Independence
What independence means in practice
Independent schools in membership of SCIS are registered with the Scottish Government Schools Directorate and are subject to inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.
Freedom to innovate
Being responsible for their own management allows independent schools to adapt to changing circumstances and to develop expertise and resources to suit their needs. Each school has its own governing board and appoints its own staff. Teachers in the independent sector are well qualified and most are registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Although independent, schools can share their resources and benefit from their collective expertise. Through their membership of SCIS, they work together for the benefit of the sector and its pupils.
Hallmarks of independent schools in Scotland
Important to all independent schools is the development of each individual child’s potential. While each school has its own distinctive ethos, all the schools work towards creating a positive learning environment that will enable children to learn without disruption. Although schools do not regard good examination results as an end in itself, pupils achieve a high and consistently good level of attainment across the independent sector. As most schools admit children of mixed abilities, this is a credit to the commitment of teachers and the quality of teaching in independent schools. Participation in sport and co-curricular pursuits, that pupils can share with friends at school and continue to enjoy throughout their lives, is actively encouraged. As pupils grow into confident young adults, ready to make their way in the world, they learn respect for self and others and the value of service to the wider community.