Independent Schools Council
Encyclopedia
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a non-profit organisation that represents 1,234 schools in the United Kingdom
's independent
education sector. The organisation comprises eight independent school associations and promotes the common interests of its member schools in the political arena, which includes the Department for Education
.
Schools that are members of the associations that constitute ISC are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
(ISI). Since December 2003, ISI has been the body approved by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for the inspection of ISC schools and reports to the DfE under the 2002 Education Act. ISI was part of ISC until, in late 2007, the ISI became its own limited company, thereby separating itself from ISC.
The current chairman of ISC is Barnaby Lenon
.
ISC’s operations are supervised by a Board of Directors on which all eight associations are represented.
Inspection of member schools is undertaken, under a formal agreement with the DfE and the Office for Standards in Education
(Ofsted), by the ISI. Professionally independent, the management of ISI is overseen by a committee on which the constituent associations are all represented. ISI inspections, undertaken on a six-year cycle, are reported publicly and are monitored by Ofsted.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's independent
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
education sector. The organisation comprises eight independent school associations and promotes the common interests of its member schools in the political arena, which includes the Department for Education
Department for Education
The Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
.
History
The ISC was first established (then as the Independent Schools Joint Council) in 1974 by the leaders of the associations that make up the independent schools. In 1998, it reconstituted as the Independent Schools Council.Schools that are members of the associations that constitute ISC are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
Independent Schools Inspectorate
The Independent Schools Inspectorate is an organisation responsible for the inspection of independent schools in England which are affiliated to the Independent Schools Council . The Inspectorate is a separate company, owned by the Independent Schools Council and has its work monitored by the...
(ISI). Since December 2003, ISI has been the body approved by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for the inspection of ISC schools and reports to the DfE under the 2002 Education Act. ISI was part of ISC until, in late 2007, the ISI became its own limited company, thereby separating itself from ISC.
The current chairman of ISC is Barnaby Lenon
Barnaby Lenon
Barnaby Lenon is a British schoolmaster who is the former Head Master of Harrow School in Harrow in north-west London. He taught geography, Religious Studies, history of art and Critical Thinking, and was also master in charge of croquet. He retired in August 2011. He is Chairman of the...
.
Operation
In addition to their political activity, the ISC issues regular guidance and information to member schools on a wide variety of political, legal educational, and practical issues. It also takes responsibility for the induction and recruitment of teaching staff.ISC’s operations are supervised by a Board of Directors on which all eight associations are represented.
Inspection of member schools is undertaken, under a formal agreement with the DfE and the Office for Standards in Education
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
(Ofsted), by the ISI. Professionally independent, the management of ISI is overseen by a committee on which the constituent associations are all represented. ISI inspections, undertaken on a six-year cycle, are reported publicly and are monitored by Ofsted.
Constituent associations
- Girls' Schools AssociationGirls' Schools AssociationThe Girls' Schools Association is the professional association of the heads of independent girls' schools in the UK and overseas and is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council .-History:...
(GSA) – the main association to which heads of girls' senior independent schools belong.
- Headmasters' and Headmistresses' ConferenceHeadmasters' and Headmistresses' ConferenceThe Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
(HMC) – represents the heads of over 240 boys' and co-educational independent senior schools.
- Independent Association of Preparatory SchoolsIndependent Association of Preparatory SchoolsThe Independent Association of Preparatory Schools is a professional association for headteachers of independent preparatory schools in the UK and worldwide. The association is based in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, England...
(IAPS) – represents the heads of more than 500 boys', girls' and mixed preparatory schoolsPreparatory school (UK)In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
for children aged usually from 7/8 to 11/13.
- Independent Schools AssociationIndependent Schools Association (UK)The Independent Schools Association is an organisation of independent schools in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1879, it is one of the country's oldest such groups. It is a constituent association of the Independent Schools Council, and has a membership of around 300 schools...
(ISA) – ISA members include heads of some 300 preparatory and senior schools for children of all ages.
- Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent SchoolsSociety of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent SchoolsThe Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools is an association of Headmasters and Headmistresses of various types of independent schools in the United Kingdom, and was formed in 1961...
(SHMIS) – represents the heads of independent schools of all sizes, many of which have a long tradition of boarding.
- Association of Governing Bodies of Independent SchoolsAssociation of Governing Bodies of Independent SchoolsThe Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools - AGBIS is the supporting and advisory organisation for governing bodies of independent schools, under the sponsorship of the Independent Schools Council.-History:...
(AGBIS) – represents the interests of the governing bodies of schools whose heads belong to GSA, HMC and SHMIS (and some belonging to IAPS & ISA).
- Council of British International SchoolsCouncil of British International SchoolsThe Council of British International Schools is a membership organization of high-quality British schools worldwide. COBIS is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council in the UK, and member schools are inspected by the UK-based Independent Schools Inspectorate...
(COBIS) – represents the interests of British Schools abroad.
- Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) – represents the bursars of over 800 senior and junior schools.