ISC Chief Executive writes to the Guardian

25 January 2010

Dear Sir

It must be that time of year again when local authorities realise that they have not planned adequately for next year's pupil numbers and lobby central government for more money (State primary schools face biggest influx of pupils in a decade, 25 January). As usual they try to pin part of the blame for a rise in demand for places on parents leaving the independent sector. But, as last year, they have provided no evidence. ISC pupil numbers were up in our 2009 census. We are in the middle of conducting our census for 2010. But surveys by our Associations and anecdotal evidence from Heads suggest that numbers are holding up, there is no mass exodus of children into the maintained sector, and parental interest in open days and prospectuses is as high as ever. 

Yours

David Lyscom
Chief Executive, Independent Schools Council