ISC CEO: Pupil exodus from independent schools 'worse than the government predicted'

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Ms Robinson highlighted findings from a survey of 1,150 schools conducted by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which revealed a decline of 16,696 students in the year to last month. This marks a 3.6 per cent drop, the largest since records began in 1982. The survey reported a 4.5 per cent decrease at girls’ schools, 3.6 per cent at co-educational schools, and 2.7 per cent at boys’ schools. Ms Robinson told the paper: "The data indicates that numbers are worse than the government predicted and budgeted for, and there will also be increased pressure on state schools as a result."

Warning that the imposition of VAT had failed to take into consideration the impact on children attending independent schools, she added: "The government represents 100 per cent of children, it should be working for all the children across the country.

"If the health secretary came out tomorrow and said he’s only interested in 94 per cent of hospital patients, there would be uproar. So the fact that 6 per cent of the nation’s families [who attend independent school] seem to be set aside in some way by the secretary of state just seems wrong because the government should represent everyone."

Ms Robinson called for more collaboration between the government and the independent sector so they could share knowledge and resources for "100 per cent of children".

She concluded: "Independent schools have the freedom to innovate, they can experiment, they can test out different things, develop new teacher training. Rather than get hung up about school type, think of it as one whole education [system] where we’re all working together for all children. We’re an educational resource."