ISC CEO: 'Independent schools have so much excellent and sector-leading work to offer'
Speaking to Kate McCann on Times Radio about the impact of school closures, ISC CEO Julie Robinson highlighted the valuable contributions of independent schools to their wider communities.
Ms Robinson said: "We expect to see more closures over the next months and years with the effects of VAT and other tax measures growing as a leading cause. Some schools will be absolutely fine, but schools we’re very worried about are the ones who are closing.
"Quite often in the past it’s been really, really small schools with just a few people – single figures of pupils – but that’s not the case for most of the schools that are in the list of closures published in The Times today. So we’re seeing the types of schools disappearing across a broader range now.
"I know that people tend to focus on these negative stories rather than the real lasting good that independent schools can do in their local area, so we need to shine a light on what’s at risk here. It’s more than just a number of schools, it’s places for pupils, it’s jobs in local communities – many of our schools are the largest employer in their local area – all the vital and valued partnership work that these schools do with neighbouring state schools and community groups, and bursary provision to widen access.
"I know heads really want to protect all of those things, and in some cases heads are confident they can maintain – and even extend – their work in that area, but there are heads facing really tough choices. I’d like to see a focus on the good things that schools are doing so people can understand what’s at stake here for communities.
"There’s a combination of factors contributing to school closures; it is complicated, it’s very nuanced. But remember, the typical independent school has just a couple of hundred pupils, and it’s primary phase, so for many of these schools it’s VAT that has proven the bridge too far.
"Independent schools have so much excellent and sector-leading work to offer in areas that the government are actively looking to carry out reforms in – oracy, AI, mental health. Many of our schools are also looking at what exams and assessment could look like beyond GCSEs and A levels, so we want to share this knowledge with the government and work with them on their aims for education."