No two schools are the same.
This is certainly true of all 1,423 schools within the ISC’s membership.
Whether it be age, gender or the presence of boarding, all independent schools are truly unique.
However, what unites them all is a commitment to providing an exemplary education to all who attend.
Find out more about an individual school through the ISC’s website 👇
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Our priorities 🗣️
The ISC has three main priorities as the recognised stakeholder for independent schools.
These help to support our representation of over 1,400 independent schools across the UK and overseas, and allow us to support, inform, protect and promote the sector.
#ISCschools
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Drop us a follow to see posts celebrating independent schools across the UK and beyond.
Comment with suggestions of what we should feature 👇
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What is one of the key pillars of a successful school partnership?
According to John Smith, director of partnerships at RGS Newcastle, the answer is tackling disadvantage.
The Sutton Trust’s opportunity index ranked Tyne Central and West lowest for opportunity in the UK. Students there were 45 per cent less likely to go on to sustained education or employment after GCSEs than those in East Ham in London, the constituency ranked highest for opportunity.
John and the team at RGS have recognised this need by directing their projects towards schools with above-average numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals.
Moreover, they have partnered with Tees Valley Education to run roundtables and ‘leadmeets’, bringing school and system leaders together for the benefit of all children in Tyne Central and West.
Through a targeted and robust approach, RGS Newcastle have made their partnerships powerful levers for change 💪
Read more on page 20 of our Celebrating Partnerships booklet, link in bio!
In this week’s Friday Feature, we’re highlighting two Cumnor House School pupils who recently had the chance to interview popular science youtuber Emanuel Wallace, known to his 3.6 million followers as Big Manny.
Sebastian and Dian, who already host their own podcast Cumnor Unwrapped, quizzed Big Manny about his inspirations and the realities of producing viral science content.
Reflecting on the interview, Sebastian said: “To be able to meet and interview such a passionate educator of young minds was truly inspiring and a moment I will never forget.” This was echoed by Dian, who added: “The entire experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we learnt how to enhance our own skills for Cumnor Unwrapped.”
The approach of the students reflects the school’s emphasis on encouraging curiosity and developing skills beyond the classroom.
Congratulations to both! 🌟
Over 50 per cent of children and young people do less than 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
The rise in inactivity is having a significant impact on our children. Reduced fitness, heightened anxiety, lower concentration in lessons and diminished social skills are all linked to increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
Independent schools are working in partnership with their local communities to turn the tide. From sharing sports facilities to after-school clubs, there are plenty of ways for schools to expand opportunities for active play.
At Abingdon School, students plan and run a weekly multisport club for 10- and 11-year-olds.
The club welcomes pupils from four local primary schools, widening access to sport within the community. Abingdon’s student coaches also benefit, gaining key coaching and safeguarding skills along the way.
The club has been an immense success, with 100% of attendees saying they would recommend it to a friend.
Click the link in our bio to find out more!
Did you know you can find ISC schools in your local area using the search tool on our website?
You can refine your search by boarding/day schools, age range, fee assistance options and more!
Check the link in our story 👀
ISC schools employ more people than the city of Southampton 🤯
152,290 people are employed by ISC schools, including 60,225 full-time teachers and 11,395 full-time teaching assistants.
ISC schools contribute £6.1bn in gross value to the UK economy every year through staffing costs alone.
Independent schools remain a key contributor to the UK’s economy.
Today’s job market poses several challenges to those leaving school and university. A weakening economy and the rise of AI have reduced the number of entry-level jobs significantly.
In our latest blog, Niamh Green, headmistress at Roedean School, Brighton, explains how a whole-school approach to careers education is helping prepare students for the changing world of work.
From Year 7 through to Sixth Form, girls are enrolled onto Roedean’s Futures Education programme. From the outset, the goal is not just to show students possible career avenues, but to give them the tools and skills to engage with these possibilities.
In Years 7 and 8, students explore their own strengths, challenge traditional stereotypes and map out their own ambitions. Throughout this period, the school gently introduces careers guidance to pupils through Friday Working Lunches and higher education and careers bulletins.
In Years 9 and 10, the focus shifts to building and applying core skills. Pupils are introduced to UniFrog and the school’s annual Futures Fair, where they are given practical insight and networking opportunities. By the end of Year 10, students have the skills required to build and refine their CV, cover letter and interview skills.
Years 11 and 12 focus on future planning. Each student fills in an action plan, where they set out concreate goals and strategies to achieve them. Through mock interviews and work experience opportunities, students gain important professional development. In Lower Sixth, girls are supported in attending university open days, as well as given access to Pathway Lectures, which provide guidance on the different routes available.
By their final year of school, girls have the skills needed to finalise the pathway that is right for them.
Read the full blog on our website.
#ISCschools
ISC had the pleasure of visiting Clifton High School last week, where we discussed the school’s innovative AI usage with Joe Cozens, head of AI & transformation.
Since September 2024, Clifton has run a ‘Skills for Tomorrow’ course for Year 7 and Year 12 students.
Developed alongside several Russell Group universities, with co-design input from Microsoft, the course aims to prepare learners to navigate the changing world with AI.
Taking a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, the core elements of the course focus on citizenship in a digital age, individual agency over AI use, and skills for a changing workplace.
By the end of the course, students possess greater global competency and improved social and emotional intelligence. The programme also helps to nurture the 4Cs – critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration.
Beyond the course, Clifton is using AI in several areas of school life. Staff are given access to an array of resources through the school’s AI index, which allows them to create engaging and innovative learning materials, from visual presentations through to integrated learning resources within the Teams environment, both of which enhance the educational experience for pupils.
Moreover, Clifton High has also developed cloud automation processes, which help to support staff’s administrative responsibilities, freeing up capacity for teachers to be more people-facing in their roles.
Clifton isn't gatekeeping this innovative approach; instead, the school is sharing best practice across the Bristol area through the Bristol Education Partnership, helping to build CPD across the sector.
The school is always looking to develop further, with plans for more bespoke AI models that are more teacher centric currently in the works.
We would like to thank Joe for his time and Clifton for such a warm welcome.
#ISCschools
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week!
This year, the Mental Health Foundation has chosen ‘action’ to be the theme, highlighting that real change happens when we take action for ourselves, for someone else and for all of us.
Schools have a huge part to play in this regard, as our environments are intrinsic to our mental health.
Throughout the week we encourage you to ask yourself, what can you do to build mentally healthy schools and communities?
Even the smallest of actions can make a big difference!
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
In this week’s Friday Feature, we’re highlighting The Leys School’s term-long trial of the Inkling AI Avatar Tutor with a Year 10 English class studying Of Mice and Men.
As one of 10 schools involved in the national pilot, students use Inkling once a week during their prep time, spending 15 minutes in conversation with the AI avatar tutor.
Rather than providing answers, the avatar questions, challenges and offers hints to the student, helping to refine their approach.
Teachers then review the interactions and assess them against GCSE assessment objectives.
The project aims to deepen pupils’ textual understanding, strengthen their analysis and support progress towards exams.
Praising the trial, head of digital learning Peter Hicks said: “It’s been fantastic to see how pupils have engaged positively with using AI in this truly innovative way and how it’s been leading them to develop their own understanding of the text.”
#FridayFeature
