independent schools | Schools Week

Warning over grammar’s plan to open ‘affiliate’ schools overseas

The plan skirts close to what is permissible in academy funding rules, finance experts have warned

DfE to get new suspension powers for ‘unsafe’ private schools

Unsafe private school providers risk suspension and jail, while loopholes allowing unregistered schools will be closed

Faith school which segregated staff finally shut down

Rabia Boys and Girls School in Luton was accused of “actively undermining” British values by Michael Wilshaw in 2016

Private schools extend Olympic medal lead but Eton stumbles

Twenty prime ministers may have once graced Eton’s playing fields, but – for the first time in nearly three decades – they did not produce a single medal winner for Team GB at an Olympic Games. England’s most famous private school is likely to be quietly mourning the lack of Old Etonians on the podium […]

GCSE results 2021: Top grades rise most at private and free schools

Private and free schools have seen the biggest jump in top grades in this year’s teacher-assessed GCSE results, figures show. Across England, the proportion of GCSE results overall at grade 7 and above—equivalent to a grade A under the previous system—rose to 28.7 per cent, up from 25.9 per cent last year and 20.7 per […]

A-level results 2021: Private schools see bigger jump in top grades

Private schools have seen a bigger jump in the number of top grades than state schools in this year’s A-level results, according to Ofqual. Labour said the figures showed the Conservatives had “opened the door to unfairness”, noting private schools appear more likely to give prior access to questions and face parental pressure over grades. […]

£4m Latin excellence programme: What you need to know

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has vowed to tackle Latin’s “reputation as an elitist subject” with a new scheme to boost take-up of the subject among disadvantaged pupils. He unveiled the £4 million “Latin excellence programme” over the weekend, in a move welcomed by classics professor Mary Beard but panned by others. Here is what you […]

Independent Schools Inspectorate raises fees after two-year loss

The main inspectorate for private schools has hiked its fees by 12 per cent after operating at a loss for the past two years. The Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI), which inspects about 1,000 larger private schools, posted an operating loss of £441,000 last year, following a £498,000 loss in 2016. The losses have contributed to […]

DfE releases guide to partnerships with universities and private schools

The Department for Education has published guidance and case studies aimed at encouraging more partnerships between state schools, universities and the independent school sector. The documents include a guide to setting up partnerships and how to write a “memorandum of understanding” outlining the terms of a common plan of action. They also feature examples of […]