Independent schools regulation, for book me write

[HareBrain]

A foundation in a book I'm writing has set up an independent school (in modern-day UK) and I've been trying to find out what kind of regulation they'd be subject to. My research so far seems to show they would be inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, but this appears to be mostly welfare based. Apart from that, it seems, the school could set its own curriculum, and not even set any exams. This feels almost too good to be true (for my story purposes). I do remember hearing about one famous and expensive private school where the pupils could basically do what they liked, but I don't know if regulations have changed since.

If anyone knows for sure, that would be a big help.

 

[Ursa major]

Here's the Gov.uk page for setting up a free school.

And here's Gov.uk page for registering up an independent school.

 

[HareBrain]

And here's Gov.uk page for registering up an independent school.

Thanks Ursa. I found the page I needed, after a bit of searching. It does seem to allow for some broad interpretation of the general aims, and I can't find any mention of exams. The more flexible the better as far as my story goes.

 

[Plucky Novice]

You should check out Ofsted as well. The word that fills all teachers with dread so I have observed.

Ofsted

 

[Juliana]

The more flexible the better as far as my story goes.

Ooh, is Adam going to witch school? *fingers crossed*

 

[Cathbad]

In the USA, it could be set up any way they want (although most states require K-12 to be taught/supervised by someone with a high school diploma). But to be accredited, they would have to meet established standards.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I do remember hearing about one famous and expensive private school where the pupils could basically do what they liked

One of my favorite books as a kid! But it was in Canada.

(Book called Apples Every Day, about a "progressive" school where nobody had to go to classes if they didn't want to, because it was all about finding yourself. I'm sure it was set in Canada so that US kids wouldn't get any ideas and think they could do that. Or, you know, the author was Canadian. I forget. But I still have it, so I could look. If this wasn't totally irrelevant to the question.)

 

[Jo Zebedee]

In the USA, it could be set up any way they want (although most states require K-12 to be taught/supervised by someone with a high school diploma). But to be accredited, they would have to meet established standards.

That’s how our training centres work. Schools are a different setup here. Much closer regulation

 

[HareBrain]

I do remember hearing about one famous and expensive private school where the pupils could basically do what they liked

I've now recollected this was Bedales, in Hampshire.

Ooh, is Adam going to witch school? *fingers crossed*

Yes, under an anonymity programme whereby he has to change his name to Harry.

 

[The Big Peat]

Yes, under an anonymity programme whereby he has to change his name to Harry.

OMG a wizard called Harry - disgraceful Dresden Files rip off!

(I have nothing useful as to the actual topic at the moment)

 

[Ursa major]

I've now recollected this was Bedales, in Hampshire.

Isn't Summerhill School another one?

 

[HareBrain]

Isn't Summerhill School another one?

Possibly. The name seems familiar.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Too late to this party to show off. I could’ve answered this query

check out Academies too then you don’t even have to worry about retention or league tables.

pH

 

[Ihe]

Apart from that, it seems, the school could set its own curriculum, and not even set any exams.

Like a Montissori school? They are amazing, apparently.

 

[Danny McG]

Get the kids in the school to watch Hunky Parker on the telly (doesn't help your question, I wanted to throw in an obscure reference)

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Research on this should be easy. Have a look at Gov.uk. You could probably ask for a set of rules, as though setting one up yourself.

Somewhere in there you'll probably find the dirty great dollop of cash you'll need will halt your progress. However, the potential compensations for tax relief, capital gains and chance to mould young minds to your will, will give you the urge to carry on.

You'll give up writing and instead become the brain washing megalomaniacal ruler of a small nuclear powered state with influence far and away beyond anything you ever dreamed of by just publishing a few books.

For my part, I've always been fond of Leporidae (and their associated species) and have never dreamed of eating rabbit stew. I think mixing my toaties was a crime against Lagomorphany the perpatrators should be hunted down and made to eat lettuce.

 

[Overread]

Much has already been mentioned, but I should note that whilst you can go "off grid" as such, many schools don't because of convention. Students basically need conventional grades from known examination bodies which would set the curriculum to be taught. That way they gain a grade that has a known value. A C in GCSE Maths is a C and most know what that means.

Like a lot of government legislation, education has broad aims and goals set by government, which are then interpreted into a best-practice approach promoted by specific bodies of interest - in this case examination boards like Edexcel. These bodies set the specifics into practice. You can go outside of that practice, but in general you have to have a very "good and justifiable reason" for doing so.

So for specific regulation look at the examination bodies as they are the ones that award the known grades and would be setting standards and content to be taught.

 

[HareBrain]

Much has already been mentioned, but I should note that whilst you can go "off grid" as such, many schools don't because of convention. Students basically need conventional grades from known examination bodies which would set the curriculum to be taught.

That would normally be a very valid point. However, this small school is basically a means for its founding organisation to recruit kids and keep them in one place. It also expects those kids to stay with the organisation after school age and will provide them with jobs (and the kids, very loyal to the organisation, wouldn't want anything else), so their employability in the wider world isn't a real issue.

For that reason, they'd need to meet the regulations just well enough not to draw too much official scrutiny or censure.

 

[Overread]

If I were to run such a program then the best way would be for the organisation to run their own examination board, that way they can control the curriculum specifically. They could branch it so that they run a general version used by "regular" schools and then their own modified version for their own school. That would make them overseen by a regulation body, but at the same time would have them in the normal light that students going from the collage to the workplace wouldn't seen abnormal. They could even call it an apprenticing system that kicks in once they reach their GSCE/Alevel stage in learning so that it appears normal that students who get to apprentice/train for the workplace end up working in the single workplace (ergo the organisation).

 

[HareBrain]

If I were to run such a program then the best way would be for the organisation to run their own examination board, that way they can control the curriculum specifically.

I know Bedales has its own qualifications, run alongside a smaller number of GCSEs.

They could even call it an apprenticing system

Good idea.