The Challenges Facing the Independent Sector

EMC education consultant Euan Clarke looks at some of the hurdles confronting independent schools and how they can be overcome

THE prevailing approach from the Government to independent schools is likely to remain one of indifference tinged with a modicum of hostility. There is little chance of any recognition, let alone support, despite the fact that, collectively, private schools contribute significantly to the British economy and save the taxpayer in excess of £3 billion each year.

The Coalition’s current educational strategy has plenty of opponents within the maintained sector so it would suggest the independent sector is not likely to be in the firing line for a little while.

‘Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap’ is the document most likely to provide a guide to educational priorities ahead. In it there is praise for the Swedish model where “money follows the pupil so that parents can send their child to any school of their choosing.” But the Conservatives have already clarified their statement, making it clear that the proposal would only apply to the state sector.

There is also praise for the Netherlands where, apparently, “parents can set up a new school to meet local needs if they are dissatisfied with what is currently on offer.” Having commented favourably on the Swedish and Dutch models, the document notes that “as a result, educational standards in these countries are among the highest in the world.”

There is a promise to provide over 220,000 new school places and to allow not-for-profit organisations to set up new schools in the public sector with access to equivalent public funding. There is no reference at all to the independent sector in ‘Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap’.

More worrying still for independent education are sweeping generalisations that sound ominously New Labouresque, such as, “schools should exist to reverse inequality, to advance social mobility.” Gone are the days when schools were expected to provide a good education; they must now be the ‘drivers of social change’.

The dilution of academic rigour at universities looks set to continue. Having noted that the number of young people going to university is approaching Labour’s arbitrary target of 50%, the document comments, “we hope it will go further.”

The Coalition is dealing with an ailing economy, massive public debt and other pressing issues that leave little time or money, and few options for radical change in the education sector. Independent schools will, as before, have to continue to focus on their own core issues of maintaining quality, widening access as far as possible without public funding and promoting dialogue and partnership in a very one-sided relationship.

The recession continues but, as many heads have noted, the private sector seems to be in a ‘phoney war’ situation. The last ISC census noted a very slight overall increase, but anecdotal evidence suggests many schools are having to budget for fewer pupils in the year ahead.

Independent schools that are thriving despite the recession share a few common features: schools where the governors put their trust in the head and give him/her real support; schools that put time, effort and money into marketing and PR; schools that budget carefully, negotiate hard with every supplier and make full use of their resources and facilities; schools that look creatively at opportunities to co-operate, federalise and possibly even merge.

There is support and advice available from professional associations such as the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools ( IAPS) which as well as producing useful documents on subjects such as Mergers & Acquisitions and coping with the recession, also has a helpline on inspection and compliance issues.

Heads have been increasingly concerned about the bureaucratic burden created by ever-increasing regulation and government’s knee-jerk reaction to events. ContactPoint and the Independent

Safeguarding Authority are two prime examples of impositions to improve child protection procedures that place additional costs and burdens on schools.

The English Charity Commission is about to face a challenge from the independent sector on a more precise interpretation of the wording of the current legislation. Recent Charity Commission rulings seemed to imply that schools can only pass their supposed ‘public benefit’ test by offering means-tested bursaries (or their hardship equivalent) at 100% of fees with a minimum threshold of 5% (i.e. that the school must either have or offer bursaries/hardship support for ‘poor’ pupils equivalent to 5% of gross income).

The next few years are almost certain to be difficult for the independent sector in general and for smaller schools in particular, but with good planning, determination and effective support the best schools will not just survive, they will thrive. There are no easy panaceas for the current problems and difficulties facing the sector, but a glass half full approach will recognize that challenges are also opportunities.