher Education
The majority of pupils who leave ISC schools
go on to Higher Education. 54%, continue to
a Top 25 university including 5% who go
on to study at Oxbridge.
91%
SEND
Pupils at ISC schools who have been
identifed as having special educational
needs and/or a disability (SEND).
90,298
Academic Selection
Over half of ISC schools are not academically
selective. A further 274 schools have academic
selection only for some age groups.
726
Over
Pupils in
live over
all pupils and
to our sc
24,
School Size
The majority of ISC schools have f
than 300 pupils. The mean ISC sch
size is 387.
300
2021
School Size
The majority of ISC schools have fewer
than 300 pupils. The mean ISC school
size is 387.
300
Visit www.isc.co.uk for more details
thnic Diversity
r ethnic diversity closely mirrors
t of the general population,
h similar regional variation.
5%
The third highest level
since records began in 1974.
Pupils
532,237
Means-tested Assistance
Provided in means-tested fee assistance for pupils at
ISC schools. Nearly half of all pupils on means-tested
bursaries have more than half of their fees remitted.
£455m
Over a quarter of new pupils
to ISC schools joined from
the state sector.
New Pupils
104,827
Charitable Work
Was raised for charities at ISC
schools and 828 schools organised
volunteering opportunities for
staf and/or pupils.
£10.5m
rseas Pupils
n ISC schools whose parents
rseas. This represents 4.6% of
s and brings cultural diversity
chools.
,674
fewer
hool
Ethnic Diversity
Our ethnic diversity closely mirrors
that of the general population,
with similar regional variation.
35%
Overseas Pupils
Pupils in ISC schools whose parents
live overseas. This represents 4.6% of
all pupils and brings cultural diversity
to our schools.
24,674
Delivering value to society
Independent schools recognise their
social duties. Through widening
access, and partnerships with
colleagues in the state sector, they
make a significant contribution to the
whole education system, and to their
local communities.
Just over half of all independent schools
are charities that advance education. Like
all charities, these schools are regulated by
the Charity Commission and must report
on public benefit in their trustees’ annual
report.
Independent schools primarily provide
public benefit through partnerships with
state schools or by offering bursaries, and
this extends beyond those schools who
are registered charities. In 2020, 85% of
ISC schools were involved in partnership
work, while only 73% of ISC schools were
registered charities.
Partnerships
Schools of all sizes are working together in
partnership – showing that together they
can achieve more and bring educational
experiences to a greater number of
children.
Educational partnerships between
independent and state schools are an
important aspect of school life, benefiting
both schools and local communities. In
January 2020, before COVID restricted
activities, ISC schools were involved in
11,700 partnership projects including
subject support in maths, science, and
modern foreign languages; teacher
training; and careers and higher education
advice and support.
Larger independent schools have forged
partnerships through the sponsorship and
co-sponsorship of schools as part of the
Government’s academies and free schools
programme. Schools such as the London
Academies of Excellence in Tottenham and
Stratford rely on independent school
sponsorship and achieve high rates of
Oxbridge entry.
When the COVID pandemic struck,
independent schools joined their local
communities to help the vulnerable and
support our frontline services. These
efforts included:
• 639 schools donating to their local
foodbanks, becoming collection
centres, or having staff and students act
as volunteer deliverers
• 477 schools donating PPE from their
food, science, and technology
departments to local NHS trusts and
key workers
• 360 schools using their own facilities to
manufacture additional PPE.
The relationships between staff and pupils
across the school system provide a strong
base on which to build recovery.
Independent schools can provide
academic support and opportunities for
enrichment in areas such as sport, music
and drama. Furthermore, with schools
increasingly using remote technology,
there is the potential for partnerships to
reach across larger distances and into
communities where needs are greatest.
The sector is keen to do more and has
signed a Joint Understanding with the
Department for Education to grow state-
independent school partnerships to
“support the raising of educational
standards in state schools”. The ISC
publishes an annual report on
partnership working.
“We have achieved a great deal as a result of
the ability to create our own way of working
together, helping to improve the outcomes
of students at both schools.”
Mark Avoth,
principal at The Bourne Academy
Widening access
Independent schools are working to
widen access through bursary provision
and recognise the benefits this brings
both to bursary pupils and the wider
school community. Our latest data shows:
• ISC schools currently provide £455m
in means tested bursaries and
scholarships – a 3.4% increase on last
year.
• One in 12 pupils at ISC schools is on a
means-tested bursary or scholarship.
Schools seek to do more whenever
possible - but most schools do not
have large endowments and must
fundraise to provide bursaries.
• Royal SpringBoard has worked with
over 120 independent schools in the
last five years to secure fully-funded
bursary placements for more than 800
looked-after children, children on the
edge of care, and children from areas
of socio-economic deprivation. The
charity is working with a number of
local authorities to significantly expand
the opportunities available for looked-
after children and children identified
by their local authorities as being in
need to attend boarding and
independent day schools.
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Value in £m
1 Trends are only shown from 2011 onwards due to
changes in methods of data collection relating to fee
assistance. Note, due to the change in methodology
we should be cautious about drawing too many
conclusions in trend data between 2015 and 2016.
Means-tested bursaries
and scholarships
Non-means-tested
scholarships
Trends in means-tested bursaries and scholarships versus non-means-tested
scholarships at ISC schools (2011-2021)1
1 Trends are only shown from 2011 onwards due to
changes in methods of data collection relating to fee
assistance. Note, due to the change in methodology we
should be cautious about drawing too many
conclusions in trend data between 2015 and 2016.
Benefits of independent schools
Independent schools make an
important and positive contribution
to the education system, their local
communities, and national
productivity. In particular:
Specialist SEND provision
ISC schools educate more than 90,000
pupils recorded as having SEND,
representing 17% of all pupils at ISC
schools. The high proportion of pupils
with SEND in the independent sector
reflects the existence of a number of
specialised schools, dedicated to giving
education and care to children with
serious and complex SEND requirements.
These schools provide extremely
important additional capacity for local
authority care systems. This specialised
provision offered by some independent
schools also allows them to contribute to
research in the UK and internationally.
Independent schools also provide a
supportive, nurturing environment for
pupils with less severe needs, either
through mainstream or specially
designed curricula. The independence
these schools have allows them to
personalise learning and build
assessments around pupils’ individual skill
sets.
Boosting global competitiveness
Independent schools also provide
excellence in subjects vital to global
competitiveness. Advanced maths and
science study is key for technological
innovation and countering climate
change. While as global influence shifts,
modern foreign languages will be vital for
trade and international co-operation.
In the last year exams were taken (2019),
independent schools accounted for:
• Almost 30% of entries for A-levels in
French and Spanish.
• 30% of further maths A-level entries.
• 21% of physics A-level entries.
An international asset
The strong global reputation of British
education attracts overseas companies
and international students to the UK.
These students bring a global perspective
to our schools, enrich the community,
and are a vital pipeline to British
universities.
Independent schools are proud of the
role they are playing in meeting the
ambitions of the Government’s
International Education Strategy and the
“Learning a foreign language can greatly benefit young
people by introducing them to new cultures and
dramatically expanding their horizon”.
Confederation of British Industry
(CBI/Pearson Skills Survey 2019)