Independent Schools Council

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The Independent Schools Council (ISC) through seven affiliated organisations represents 1,286 schools that together educate over 80% of the pupils in the UK independent sector. ISC was first established (as the Independent Schools Joint Council) in 1974 by the major governors’, heads’ and bursars’ associations of independent schools and reconstituted in 1998 as ISC. It underwent a major review in 2002 as a result of which its core functions were redefined. The current chairman is Edward Gould and the current general-secretary is Jonathan Shephard.

The seven constituent associations of ISC are:-

• Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS)

AGBIS represents the interests of the governing bodies of schools whose heads belong to GSA, HMC and SHMIS (and some belonging to IAPS & ISA).

• Girls' Schools Association (GSA)

GSA is the main association to which heads of girls senior independent schools belong.

• Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC)

HMC represents the heads of over 240 boys' and co-educational independent senior schools.

• Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS)

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)

ISBA represents the bursars of over 800 senior and junior schools.

• Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS)

SHMIS represents the heads of independent schools of all sizes, many of which have a long tradition of boarding.

ISC now exists to represent the interests of the associations and their member schools to the UK government and devolved assemblies and their agencies, to politicians of all parties, to the media and other opinion-formers. Its research staff ensure that a secure and comprehensive evidence base is available for all its activities and its communications department is responsible for relations with national, regional and international media. It issues regular guidance and information to member schools on a wide variety of political, legal educational and practical issues.

ISC also takes responsibility for a variety of functions required equally by all member schools and associations, most notably 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 Department for Education and Skills (DfES) 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.

ISC’s London office is located at 30 Orange Street, WC2, close to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.