42 . Glasgow Business October 2016


“Many of our schools have been part of their communities throughout their history”


schools have risen above inflation in recent years, with an average 19 per cent rise since 2011. David Girdwood says there is concern in the sector about rising costs. “We want to continue to be affordable and make sure that annual fees rises are modest.” Many independent schools


need a continuing investment in infrastructure to ensure they maintain top class facilities. Te payroll is also a major cost – taken together, they employ more than 7,300 teaching and support staff, with an average pupil ratio in SCIS schools of one teacher to every 8.7 pupils. Te sector is a major


contributor to the Scotish economy. An assessment impact commissioned by the organisation in April this year showed that its member schools contributed


Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow promotes tuition in certain subjects to pupils of state secondaries


£246.6 million to the exchequer, equivalent to £102 for every household in Scotland. Savings to the state education sector amounted to £156 million. Tere is also a strong ethos


of community service and of partnership with the state sector in most schools. For instance, St Columba’s provides a leader free of charge for a Duke of Edinburgh Award leadership


programme across Inverclyde. Hutchesons’ Grammar School


in Glasgow promotes Advanced Higher tuition in subjects such as drama and physics to pupils of state secondaries where these are not taught. It also engages in joint environmental projects with other local schools. “We are happy these days to be


part of the broader education system and to make a contribution


where we can,” says John Edward. “Many of our schools have been part of their communities throughout their history. Indeed, it’s oſten what they were set up to do. “I have yet to meet anyone


working in an independent school who wants to shut the gate. We want to meet the purpose of advancing education in the broadest sense. We take that very seriously.”


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