ISC response to Fabian Society YouGov poll

24 September 2007

Responding to the Fabian Society poll, conducted by YouGov, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), Jonathan Shephard, says: "This survey is out of line with all previous research on public attitudes to independent education, including very recent research from YouGov itself."

Previous research shows a high and increasing desire for independent education. Only this month, another YouGov poll, commissioned by Reader's Digest, shows that 59% of parents would send their children to independent schools if they had the money. When the same Reader's Digest survey was carried out 20 years ago this figure was 48%.

A MORI survey conducted in 2004, commissioned by the Sutton Trust, shows that half the parents in the country would be likely to send their children to independent schools if they could afford to do so.

In a study last year, ISC analysed 345,000 pupils' home postcodes. The analysis clearly indicated that nearly 25% of them are from postcodes where income levels are at or below the national average. Of these 10,000 live in areas described as ‘hard-pressed'. It is likely that most of the pupils within these groups receive considerable financial support from their schools or other charitable organisations. Nearly one third of ISC pupils receive some kind of help with their fees.

The reality is that, for many children from modest backgrounds, independent schools represent a ladder of opportunity that is not available elsewhere.

Press enquiries: Alexandra Caish, Head of Press, ISC
Telephone: (office) 020 7766 7060 (mobile) 0788 5620713
Email: alex.caish@isc.co.uk