205 1.1 1.2 Independent Schools

UNIT 205 1.1 /1.2
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
In the United Kingdom, an independent school (also referred to as a private school, and in certain cases a public school) is a school which is funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and is not subject to the conditions imposed by accepting state financing. There are around 2,500 independent schools in the UK, which educate around 615,000 children (just over 7% of all British children, Approximately 7% of school children in England attend privately run independent schools, commonly called "private schools", whilst private sixth forms are attended by around 18% of students. Independent schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum, and their teachers are not required or regulated by law to have official teaching qualifications.
Education at independent schools is usually chargeable. Such schools, some of which are boarding schools, cover primary and/or secondary education and charge between £2,500 and £30,000 per year. Some schools offer scholarships for those with particular skills or aptitudes, or bursaries to allow students from less financially well-off families to attend.
Some independent schools are particularly old, such as The King's School, Canterbury (founded 597), St Peter's School, York (founded c.627). These schools were founded as part of the church and were under their complete dominion. In 2009 senior boarding schools were charging fees of between £16,000 and nearly £30,000 per annum. Under a number of forward-looking headmasters leading public schools created a curriculum based heavily on classics and physical activity for boys and young men of the upper and upper middle classes.
They were schools for the gentlemanly elite of Victorian politics, armed forces and colonial government. Often successful businessmen would send their sons to a public school as a mark of participation in the elite. Much of the discipline was in the hands of senior pupils (usually known as prefects), which was not just a means to reduce staffing costs, but was also seen as vital preparation for those pupils' later roles in public or military service.

REASONS TO CHOOSE AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
School choice. Within the state sector parents are free to express a preference but they do not have the same degree of freedom to choose and to shop-around as those paying fees. Private schools claim to offer something for everyone and many offer an awful lot.
High academic standards. Despite progress in the state sector, independent schools still dominate academic league tables and entry to top universities. While a handful of independent schools are super-selective, academic hot-houses, a good many are not. Indeed country schools often actively recruit and will accept a wide-range of abilities - viewing every bum on a seat as a bursar off their back. Yet there is an undoubted element of 'silk-purse from sows ear'...Many schools that typically take very average students, eek out every last drop of potential with resultant remarkable value-added.
Fewer pupils per class. Greater individual attention, better, faster and more targeted progress.
Discipline and pastoral care are better too. Problem children are less likely to be tolerated; 'independent' means schools can decide who enters, who exits and when!
Extensive extra curricula activities. Many offer a fantastic range of extra-curricular activities; from the exciting to the erudite, dance to diving...And if that's not enough the associated curriculum trips, cultural expeditions and sports/ music tours can be pretty spectacular too!
Sport for all is encouraged. Most offer a range to ensure something for everyone. Netball, lacrosse and rugby may be de-rigueur but sailing, shooting, climbing, caving, mountain-biking, golf and squash are just some of the off-piste offerings. Some are spectacular. Harry Potter eat your heart out; many of the great and grand have settings to die for with facilities to match. Facilities are first-class. Not all have amazing amenities but we've seen TV studios coveted by the BBC, purpose-built theatres, state of the art science labs, luxurious sport and leisure centres...
Social mix. Independent schools provide great networking opportunities - the burgeoning of social networking sites is ensuring the old school tie remains in rude health with most alumni achieving salaries well in excess of those commanded by state school educated colleagues.
Parents can afford to pay. But some, only just. Independent education is not cheap, many parents undertake two jobs, re-mortgage and all but get out the begging bowl to ensure their off-spring participate in the perceived privilege of a paid-for education. Of course, for the lucky few, there are scholarships and bursaries - some worth more than 100% of the fees.

Elsworth House School (Independent School)
Address; Elsworth House School, Rother Way, Hellaby Estate, Hellaby, Rotherham S66 8QN Authority: Rotherham
Gender of entry: Mixed
Age range: 7-18
Number of students: 107
Gender of sixth form: Mixed

Elsworth House is a registered Independent School with small class sizes, committed to achieving the highest levels of teaching. They offer a comprehensive education for pupils from the age of seven through to eighteen, it has a warm and disciplined atmosphere and strives to instill in pupils an eagerness to learn and equip them with the necessary skills to set them forwards for a lifetime. They have the benefit of close cooperation with other schools and are able to share facilities, expertise, professional development opportunities and resources, including innovative teaching methodologies and support for a wide range of academic and vocational subjects.

VISION
“To produce mature, responsible and positive thinking individuals through innovative learning programs in a caring atmosphere that provides everything necessary for pupils to reach their full potential.”

Rudston Preparatory School (Independent)
Address: 59/63 Broom Road, Rotherham.S60 2SW | | Age range: | 2 - 11 | | Day pupils: | 115 boys and 115 girls | | | | | TOTAL PUPILS: | 115 boys and 115 girls | | Staff numbers: | 22 full time and 6 part time | |

It is the North's leading independent preparatory school, accepting boys and girls from the age of two, right through to eleven.
The academic standards are very high and the children also excel at music, drama and sports. At the end of each Key Stage, children are expected to reach certain levels of knowledge, skills and understanding in Mathematics and English. Key Stage 1 | | | | Expected attainment is Level 2 (at age 7 years). | Mathematics | 100% attained Level 2 or above
(32% L3) | | English | 100% attained Level 2 or above
(55% L3) | Key Stage 2 | | | | Expected attainment is Level 4 (at age 11 years) | Mathematics | 88% attained Level 4 or above
(53% L5) | | English | 100% attained Level 4 or above
(76% L5) |

STATE FUNDED SCHOOLS
State-run schools and colleges are financed through national taxation, and take pupils free of charge between the ages of 3 and 18. The schools may levy charges for activities such as swimming, theatre visits and field trips, provided the charges are voluntary, thus ensuring that those who cannot afford to pay are allowed to participate in such events. Approximately 93% of English schoolchildren attend such schools.
A significant minority of state-funded schools are faith schools, which are attached to religious groups, most often the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church.
There are also a small number of state-funded boarding schools, which typically charge for board but not tuition. Boarding fees are limited to £12,000 per annum.
Nearly 90% of state-funded secondary schools are specialist schools, receiving extra funding to develop one or more subjects in which the school specializes.
The table below describes the most common patterns for schooling in the state sector in England. In most cases progression from one year group to another is based purely on chronological age, although it is possible in some circumstances for a student to repeat or skip a year. Repetition may be due to a lack of attendance, for example from a long illness, and especially in Years requiring standard tests. A child significantly more advanced than their classmates may be forwarded one or more years.

Age on 31 August (before school year) | Year | Curriculum Stage | Schools | 3 | Nursery | Foundation Stage | Nursery School | 4 | Reception | | Infant School | Primary School | First School | 5 | Year 1 | Key Stage 1 | | | | 6 | Year 2 | | | | | 7 | Year 3 | Key Stage 2 | Junior School | | | 8 | Year 4 | | | | | 9 | Year 5 | | | | Middle School | 10 | Year 6 | | | | | 11 | Year 7 | Key Stage 3 | Secondary School | Secondary School with Sixth Form | | 12 | Year 8 | | | | | 13 | Year 9 | | | | Upper School or
High School | 14 | Year 10 | Key Stage 4 / GCSE | | | | 15 | Year 11 | | | | | 16 | Year 12 (Lower Sixth) | Sixth Form / A-level, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Pre-U, etc. | College/Sixth Form | | | 17 | Year 13 (Upper Sixth) | | | | |

BRINSWORTH COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL (STATE)

Address: Brinsworth Road,BrinsworthRotherham. S60 5EJ

Type of school Comprehensive
Type of control LEA Maintained
Age range of students 11 to 18
Gender of students Mixed

The school is situated on the edge of Rotherham. The catchment area changed in 1993, following closure of a neighbouring school. This resulted in the school changing from a largely mono-ethnic school to one where currently about 12 per cent of students come from the Asian community. The ability range of the catchment area has varied considerably from year to year. The percentage of students with special educational needs is average at 3.4 per cent.

Brinsworth Comprehensive School Teaching is consistently effective with only 3.7 per cent of lessons unsatisfactory. Relationships between students and teachers are good, as they are amongst the students themselves. It is a successful, large school which draws on communities of widely differing cultural backgrounds. Students' attainment on entry to the school is broadly average, with results at 16 and 18 being above average and improving year-on-year. It was judged outstanding by OFSTED in 2007. The school was designated a specialist science college in 2003 and achieved its second specialism as a Leadership Partner School in 2009.

ASTON ACADEMY (STATE)
Address: Aston Academy, Aughton Road, Swallownest, Sheffield . S26 4SF

Aston School became a Maths and Computing College in 2003 and was successfully re-designated as a Maths and Computing College in January 2008. This secures vital funding for the next three years and enables us to be a 'learning community' fulfilling our Mission Statement of 'making a difference'. The school converted to an Academy in 2011 after receiving an 'Outstanding' Ofsted inspection.As a specialist school, we have been able not only to enhance the learning and teaching of Maths and Computing but to create exciting opportunities across the whole curriculum. Interactive whiteboards are actively used in our departments and we have the use of several dedicated purpose-built computer classrooms. Extra-curricular clubs are important to Aston students and our web-site continues to develop and expand.We work closely with our contributory primary schools and have links with other local secondary schools enabling us to share good practice and aiding us in our aim to become a 'centre of excellence' for Maths and Computing. | Key Stage 3 |

Years 7, 8 & 9Throughout the key stage students will study the core subjects; English, Mathematics, Science and ICT. The ICT curriculum delivers lessons on e-safety and this is linked to the PSHCE and the assembly programme. Students will also study Physical Education, Religious Education, Citizenship, Technology, Humanities, Drama, Music, Art and at least one Modern Foreign Language. Significant changes have made to the KS3 curriculum in secondary schools. The aim of this is to support students by personalising the curriculum in order that it more closely matches their needs, and strengthens provision for the development of the skills and qualities that young people need if they are to be effective lifelong learners able to meet the demands of life in the 21st century. | |

Years 10 & 11Students in key stage 4 will study the core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, Religious Education, Physcial Education and Personal, Health, Social and Citizenship Education.They will also be guided to take options from a particular pathway. This may include vocational courses, Humanities, Technologies, Arts and Languages.At key stage 4 students may study for the more traditional GCSEs but many other vocational and skills based courses are also offered. This reflects the more personalised approach to learning in KS4. The Governing Body | The Governing Body works collectively as an open and approachable team. Our Governors represent a wide spectrum of our community with parent, education, community, local authority, business and staff interests all well represented. We work primarily through four sub-committees; curriculum, staffing, finance and premises. | |