How does the ISC collate data on over 500,000 pupils? Compiled each year by our dedicated research team, the ISC Census establishes where independent schools sit within the UK’s education landscape. See below for last year’s extensive report 👇 isc.co.uk/research/annual-census

ISC schools provided more than £1.1bn in fee assistance last year, over £500m of which was means-tested. Over half of all pupils on means-tested bursaries have more than half of their fees remitted, and many pay no fees at all 👇

Happy New Year! We wish you all the best for 2026 ✨

Merry Christmas from all of us at the ISC! 🎄 We hope you have a restful break and enjoy the festive season 🌟

Did you know you can find ISC schools in your local area using the search tool on our website? isc.co.uk/schools You can refine your search by boarding/day schools, age range, fee assistance options and more!

ISC co-hosted a parliamentary drop-in session on SEND reform last week with vice chair of the SEND APPG Greg Stafford MP. With major reforms expected to be announced in the new year, it was helpful for schools, special needs organisations and parliamentarians to share insights in advance.

"When I went to my first local heads meeting, I was told that the wives were next door in the library." ISC CEO Julie Robinson is no stranger to challenging stereotypes. Read about how her experiences have shaped her into the leader she is today ⬇️ https://ow.ly/qT4e50XGbE4

The ISC's new Celebrating Partnerships booklet is now live! 🎉 Read all about the inspiring collaborative programmes taking place between state and independent schools across the country 👇 publuu.com/flip-book/70... #schoolstogether #powerofpartnerships

ISC CEO Julie Robinson addressed 80 school leaders at a Dukes Education conference, speaking with Aatif Hassan, chairman and founder of Dukes Education Group.

Did you know the ISC is a trade body? ISC doesn’t work alone. We have 7 associations in our membership, as well as 7 affiliate associations. We work closely to ensure independent schools are well supported as they deliver high-calibre education to children.

“It was so good to be able to talk to HMC heads about the significant work ISC is doing to support and promote their schools.” - Mark Taylor, ISC Chair, attended the HMC (The Heads’ Conference) earlier this week

Meet Rosie, ISC's digital content manager 💻 Her role includes managing the ISC and Schools Together websites, supporting schools with Member Zone queries, helping parents find schools for their children, and more! Want to learn more about the ISC team? Hit 'follow' 🫖

"Days like these are more than just exciting; they provide meaningful educational enrichment." Fiona Price, partnerships coordinator at King Edward VI School, Southampton, explains how a recent partnership day fostered a spirit of shared learning and community www.isc.co.uk/media-enquir...

We are excited to be at the @uni-roehampton.bsky.social today to present the Independent Schools Council Digital Conference. @isc-schools.bsky.social

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of misleading the public over the VAT on fees policy, after suggesting it will be used to fund housing, not state school improvements www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Today's High Court judgment states the government was well aware that some families would no longer be able to afford independent school fees but that it was "entitled to consider these factors to be outweighed by the expected revenue raised for public services"

ISC CEO @JulieR_isc: "This is an unprecedented tax on education and it was right that its compatibility with human rights law was tested." The High Court has "dismissed the claims" in the VAT legal challenge. ISC has vowed continued support for schools, pupils and their families

"We are part of the community and fabric of Wales." Paul Norton, principal of @kingsmonkton.bsky.social and WISC director, reflects on the invaluable role Welsh independent schools play in the wider educational ecosystem www.isc.co.uk/media-enquir...

The number of children with SEND attending independent schools has risen by 78% in the past decade, according to the ISC's 2025 Census. Heads have warned that the education tax could disproportionately impact pupils with SEND. www.politicshome.com...

"With increased business rates, employers’ National Insurance, minimum wage and utilities bills still rising, we have nowhere left to go. No further savings can be made." Kate Caryl, head of Wakefield Independent School, on the impact of VAT on fees www.schoolmanagement...

Independent school fees were 22.6% higher in January compared to a year ago, reveals ISC. The government predicted fees would increase by ~10% as a result of the VAT policy. "It seems clear to us that the government has underestimated the effect": Julie Robison, ISC CEO www.bbc.co.uk/news/a...

Want to get to know ISC's CEO Julie Robinson better? Well now you can! Henry Faber, co-founder of Oppidan Education, interviewed Julie about her career in education spanning 35 years. Listen to Julie's story via the link 👇 podcasts.apple.com/g...

98% of primary state school headteachers are unable to meet the needs of all their pupils with SEND, according to an NAHT survey, amid concerns over the impact of the VAT on fees policy www.dailymail.co.uk/...

"No consultation with the independent sector took place. And the human cost was never thought about." Gareth Jones, headteacher of Bilton Grange, reflects on the impact of the government's decision to impose VAT on school fees www.schoolmanagement...

A survey of 240 members of The Heads' Conference (HMC) has shed light on the impact of VAT on fees, with nearly half of schools reportedly planning teacher redundancies and a third preparing to remove subjects from their GCSE and A-level curricula inews.co.uk/news/teacher...

In the ISC's latest blog, Lyndsey Hayes, an A-level psychology teacher and chair of SCoPESC, explains how specialist organisations are bringing educators together to offer valuable learning resources and professional development opportunities 💭 www.isc.co.uk/media-enquir...

"When students are encouraged to reflect on their thinking, learning becomes more meaningful." Lisa Crook, deputy head at Banstead Preparatory School, explains how metacognitive strategies can boost pupils' confidence and support the development of key life skills www.isc.co.uk/media-enquir...

It is "not clear" whether the government's pledge to recruit 6,500 extra teachers will address the issue of staff shortages as there is no "delivery plan" in place, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO) www.dailymail.co.uk/...

Rising costs could contribute to an exodus of pupils from independent schools to "stretched" state schools, as the sector faces a "quadruple whammy" of financial challenges, warns ISC CEO Julie Robinson inews.co.uk/news/private...

"When you drill down into the ripple effects [VAT on fees] has on the education system as a whole, that stereotype begins to fade." Natasha Asghar, Welsh Conservative MS for South Wales East, on not fitting the independent school stereotype www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...

“The amount we’d be saving each month wouldn’t be enough to send them to the school.” A mother of twins with SEND, who has to withdraw them from their independent school due to the VAT on fees policy, says she considered selling their home to cover the extra cost inews.co.uk/news/we-...

"Student opinion, I believe, should be at the heart of any educational environment." Rosie Burt, a Year 12 student at Quinton House School, explains how an annual conference led by pupils is shining a light on some of the key issues facing young people today www.isc.co.uk/media-...

Data from the Department of Education (DfE) shows that many local councils had less than 5% of spare school places in 2023-24. If similar this year, it would mean fewer options for parents forced to move their children out of independent schools as a result of VAT on fees www.dailymail.co.uk/...

"Incorporating these celebrations into our routines is essential for fostering lasting change." Laurell Milton from @dulwichcollege.bsky.social explains how the school is promoting inclusivity through its celebration of events like International Women's Week www.isc.co.uk/media-...

"If we can recruit staff from minority ethnic groups to reflect pupil diversity we not only benefit our pupils but wider society." David Mulae explains how Cranleigh School is actively working to improve representation across the teaching profession www.isc.co.uk/media-...

"We remain committed to working with the government on their priorities for education and maintain that the best way to do this is through collaborative working rather than punitive tax measures": ISC CEO Julie Robinson. www.schoolmanagement...

"At Solihull, we believe that empowering pupils with AI literacy is essential." Matthew van Alderwegen and Charles Fillingham explain how Solihull School is helping students and staff navigate the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape www.isc.co.uk/media-...

“We are pleased that the Lords have rejected the creation of a two-tier charity system and the imposition of an additional tax on education. We remain extremely concerned about the impact of these political decisions [on] independent schools”: Julie Robinson, ISC CEO. www.tes.com/magazine...

"We wanted to equip our students to navigate AI confidently and ethically." Robin Street from North London Collegiate School explains the origins of the school's innovative AI Driving Licence, which is helping pupils to understand the challenges and applications of AI www.isc.co.uk/media-...

The House of Lords has voted against the government's plan to end business rates relief for independent schools. Peers voted by a majority of 91 to remove the key provision from the Non-Domestic Rates (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill www.independent.co.u...

ISC are delighted to welcome Mark Taylor as our new chair! "I am honoured to take on the role of interim chair. I look forward to championing and defending the bold ideas, pioneering approaches and strong community partnerships that are a hallmark of ISC schools."

Today we bid farewell Barnaby Lenon CBE, as he steps down as ISC chair after a long and distinguished tenure. Barnaby has led ISC since 2011, and we are extremely grateful to him for all he has achieved for the curriculum, assessment, and representation of independent schools

"The impact of taxing education is real" - Dominic Norrish, CEO of the Independent Association of Prep Schools. A survey by @thetimes.com has revealed some of the measures independent schools are taking to stay afloat following the introduction of VAT on fees. www.thetimes.com/uk/...

To mark #BritishScienceWeek, we're shining a light on the inspiring collaborative work taking place between independent schools and their state partners. One of these schools is @stalbansschool.bsky.social, which runs weekly activities for children and young people in the local community 🧵

"Our STEM research programmes are designed to bring science to life." Gareth Lewis and Dr Liam Duffy from Haileybury explain how partnerships with renowned organisations are empowering pupils with hands-on research opportunities www.isc.co.uk/media-... #BritishScienceWeek

👉 #EmpathyWeek is here! Are you a school leader looking to help your pupils better understand themselves & connect with others? Schools can access film-based assemblies, online events, & exclusive resources for free 🎉 Register here: www.empathy-week.com#EmpathyWeek @empathystudios.bsky.social

For almost 15 years, Blackheath High School GDST has partnered with the Royal Observatory in Greenwich to give aspiring physicists the opportunity to study GCSE astronomy 🪐 The programme prepares pupils for A levels and beyond, equipping them with valuable study skills #BritishScienceWeek

Around 100 independent schools are expected to shut over three years as a result of the VAT on fees policy, Treasury minister Torsten Bell has admitted. It is the first public acknowledgment by a minister that any school will close because of the tax https://t.co/KHwpqQOxLf

Matt Harris, a father-of-three, shares how the government's VAT on fees policy is impacting his family. He says his son "is being forced to leave the many friendships he has built, his place of familiarity and his routine through no fault of his own" www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

RGC Online is a ground-breaking programme developed by Robert Gordon's College to support the growth of the Scottish tech ecosystem. The platform's modules help to prepare young people for future roles in tech, including AI, cyber security, and entrepreneurship 💻 #NationalCareersWeek