Independent Schools Council

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a non-profit organisation that represents 1,271 schools in the United Kingdom's independent education sector. [Independent Schools Council [http://www.isc.co.uk/AboutUs_WelcomefromISCsChiefExecutive.htm About Us] Retrieved on May 24, 2007] The organization comprises eight independent school associations and promotes the common interests of its member schools in the political arena, which includes the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

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. The current chairman is Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas and the current chief executive is David Lyscom. [Independent Schools Council [http://www.isc.co.uk/AboutUs_WhatisISC.htm What is ISC] Retrieved on May 24, 2007]

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 inspection and the induction and recruitment of teaching staff.

ISC’s operations are supervised by a Governing Council on which all seven associations are represented by their current chair/president. More detailed oversight is exercised by a Finance & General Purposes Committee whose members, nominated by the constituent associations for a three-year term, also serve on the Governing Board.

Inspection of member schools is undertaken, under a formal agreement with the DCSF and the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (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.

The eight constituent associations

*Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (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 Schools (COBIS) – represents the interests of British Schools abroad.

*Girls' Schools Association (GSA) – the main association to which heads of girls' senior independent schools belong.

*Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) – represents the heads of over 240 boys' and co-educational independent senior schools.

*Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) – represents the heads of more than 500 boys', girls' and mixed preparatory schools for children aged usually from 7/8 to 11/13.

*Independent Schools Association (ISA) – ISA members include heads of some 300 preparatory and senior schools for children of all ages.

*Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) – represents the bursars of over 800 senior and junior schools.

*Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS) – represents the heads of independent schools of all sizes, many of which have a long tradition of boarding.

References