ISC Census 2009: Pupil numbers have risen again

Read the ISC Annual Census 2009

ISC schools ethnic diversity

This year, for the first time, ISC introduced a compulsory question on ethnicity, which revealed that 78.36% of ISC's UK students are from a White British background and no less than 20.73% are from a Minority Ethnic background. The equivalent percentage shares for maintained schools in 2007 were 85.00% and 14.02% respectively (the most recent data currently available). For day schools only, the percentage share of pupils from a Minority Ethnic background is 24.4%, with the percentage share of pupils from a White British background making up just under 75% - indicating that ISC schools' share of Minority Ethnic students is not driven by students from overseas, who tend to be boarders.

Increased entrance to Higher Education

93.0% of post A-level leavers went onto Higher Education in 2008, slightly up from 92.9% in 2007. This confirms the excellent A-level results achieved by ISC pupils - last summer 50.7% of A-level entries from ISC pupils were awarded grade A (A-level exam results from 468 ISC schools).

Speaking today as the census was launched, David Lyscom, ISC Chief Executive, said:

"ISC schools are a UK success story and we are proud of their achievements. Our Annual Census gives clear evidence that pupil numbers are holding up in 2009 despite the economic gloom. Heads tell us that parent interest in places for next year remains high. The reasons are clear. According to the OECD PISA study our schools offer the best education globally, and we attract increasing numbers from overseas.

"Our students achieve outstanding results at GCSE, A-level and in the IB, and then move on successfully to higher education. The education offered is broad, taking in many extra-curricular activities. There is a multitude of partnerships with maintained schools, and the backgrounds of our students are more diverse than in the maintained sector - the opposite of the traditional picture portrayed by our critics. In short we are producing exactly the sort of well-rounded, well-educated adults that the UK requires if we are to maintain our competitiveness into the future."

Ends

Notes to editors:

ISC Census ISC's Census is the most comprehensive source of statistical information on accredited independent schools in the UK.

PISA The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a triennial world-wide test of 15-year-old school children's scholastic performance, the implementation of which is coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The aim of the PISA study is to test and compare schoolchildren's performance across the world, with a view to improving educational methods and outcomes.

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 1,265 schools in the UK and select British schools overseas. In total, there are around 2,600 independent schools in the UK.

Read the ISC Annual Census 2009