Regional Advice in Wales

Welsh Independent Schools Council (WISC)

Hazelhurst
Ledbury Road
Dymock
Gloucestershire
GL18 2AG

The Welsh Independent Schools' Council (WISC) acts as a consultative and advisory body for Independent Schools in Wales and became fully operational in September 2004.

The key functions of the Council include:

• Communicating and negotiating with the Welsh Assembly Government, members of the Welsh Assembly (AM's) - and, when necessary, with Welsh members of the Westminster Parliament (MP's), the Welsh Inspectorate of Education (Estyn) and public and private bodies on behalf of the independent sector.
• Advising member schools and their governing bodies on educational developments and on legislation affecting independent schools.
• Organising training for head teachers and their staff where appropriate.
• Providing information for parents, the general public, the media and other interested bodies.

All schools in membership are fully registered with the Registrar of Independent Schools in Wales and are subject to inspection by the Welsh Education Inspectorate - ESTYN and, where appropriate, the Care Standards Inspectorate Wales (CSIW). Care standards in boarding schools and in pre schools are monitored by CSIW who will also have responsibilities, under proposed guidelines, for pre and after school care and holiday clubs.  A number of Special Schools, covering the whole range of needs, are also members of WISC.

The system of education in Welsh Independent Schools is broadly similar to that offered by Independent Schools in England. GCSE and A level examinations are the normal examinations taken at 16 and 18 although an increasing number of schools are now taking International GCSE's in some subjects at 16 while others offer the International Baccalaureate at 18.