Independent schools are continually evolving and adapting as the social, cultural, educational – and political – landscape changes.
There is no denying that the UK Labour Government’s plan to impose VAT on school fees in January 2025 will have an impact but the sector seems resolute in facing up to its next cycle of evolution.
This summer we have seen a merger and two schools shut their doors, but Scotland’s independent schools are still providing the quality education parents and pupils have been enjoying for decades.
The schools are recognised for their academic results, sporting excellence, range of extra-curricular activities, small class sizes and scope of pastoral care – and parents still believe an independent education is a good investment.
Scotland’s independent schools have an enviable reputation for offering a wide range of subjects, exam qualifications and specialist staff, which lets them develop a full understanding of each child’s learning style, interests and motivations in order to teach pupils in a way that benefits the individual.
Many independent schools provide the option to take a mix of qualifications, whether that be Scottish Qualifications Authority certificates, A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate.
Technology is the key
Technology is an important investment as the schools recognise that technological know-how, innovation, creative problem solving, transferable skills and a global mindset generated by using these resources are essential qualities for young people as they look to become tomorrow’s workforce.
However, independent schools place as much emphasis on activities outside the classroom. The huge range covers sport, outdoor activities, the performing arts and community service, all of which will help children grow – physically, socially and in confidence – and become curious, well-rounded citizens with a healthy balance between academic and personal lives.
Above all, schools are able to accommodate each individual pupil, making sure the school experience fits the child, whether that be in additional learning support, the availability of after-school clubs, or boarding facilities. The school itself might be single sex, co-educational, day, boarding, urban or rural and it might be small or large.
Each school is unique and it is important for parents to visit as many as they can to find that ideal fit.
As Cameron Wyllie, former headmaster at George Heriot’s in Edinburgh, told The Business earlier this year: “Each school has a different personality. There are pros and cons about every school. I’d be going to open mornings, I’d be going for private visits and talking to staff. I’d be getting as much information as I possibly can. And particularly I’d be asking current parents at that school what the pros and cons are, as they see it.”
There is no predicting the eventual outcome of government proposals to end business rates relief in England and impose VAT across the UK, but the landscape is already different north of the Border. In Scotland, business rates were imposed on independent schools in 2020.
In addition, independent schools are individually assessed by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (Oscar) to ensure they meet the obligations of the 2005 Charities Act.
One obligation is that if a charity charges fees it has to ensure those fees are not disproportionately large to prevent people accessing the services of the charity. That charity test saw independent schools look at how they could support pupils financially.
Fee assistance has evolved in the past couple of decades and in 2023, 23.9 per cent of pupils received some form of financial support – usually means-tested bursaries – from their school, with 3.1 per cent of senior students having their places fully funded by the school.
The total value of this assistance provided by members of Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) is more than £55.6m per year.
Another charity obligation is to ensure that the public benefit that accrues to the school from being a not-for-profit charity exceeds the private benefit that accrues to those who use the charity: the pupils and the families.
Oscar’s rigorous assessment process has also resulted in schools enhancing the contribution they make to society and they have been active in forging partnerships with state schools and the communities in which they are based.
Independent analysis by Edinburgh-based economic consultancy BiGGAR Economics for SCIS published in February 2024 found that more than 120,000 people who do not attend independent schools benefit from partnerships with them.
“The partnerships range from innovative qualifications which are being rolled out to state schools and online learning resources for pupils, to facilities being used by sporting organisations and local community groups,” explains Lorraine Davidson, chief executive of SCIS.
“Currently more than four times as many people who attend our schools are benefiting from them through partnership activity, and we are committed to building on this.
“The Schools Leaders Scotland trade union recently held a conference for heads of both independent and state schools to discuss how the sectors can work more closely together for the benefit of more pupils in Scotland.”
Davidson adds: “SCIS schools are passionate about the partnerships they undertake and we believe there is much more to be gained by working with our sector than against it.”