The Independent Schools Council is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation representing 1,270 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children. It exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, developing talent at all levels of ability and from all backgrounds.

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ISC sends letter to the Financial Times

4 August 2008

The Independent Schools Council has sent a letter to the Financial Times following the FT's 'Private schools hit by fall in pupils article.'

Letter to the Financial Times

Sir,

Private schools haven't suffered a fall in pupil numbers as you report (Private schools hit by fall in pupils, August 2/3). Quite the opposite. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) Annual Census 2008 showed pupil numbers up by over 2,500; on a like-for-like basis this represents a 0.8% increase on 2007, the highest growth rate since 2003. Your report refers to an unnamed government database dating from January 2007 and research not publicly available from the Good Schools Guide. By contrast, the ISC Census is the authoritative source of information on independent schools in the UK, based on data from all 1,271 ISC schools and publicly available on our website.

Matthew Burgess

Acting Chief Executive, ISC