APPG Inquiry: Supporting a broad state school curriculum

The APPG Independent Education undertook a review on the subject “How independent schools can support a broad and balanced state school curriculum.”

You can find our report above, including the follow recommendations for schools, leaders, and for the Department for Education:

1. The Department for Education should encourage the further development of independent-state school partnerships, through efforts to encourage and broker partnerships, and seed funding to encourage the beginning of high-priority areas (e.g., in Education Investment Areas).
2. This should include a brokerage body to support busy school leaders in establishing partnerships – they should not only advertise partnership opportunities but help co-ordinate partnerships until they become established. The body will require the support and endorsement of the Department and should already be a part of the education landscape. Multi-academy trusts, or educational charities, should be considered.
3. The Department for Education should issue guidance to all schools, advising them to consider independent-state school partnerships when they seek support to fulfil curriculum duties.
4. The Department for Education should pay particular attention partnerships between senior schools and encourages multi-academy trusts to form whole-group partnerships with appropriate independent schools, or groups of independent schools.
5. That schools – of all types – should consider partnerships as a ‘first response’ to the need to expand the subjects they offer – and all generously consider how they could partner with local colleagues to spread opportunity.
6. The Department for Education should work to encourage the formation of formal Independent-State School Partnership (ISSP) groups, and that independent schools, state schools, and other educational bodies collaborate to create ISSPs. Recognising that this approach is not appropriate in every instance, we encourage all schools to consider measured to make their partnerships sustainable and mutually beneficial.

Thank you to all those who gave evidence to the APPG, and to all those working in partnership in education.

This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this report are those of the group.

This Report was researched and funded by the Independent Schools Council, as the Secretariat to the APPG.