ISC Chief Executive writes to the Observer

18 January 2010

ISC Chief Executive David Lyscom has written to the Observer in response to a comment piece by Will Hutton titled 'Of course class matters - it influences everything we do.' See David's letter below:

Sir

Will Hutton's comment piece last weekend was wide of the mark (comment, Sunday 10 January). Firstly, recent research by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) undermines the assertion in Alan Milburn's social mobility report that, despite only 7% of children being privately educated, 75% of judges, 70% of finance directors, 45% of top civil servants and 32% of MPs were independently schooled. The ISC research found that in fact 14% of British adults have experienced an independent education at some point in their lives - twice the figure quoted by Mr Milburn and re-stated by  your columnist. Mr Hutton then made the mistake of putting all independent sector parents together as belonging to one single, homogeneous body. There are children attending our schools from a huge variety of backgrounds with parents in many cases from the lowest income backgrounds. Last year over 30% of ISC pupils received financial support from their school, and the total paid out in means-tested bursaries was over £200 million. Different ISC schools charge a large range of fees, from under £5,000 to around £30,000, and so not all come from the stereotypical background that portrays independent schools as bastions of the privileged rich. Indeed in many cases extended families - especially in some ethnic minority groups - club together to pay fees.  So it is not only well-off parents who send their children to our schools, and school type should not be used as a proxy for social class.

David Lyscom, Chief Executive, ISC