Schools Guide

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Contact details for a selection of organisations that will be able to provide you with further information about boarding schools and studying in the UK.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Naval Families Association
Castaway House
311 Twyford Avenue
Portsmouth
Hampshire PO2 8RN
Tel: 023 9265 4374
Fax: 023 9265 3862
Email: admin@nff.org.uk

Army Families Association
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wiltshire SN9 6BE
Tel: 01980 615525 (Mil: (9) 4344 5525)
Fax: 01980 615526 (Mil: (9) 4344 5526)
Email: us@aff.org.uk
Central office: opening hours 9am–5pm Mon–Fri

The RAF Families Association
13–15 St Georges Road
Wittering
Peterborough PE8 6DL
Tel: 01780 781650

The Independent Schools Council information & advice service (ISCias)
St Vincent House
30 Orange Street
London WC2H 7HH
National information line: 0845 (7246657) SCHOOLs
Fax: +44 (0)20 7766 7071
Email: information@isc.co.uk
Web: www.isc.co.uk
ISC offers free and impartial advice about the sector

Independent Schools Show
Held every Autumn in Battersea Park London.
2009 dates October 30 & October 31

A production of:
Next Step Exhibitions Ltd
Studio 2Y,
Cooper House,
2 Michael Road,
London
SW6 2AD
Web: www.schoolsshow.com
Tickets: 020 7127 0034

OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS

ISCis Ireland
5 Sandycove Avenue East
Sandycove
County Dublin
Republic of Ireland
Tel: 00 353 1280 9545
Email: palmercarter@eircom.net
Regional Director: Palmer Carter

Welsh Independent Schools Council (WISC)
Hazelhurst
Ledbury Road
Dymock
Gloucestershire GL18 2AG
Tel/fax: 01531 890150
Email: ibrwn6@aol.com
Web: www.isc.co.uk/ParentZone_RegionalAdviceinWales.htm
Regional Director: Ian Brown

Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS)
21 Melville Street
Edinburgh EH3 7PE
Tel: 0131 220 2106
Fax: 0131 225 8594
Email: information@scis.org.uk
Web: www.scis.org.uk
Director: Judith Sischy

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
Tel: 0870 000 2288
Textphone/Minicom: 01928 794274
Fax: 01928 794248
Email: info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.dcsf.gov.uk or www.dfes.gov.uk

The Independent Schools Careers Organisation (ISCO)
Head Office
12A Princess Way
Camberley
Surrey GU15 3SP
Tel: +44 (0)1276 21188
Fax: +44 (0)1276 691833
Email: info@isco.org.uk
Web: www.isco.org.uk
Provides information and advice on careers and higher education choices for pupils in ISCO member schools

The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB)
Jordan House
Christchurch Road
New Milton
Hampshire BH25 6QJ
Tel: +44 (0)1425 621111
Fax: +44 (0)1425 620044
Email: ce@iseb.co.uk
Web: www.iseb.co.uk
Administers exams for pupils transferring to independent senior schools (at ages 11–13+)

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
CAP House
9–12 Long Lane
London EC19 9HA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7600 0100
Fax: +44 (0)20 7776 8849
Email: info@isinspect.org.uk
Web: www.isi.net
ISI ensures high standards among ISC member schools by carrying out inspections every six years

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
Peterson House
Malthouse Avenue
Cardiff Gate
Cardiff, Wales CF23 8GL
Tel: +44 (0)29 2054 7777
Fax: +44 (0)29 2054 7778
Email: ibca@ibo.org
Web: www.ibo.org
The IBO administers the International Baccalaureate in schools in over 100 countries around the world

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Rosehill
New Barn Lane, Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ
Tel: +44 (0)870 112 2211 (applications) or +44 (0)1242 222444
(enquiries)
Fax: +44 (0)1242 544960
Email: enq@ucas.ac.uk
Web: www.ucas.ac.uk
UCAS receives and processes applications for undergraduate admission to UK universities and university-sector colleges

Educational Grants Advice
Independent Schools Council
c/o Joint Educational Trust
6–8 Fenchurch Buildings
London EC3M 5HT
Tel: 05601 503 524 (answered between 9am and 11am)
Web: www.educational-grants.org

INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS PARENTS
AND BOARDERS

The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (AEGIS)
Mrs Janet Bowman, AEGIS Secretary
66 Humphreys Close
Randwick, Stroud
Gloucestershire GL5 5NY
Tel/fax: +44 (0)1453 755160
Email: secretary@aegisuk.net
Web: www.aegisuk.net

The British Council
Bridgewater House
58 Whitworth Street
Manchester M1 6BB
Tel: +44 (0)161 957 7755
Fax: +44 (0)161 957 7162
Minicom: +44 (0)161 957 7183
Email: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org

Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS)
Upavon
Pewsey
Wiltshire SN9 6BE
Tel: +44 (0)1980 618244
Fax: +44 (0)1980 618245
Email: enquiries@ceas.detsa.co.uk
Web: www.ceas.mod.uk
The helpline is staffed 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays; an answer-phone is available at all other times

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
Oriel House
Oriel Road, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL50 1XP
Tel: +44 (0)870 990 4088
Fax: +44 (0)1242 258611
Email: naric@ecctis.co.uk
Web: www.naric.org.uk
Provides advice on overseas qualifications accepted by UK institutions; queries should be sent in writing

UKCOSA: The Council for International Education
9–17 St Albans Place
London N1 0NX
Tel: +44 (0)20 7288 4330
Fax: +44 (0)20 7288 4360
Email: enquiries@ukcosa.org.uk
Web: www.ukcosa.org.uk
UKCOSA looks after the needs and interests of international students; offers free information and advice to international students already in the UK, and to prospective international students around the world

SPECIAL NEEDS INFORMATION

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
98 London Road, Reading RG1 5AU
Tel: +44 (0)118 966 2677 Fax: +44 (0)118 935 1927
Email: helpline@bdadyslexia.org.uk
Web: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Offers information and help to families, professionals and dyslexic individuals

Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils (CReSTeD)
Greygarth, Littleworth, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, GL54 5BT
Tel: 01242 604852
Email: admin@crested.org.uk
Web: www.crested.org.uk
CReSTeD provides a free list of schools approved for their SpLD (dyslexia) provision. Forces children attending schools listed under Categories SP and DU may qualify for help with fees from the CEAS

Dyslexia Institute (DI)
Park House
Wick Road
Egham
Surrey TW20 0HH
Tel: +44 (0)1784 222300 Fax: +44 (0)1784 222333
Email: info@dyslexia-inst.org.uk
Web: www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk
Carries out assessments of children and adults who may be dyslexic, provides tuition, trains specialist teachers, develops teaching materials and conducts research

Skill: The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Chapter House
18–20 Crucifix Lane
London SE1 3JW
Tel/minicom: +44 (0)20 7450 0620 Fax: +44 (0)20 7450 0650
Email: info@skill.org.uk
Web: www.skill.org.uk
Promotes opportunities for people with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment in the UK

SPECIALIST SCHOOLS INFORMATION

The Choir Schools’ Association (CSA)
Mrs Susan Rees
Wolvesey
College Street
Winchester
Hampshire SP23 9ND
Tel: 01962 890530
Fax: 01962 869978
Email: admin@choirschools.org.uk
Web: www.choirschools.org.uk
An association of UK boarding and day schools attached to cathedrals, churches and college chapels

Music and Dance Scheme
Web: www.dfes.gov.uk/mds

Five music schools and four performing arts schools participate in the UK government’s Music and Dance Scheme, which provides funding for exceptionally talented children to study at these schools

RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS INFORMATION

Church of England
The Woodard Corporation
High Street
Abbots Bromley
Rugeley
Staffordshire WS15 3BW
Tel: 01283 840120
Fax: 01283 840893
Email: jillshorthose@woodard.co.uk
Web: www.woodard.co.uk
A corporation of 45 Church of England schools in England and Wales

The Board of Management for Methodist Residential Schools
25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5JR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7935 3723
Fax: +44 (0)20 7224 0702
Email: grussell@methodisteducation.co.uk
Web: www.methodisteducation.co.uk
An umbrella organisation for the 14 independent Methodist schools in the UK

The Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference
General Secretary
10 Shrewsbury Road
Prenton
Merseyside CH43 1UX
Tel: 0151 652 4326
Fax: 0151 652 5351
Email: p-sweeney@btconnect.com
Web: www.CatholicIndependentSchools.org

Quakers
Friends House
173–177 Euston Road
London NW1 2BJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7663 1000
Fax: +44 (0)20 7663 1001
Web: www.quakerschools.org.uk
The website provides information about independent Quaker schools in the UK

ISC CONSTITUENT MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

The Council provides a single, unified organisation that speaks and acts on behalf of the associations of governing bodies, heads and bursars by which it was constituted (listed below). ISC promotes member schools’ common interests at the political level by making representations to government ministers, politicians of all parties, civil servants and the media. It also has overall responsibility for the Independent Schools Inspectorate, which ensures high standards among ISC schools, teacher recruitment campaigns, the ISC teacher induction panel, which enables several hundred newly qualified teachers in ISC schools each year to obtain Qualified Teacher Status, and other matters. The seven constituent associations of ISC are listed below.

Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS)
AGBIS represents the interests of the governing bodies of ISC schools.
AGBIS
Renshaw Barns
Upper Woodford
Salisbury
Wiltshire SP4 6FA
Contact: Shane Rutter-Jerome, General Secretary
Tel: 01722 782900
Email: gensec@agbis.org.uk
Web: www.agbis.org.uk

Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
COBIS represents accredited British Schools abroad, anywhere in the world.
COBIS
Oxford Brookes University
Harcourt Hill Campus
Oxford OX2 9AT
Contact: Dr Fiona Rogers, General Secretary
Tel: 01865 488 564
Email: general.secretary@cobis.org.uk
Web: www.cobis.org.uk

Girls’ Schools Association (GSA)
GSA is the main association to which heads of girls’ senior independent schools belong.
GSA
130 Regent Road
Leicester LE1 7PG
Contact: Sheila Cooper, Executive Director
Tel: 0116 2541619
Email: office@gsa.uk.com
Web: www.gsa.uk.com/

Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC)
HMC represents the heads of over 240 boys’ and co-educational independent senior schools.
HMC
12 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire LE16 7QU
Contact: Geoff Lucas, Secretary
Tel: 01858 469 059
Email: hmc@hmc.org.uk
Web: www.hmc.org.uk

Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS)
Represents the heads of more than 570 boys’, girls’ and co-educational preparatory schools for children aged from 2 to 13.
IAPS
11 Waterloo Place
Leamington Spa CV32 5LA
Contact: David Hanson, Chief Executive
Tel: 01926 887833
Email: hq@iaps.org.uk
Web: www.iaps.org.uk

Independent Schools Association (ISA)
ISA members include heads of some 300 preparatory, senior and allthrough schools.
ISA
Boys’ British School
East Street
Saffron Walden CB10 1LS
Contact: Tim Ham, General Secretary
Tel: 01799 523619
Email: isa@isaschools.org.uk
Web: www.isaschools.org.uk

Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA)
ISBA represents the bursars of over 800 senior and junior schools.
Unit 11–12
Manor Farm
Cliddesden
Basingstoke RG25 2JB
Contact: Jonathan Cook, General Secretary
Tel: 01256 330369
Email: office@theisba.org.uk
Web: www.theisba.org.uk

Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS)
SHMIS represents the heads of independent schools of all sizes, many of which have a long tradition of boarding.
12 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire LE16 7QU
Contact: David Richardson, General Secretary
Tel: 01858 433760
Email: gensec@shmis.org.uk
Web: www.shmis.org.uk

AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS

Boarding Schools Association (BSA)
The BSA is the UK Association promoting and serving boarding education in both the independent and maintained sectors.
BSA
Grosvenor Gardens House
35–37 Grosvenor Gardens
London SW1W 0BS
Contact: Hilary Moriarty, National Director
Tel: 020 7798 1580
Email: bsa@boarding.org.uk
Web: www.boarding.org.uk

Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS)
SCIS promotes and supports the significant contribution made to Scottish education by independent schools.
21 Melville Street
Edinburgh EH3 7PE
Contact: Judith Sischy, Director
Tel: 0131 220 2106
Email: information@scis.org.uk
Web: www.scis.org.uk