private schools | Schools Week

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 […]

Warning notices issued to 148 private schools

The government has issued warning notices to almost 150 private schools in the last 12 months, with two schools failing to meet standards in all eight categories they are inspected on. The Department for Education published the warning notices for the first time in February, more than two years after a Schools Week campaign first […]

On notice: 27 private schools warned by DfE

The government has made public 27 warning notices issued to private schools that failed to meet its independent school standards. Schools Week senior reporter Alix Robertson took an in-depth look at the documents. Religious schools: From the sublime to the ridiculous Gender segregation, narrow curriculums and failures to prepare pupils for life in British society […]

Safeguarding, fire safety and segregation: DfE releases 27 new private school warning notices

The government has published the latest batch of warning notices issued to underperforming private schools. Among other transgressions, it found two schools where boys and girls were treated differently enough to affect their personal development, as well as failure to comply with fire safety regulations, and a room used by a special school to calm […]

No-frills private school delayed AGAIN

England’s first “low-cost” private school has apologised for delaying its opening date a second time, after the government told it to improve the site proposed for its location. The Independent Grammar School: Durham was due to open in September, offering parents a “traditional private education” without the “frills” for just £52 a week. However, with […]

Private schools to face further hike in inspection fees

Plans to hike the fees small private schools must pay Ofsted are just the start of a programme of increased costs, according to a leading civil servant. Last month, non-association private schools reacted unhappily when the inspectorate announced it would consult on increasing what it charges to inspect them. Some could face paying £3,800 more […]

Private school in rare move to re-brand as ‘grammar school’

A private school in the West Midlands has taken the unusual step of rebranding as a “grammar school”, and will focus on training its primary pupils for the 11-plus test. St Dominic’s Brewood, an all-through independent school in Staffordshire, has changed its name to St Dominic’s Grammar School and introduced the 11-plus for new pupils […]

Private school fees rise again, and 3 more ISC census findings

The Independent Schools Council has today published its annual census. Schools Week has the key findings: 1. Private school fees rise again – despite record number of pupils The census shows that fees for independent schools rose by 3.5 per cent on average between 2016 and 2017. The average private school fee is now £16,686 […]