What is an independent school?

Over 600,000 children in the UK are educated in schools that charge a fee for attendance. These schools are known as independent, private or public schools. They are an essential part of the British Education system and allow children to receive an education in a diverse range of subjects, aiming for academic, cultural and sporting excellence.

Children can attend an independent school from the age of 3 to 18 and can either board or attend as day pupils.  Independent schools are usually selective but cater for special needs and special talents, talents that may not be supported through the maintained sector. Independent schools can vary enormously in size, ranging from fewer than 100 pupils to up to 2000 on roll, and can be either single-sex or co-educational.

Within the independent sector, approximately 86% of pupils attend as day pupils, generally travelling from a wider area than state day schools.  More than half of the pupils are from families where neither parent attended an independent school and this is actively encouraged through scholarships and bursaries: 32% of pupils in independent schools receive help with their fees.

Why teach in an independent school?

Whatever their background, pupils are expected to work hard and an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning is created within the classroom. The less able are encouraged just as much as the very bright and both are expected to achieve their full potential. Teaching staff need to be enthusiastic and committed to the school. They will enjoy a high level of parental support and the school/home partnership is strongly encouraged.  Smaller class sizes also allow for a greater degree of individual attention and this is one of the major influencers in the decision to send a child to an independent school.

The National Curriculum is not compulsory in independent schools but each school must endeavour to provide a curriculum that covers a wide range of subjects and extra-curricular activities, so providing more than the National Curriculum specifies.

A diverse range of specialist schools cater for the needs of pupils with specific disabilities as well as those who excel in the arts. They can offer a wide choice of teaching opportunities with excellent resources.

Most independent schools offer an array of outdoor activities, adventure training, sport and drama, all of which staff are able to take part in. A teacher can gain as much satisfaction from these activities as they get from classroom activities.

Many teachers in independent schools have also worked in the maintained sector and movement between the sectors is common. Strong links exist at both national and local level with schools in some areas sharing in-service training.

What can an independent school can offer an NQT?

The government has now authorised the Independent Schools Council Teacher Induction Panel (ISCTIP) to provide the statutory functions necessary for the induction of NQTs.  This now allows NQTs to serve their induction period in a number of independent schools.

NQTs are strongly advised to serve this induction, but are not obliged to do so.  Failure to complete the induction would prevent them from teaching within the maintained sector in the future and they would be unable to register with the General Teaching Council (GTC).

When making any application to an independent school as an NQT, the NQT must ask for confirmation that they will be able to serve their induction and that they will be registered with the ISCTIP on appointment.

Relevant links and contacts

ISCTIP	professional officer, Sue Campion, Tel/Fax: 020 8886 4369
www.iscis.uk.net	Independent Schools Council
www.cobisec.org	The Council for British Independent Schools in the European Communities