ISC CEO: 'A third of students at ISC schools receive some form of fee assistance'
Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, has responded to a new report exploring the distribution of bursaries at independent schools.
Almost a third of independent school bursaries and scholarships were awarded to children from wealthier families, according to research from University College London (UCL). The study, which analysed 25 years of UK household finance data, found that 30 per cent of grants were given to high-income households, 18 per cent to middle-income families, and 17 per cent to lower-income households. However, the sums received by better-off pupils were smaller than those given to middle and lower-income families; on average, middle-income families received the most money per pupil, while those from the highest-income families received the least.
ISC CEO Julie Robinson said: "A third of students at ISC schools receive some form of fee assistance, ensuring children from a range of backgrounds are able to experience independent education.
"In recent years, there has been a focus on shifting to means-tested bursaries, helping those from a disadvantaged background, and families in the squeezed middle attend a school that otherwise may not be accessible for them."