What is an independent private school?

An independent school is one which is separate from the UK public school system. Parents can choose to send their children to an independent school instead of the using the standard school system. Some schools concentrate on certain fields like the arts, but will still offer an all-round education.

How many children attend an independent school in the UK?

Around 630,000 children currently go to an independent school in the UK.

At what age do children go to an independent school?

Children can begin going to an independent school from nursery age, and continue right up to sixth form age (19). In the UK there are currently around 50,000 children attending an independent school at nursery age, 150,000 at a primary school, 220,000 at a secondary school, and 85,000 at a sixth form age.

Why would we choose an independent school for our children?

Due to a better teacher to student ratio, increased resources, better teaching facilities and more training for staff, independent schools currently have a much higher success rate for pupils than the standard school system.

Over 93% of leavers from an independent school go on to higher education, which is more than double that of the national average. Over 45% of all students who enter higher education come from independent schools.

What do independent schools offer?

Independent schools can be focused on a particular talent, such as musical ability or drama, as well as giving the student an all-round education. Independent schools, being much better funded, have a higher quality of equipment, and with higher wages on offer can attract the best staff.

Are independent schools boarding schools?

Some independent schools are full boarding schools, but the vast majority of independent schools are not. There is also a third class of independent school which could be considered to be semi-board, where students sometimes stay on the premises.

What are the typical teacher/student ratios in an independent school?

There are approximately 50,000 teachers currently operating in UK independent schools. The ratio is approximately one teacher per 10 students. This of course differs depending on the school. Teacher turnover is also a lot lower than in mainstream schools, and the current trend has been teachers moving from the UK education system into private independent schools.

How much do independent schools cost?

The cost of an independent school is set by the school itself, and the cost of schooling varies. Schools in the north are typically cheaper than counterparts in the south. The average term fee is around £4,000 a term.

Boarding school fees average £8,000 a term. The average cost of independent schools rises every year, but within the last few years the speed of the rise has been slowing.

Is there an official body for independent schools?

There are a few bodies for independent schools, the largest being the ISC (the Independent Schools Council), which accounts for roughly 80% of all independent schools in the UK.