Independence, Independence, Independence: ISC launches Manifesto
16 March 2010
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has today launched its Manifesto in anticipation of the forthcoming General Election. The Manifesto, which is being sent to the government and main political parties, starts from the view that the key factors that determine the outstanding quality of education in our schools are their freedoms to:
determine the curriculum and examinations to suit the needs of pupils
develop important “soft” skills through extensive extra-curricular programmes
adopt diverse teaching styles and promote a range of learning methods
determine admissions criteria and exclude pupils who are disruptive to the learning of others or who break school rules
determine pay and conditions for staff
manage revenues and expenditure
We are concerned that these freedoms are being gradually undermined, and believe that this process needs to be reversed by the next government.
The Manifesto includes the following demands:
The government should recognise the quality and diversity of education in ISC schools and their contribution to UK society and the economy
Policies that undermine schools’ independence should be reversed
A single, risk-based regulatory framework to protect the individual child in ISC schools should replace the current contradictory thicket of regulation
Inspection of ISC schools under a new, single regulatory regime should be carried out by one inspectorate that understands independent education
Inspection of both the education and welfare of ISC schools should be aimed at improving standards in real situations and not focused on process
The Charity Commission should stop acting illegally and listen to the views of charity experts who believe that the Commission has exceeded its powers in relation to interpreting and enforcing a “public benefit test” for charitable ISC schools
The government should help the independent sector to pursue mutually beneficial partnerships across the sectors
The government should abolish measures that restrict the choice of curriculum
There should be a genuinely independent supervisory body to improve the standard of marking and reliability of tests and examinations
The government should cease pursuing policies that treat attendance at ISC schools as a proxy for undeserved educational or social privilege that requires positive discrimination in either university or selective state school admissions.
Speaking today, ISC Chairman, Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, said:
“For the first time, ISC has set out its concerns in a single document, and we hope the Manifesto gives a clear message to all three political parties as the General Election approaches. Sadly many of the same failures apparent when Labour came to power in 1997 are still present. The independent schools sector takes no comfort from this; indeed we welcomed New Labour’s vision of a first-class education for all. But the freedoms and advantages that independence can bring are being undermined, and many of the benefits lost. This is ironic, because all three major parties are proposing increasing the number of maintained schools that are “independent” of local or central government control.
We do not ask the next government for special favours, simply that we should be allowed to get on with what we do best – providing children with a world-class education, free from unnecessary interference. The reason for our success can be summed up in those three words: independence, independence, independence. This is a call to the government, present and future, to take note.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
ISC Mission Statement
The Independent Schools Council (ISC): working with its members to promote and preserve the quality, diversity and excellence of UK independent education both at home and abroad.
Additional information
ISC represents the eight leading independent schools associations in the UK, collectively educating more than 500,000 children in 1,260 schools in the UK and select British schools overseas. In total, there are around 2,600 independent schools in the UK.
ISC Annual Conference 2010
If you would like a copy of the Manifesto or Dame Judith’s speech, the conference agenda or any other information, please contact Alexandra Beynon (mobile) 07825 806017, (email)alex.beynon@isc.co.uk.