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View the full fees table for independent schools in Scotland here (opens as a PDF)•
View the full school-by-school results table for Standard Grade and Higher Grade here (opens as a PDF)•
View the full school-by-school results table for Higher Grade and A Level here (opens as a PDF)THE LAST year has been one of apprehension and excitement in the independent sector, but not in equal measure. The looming spectre of the Charities Regulator does not seem to be as great a threat as rising fees and concern that economic slowdown may adversely affect the ability of parents to pay. So far, almost every school reports rising numbers, and even in the boarding schools, applications appear to be on the up, while building projects abound. Overall it would be fair to say independent schools are quietly confident about the immediate future.
The decision by the Charities Regulator (OSCR) to approve the charitable status of the first school to be investigated, the High School of Dundee, was welcomed, but that decision cannot be seen as a benchmark for other schools – each one has to be individually assessed. Many day schools are in as strong or stronger position than the High School to satisfy OSCR, but by no means all, while the boarding schools may well be viewed differently. Ten schools are currently under review, among them three boarding schools – Merchiston Castle, Gordonstoun and St Leonard's – and OSCR's verdict is expected some time in May. Once this tranche of schools has been reviewed, the situation will become much clearer.
Meanwhile, numbers in the sector have been rising, while the total number of pupils in Scottish schools has been falling. According to figures issued by the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), 4.4 per cent of the total school population in Scotland now attend an independent school, but much more significantly, that number rises to 8.5 per cent at secondary level, and to an astonishing 24.2 per cent in Edinburgh, while over the last three years boarding numbers have risen by 8.5 per cent. This reflects the healthy state of the sector at the moment, though heads and governors must be looking over their shoulders with some concern at the present economic situation, and wondering just how much it will affect them.
The health of the sector is also reflected in its confidence in expanding facilities. This month, Glasgow Academy will be opening its new prep school, with 18 classrooms and stunning views over the River Kelvin. George Watson's has just completed the building of a new sports hall, the first part in a complete redevelopment of its physical education resources. At Edinburgh Academy, which has just started taking girls throughout the school, work has begun on a new nursery and after-school care facility, and the school hopes to build a new all-weather pitch shortly. Still in Edinburgh, the Erskine Stewart's Melville Performing Arts Centre was opened recently. David Gray, ESM principal, said: "It has been an unmitigated success in terms of providing a focus for developing children's confidence and for the benefit of our local community." In the West, St Columba's, Kilmacolm, is hoping to embark on a huge building programme this year.
Among the boarding schools, Glenalmond College has opened a new boarding house, Fettes has built a new sixth form boarding house, Merchiston is in the process of building one, while Strathallan is planning an eighth boarding house with individual study bedrooms for 60 pupils. A few years ago, boarding was in the doldrums and such developments would have been unheard of, but there now seems to be rising demand for boarding.
One of the benefits of OSCR's interest is that more and more schools offer financial assistance (often called bursaries) to parents who might have thought they could not afford a private education. Erskine Stewart's Melville, for example, has reduced the value of its scholarships to put more money aside for financial assistance. Edinburgh Academy's retiring Rector, John Light, also emphasises the need to direct assistance to those who need it: "We are keen," he says, "to ensure that help goes to those families who need it, not those for whom it would be handy."
Parents are often surprised to discover that they can apply for assistance. Rector of Morrison's Academy, Simon Pengelly, is well aware of this, and states, "We are taking care to be more open about what we offer by way of financial assistance and to advertise it." St Columba's, in Kilmacolm, has introduced a number of bursary places, which are means-tested, and subject to the school's normal admissions policy. Even small schools, such as The Compass in Haddington, and Ardvreck, in Crieff, are offering financial assistance to try to attract a wider clientele.
Andrew Hunter, Headmaster of Merchiston Castle, which is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, states: "Independent schools are now thoroughly modern, yet retain their base of traditional values. Three areas which have seen considerable change over the years come in the form of diversity, 'value added' and awareness of the community. No longer are such schools just for rugby and cricket players – Merchiston offers almost 20 sports, but there is considerable emphasis on drama and music. And, as Hunter says: "It is not unusual for the lead in a play also to be a leading light in the 1st XV."
Academically, the independents know they have to justify their fees by producing good results, and these have improved steadily throughout the sector in recent years, whether in the English exams (GCSEs and A-Levels) or the Scottish Standard Grades and Highers. Variety in the curriculum as well as good exam results are emphasised by most of the schools. Mandarin, for example, is now offered in several independents, including St George's and Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh.
As the Rector of Dollar Academy, John Robertson, says, "The focus of all schools must be on the core activity – the provision of education.". Dollar has recently introduced a new course combining physics, economics and technological studies. Robertson is very excited about the course: "It's designed," he says, "to combine the practical with the theoretical in engineering, and to bring in a powerful financial awareness." Could this be what is needed to make our brighter pupils really interested in engineering, a subject so neglected in the past by our schools and universities?
Technology is not only a subject which attracts young people – it is a means for teachers and schools to become more efficient in teaching and communicating with pupils and their parents. David Girdwood, Rector of St Columba's, says: "By bringing technology into the classroom, lessons traditionally delivered by chalkboards can be more interesting and dynamic."
St Columba's has just completed a programme of equipping every classroom with an interactive smartboard. Girdwood continues: "Junior school pupils find these easy to use, and are eager to show teachers what they can do with them. Teachers can be much more spontaneous, and pupils can learn at their own speed." George Watson's has introduced a web-based communication protocol with parents. Principal Gareth Edwards says, "This improves communication – parents actually read bagmail, and it saves paper, which is good for the environment." Hutcheson's, meanwhile has introduced electronic attendance and fingerprint biometric systems which give accurate registration figures and more independence for senior pupils.
The new Curriculum for Excellence is broadly welcomed by the independent sector, though there are some apprehensions. Judith Sischy, Director of SCIS, observes, "The independent sector readily adopted the four capacities, but is more cautious about the content of the materials and the slow pace at which the programme is developing, especially in secondary schools." Those schools which operate the Scottish exam system are keen to maintain the integrity of the exams which some see as being under threat. Traditional subjects, such as the three separate sciences and modern languages, appear to be declining in the state sector, giving way to such subjects as media studies and drama, which may have value in themselves, but rarely stand up to scrutiny by universities when applications for high tariff courses such as law and medicine are considered. The decision by Cambridge University to drop a modern language as a prerequisite for entry is seen by some heads as another slippery stone on the downward slope to mediocrity.
Another benefit of the OSCR review is that it has made the schools more aware of the importance of involvement with the local community. Most of them have run 'Community Service' programmes for many years, but recently these have been expanded. Hutcheson's Grammar School has recently appointed its first Depute Rector for Ethos, part of whose responsibility is to integrate the school more closely with the community. Among several projects, staff and pupils participate in Youth Strategy for Pollokshields, which involves all local schools, churches and various agencies. This is not always so easy for the rural boarding schools, but they too are making greater efforts to cooperate with local schools and organisations. As a result, these schools are no longer regarded as so stand-offish and socially remote.
As change takes place in schools, so it does in school personnel. Ardvreck, the only full boarding prep school left in Scotland, and now in its 75th year, has recently welcomed its new Head, Peter Sutton, who has a full Scottish pedigree, having been at Fettes as a boy, and having taught at Loretto and Gordonstoun. Edinburgh Academy will welcome its new rector, Marco Longmore, in August; he too has a Scottish pedigree, having been head of history at George Watson's before going to Alleyn's School at Dulwich as deputy head. At the same time, Loretto will have a new head, Peter Hogan, who has already served seven years as Head of Llandovery College, while John Halliday, currently head of Albyn School in Aberdeen, takes over at the High School of Dundee. All this fresh blood will undoubtedly add value to the sector as a whole.
As the independent schools look towards the future, there is a considerable confidence that is reflected in almost every school reporting an increased number of applications for places for the next academic year. At the same time, there will be more guarded optimism about the deliberations of OSCR, about the state of the economy, and about the increased bureaucracy embodied in the activities of such bodies as the Care Commission. As Judith Sischy says: "Schools are concerned about the current levels of regulation and inspection, and they hope consideration will be given to reducing the frequency of inspection of mainstream schools' care and accommodation."
One good thing to emerge in the past year has been the three-year teachers' pay deal. This has meant schools can plan their budgets with some certainty about their largest single item of expenditure, and this can only be helpful in keeping down fees. While these fees may appear daunting to prospective parents, they should balance that against the importance of their children's education, something considered by many to be beyond price.
• Frank Gerstenberg was principal at George Watson's College and is now a governor at Glenalmond College.
