ISC CEO: 'Exam achievements by pupils from all types of schools should be celebrated'
Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, has said all pupils' exam achievements must be celebrated, after a survey found independent school pupils no longer outperform their state peers in core GCSEs when adjusted for socioeconomic background.
A new study by the University College London suggests that while state school pupils excel in maths, science, and English, those at independent schools still achieve higher results in creative arts subjects such as music, drama, and art, even after adjustments. According to the findings, independent school pupils achieve on average four fifths of a grade higher across eight GCSE subjects, but once socioeconomic status is taken into account the difference is close to zero.
Speaking to The Guardian, Ms Robinson said: “Exam achievements by pupils from all types of schools should be celebrated. Families choose independent schools for a variety of reasons, including the extracurricular offer, the holistic education experience and the breadth of subjects available for young people to study.”