Mission, Principles and Strategic Objectives

The Independent Schools Council: working with its members to promote and preserve the quality, diversity and excellence of UK independent education both at home and abroad.

ISC's core principles

• The importance of a strong and diverse independent sector, founded on a belief in adding value for the individual child
• The widening of opportunity for children from all backgrounds to achieve their potential
• Access to Higher Education on merit, with each child treated as an individual, and with transparent information on the admissions process
• The widening of opportunity for parents to choose the best education for their child
• Open access to professional development, on equal terms, for teachers in the maintained and independent sectors
• The widening of opportunities for teachers to gain experience in both the maintained and independent sectors, and the removal of barriers to transfer between the sectors
• Co-operation between the maintained and independent sectors to improve outcomes for all children
• The importance of an independent sector participating fully in the national debate on educational issues

ISC strategic objectives 2009-2011

• To promote the independent schools sector through targeted, focused and effective political and public campaigns, in particular developing the ISC's reputation as the independent sector's main interlocutor with the government.
  The independent schools sector needs to speak with a strong unified voice. ISC will coordinate its members' responses to challenges and opportunities, ensuring that messages are put across to government, the media, the public and third sector in the most effective way using the most appropriate means.
• To provide first class services to member associations, schools, parents and pupils, in particular through ISCtip, ISCias and events, and working closely with ISI.
  Services are available to independent schools from a wide range of sources, in particular from commercial organisations. ISC, coordinating with the member associations can offer more targeted services offering better value for money.
• To conduct high quality and timely research, underpinning the public affairs and press output of ISC.
  Evidence-based policy advice is only as good as the evidence that supports it. ISC will continue to improve the quality of its headline research products, such as annual surveys, and conduct targeted research aimed at specific time-bound issues.
• To produce high quality events aimed at promoting the independent sector to external stakeholders, politicians, the media and public.
  Large, headline events, such as the Annual Conference, will be structured to maximise their external impact while maintaining the support of internal stakeholders and sponsors.
• To manage resources effectively, through realistic, balanced budgets, accurate accounting and expenditure control, and best practice HR policies.
  ISC Senior Management is committed to the highest standards of human and financial resource management. They will submit timely, transparent Programmes of Work and Budget to the Board for approval and will account to the Board for all expenditure via regular reports and accounts.