ISC welcome for government's invitation

10 February 2003

The Government's invitation to independent schools to participate in the Leading Edge School programme, announced today, is welcomed by the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

The ISC, representing nearly 1,280 accredited schools educating more than half a million children, said in a statement that the inclusion of independent schools in the funding arrangements was an acknowledgement of the success of partnership schemes which have linked independent and state schools in initiatives to raise standards.

The ISC said:

"The idea of partnership between the two sectors is now firmly established. The successful DfES independent-state schools partnership programme, established in 1997, built on what was already being done by many schools which had formed links with maintained schools in many parts of the country.

"The acknowledgement that independent schools can take the initiative in joint projects of this kind, and that the Department should support them financially, is very welcome. It recognises the excellence of ISC schools and offers the possibility of imaginative and productive links between them and their maintained neighbours.

"It will also help to address the concerns of many within the independent sector that the Government was unwilling to augment its financial commitment to partnership."

The Independent Schools Council represents all schools in membership of the major governors', heads' and bursars' associations.