ISC Chief Executive writes to the Times

10 February 2010

Sir

Matthew Syed's piece in Times2 on 10th February lamenting the lack of maintained school pupils in the Olympics has the wrong target in sight. Success in sport is not about parental income or class, it is about opportunity. Pupils at independent schools have the opportunity to take up sports to a high standard because their schools regard sport as an essential part of a broader education, and because they devote scarce resources to providing the facilities needed. Is that the fault of the independent schools, or does it say something about the lower priority afforded to sport in the maintained sector?

Mr Syed also overlooks two other important factors. The first is that many independent schools share their facilities, and indeed coaching resources, with local communities and maintained schools. The second is that many independent schools use scholarships to give talented children from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to attend their schools and pursue their sporting dreams.

Yours

David Lyscom
Chief Executive, Independent Schools Council