Useful information
This section provides 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. The information below is based on information on each organisation’s website.
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)
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.
2010 dates 29 & 30 October
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)
St George’s House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3SY
Tel: +44 (0)1276 687525
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)
The Pump House
16 Queen’s Avenue
Christchurch
BH23 1BZ
Tel: +44 (0)1202 487538
Fax: +44 (0)1202 473728
Email: enquiries@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)871 330 7033
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)
Unit 8 Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell, RG12 7BW
Tel: +44 (0) 845 251 9003 Fax: +44 (0) 845 251 9005
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)
Old Post House, Castle St, Whittington, Shropshire, SY11 4DF
Tel: 0845 601 5013
Email: admin@crested.org.uk Web: www.crested.org.uk
CReSTeD provides a free list of schools approved for its SpLD (dyslexia) provision. Forces children attending schools listed under categories DSP, SPS 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@dyslexiaaction.org.uk Web: www.dyslexiaaction.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
Unit 3, Floor 3
Radisson Court
219 Long Lane
London
SE1 4PR
Tel/minicom: +44 (0)20 7450 0620 Fax: +44 (0)20 7450 0650
Email: skill@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: csamds@tiscali.co.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.dcsf.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 eight constituent associations of ISC are listed on page 143.
Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS)
AGBIS represents the interests of the governing bodies of ISC schools.
AGBIS
The Grange
3 Codicote Road
Welwyn
Herts AL6 9LY
Contact: Stuart Westley, General Secretary
Tel: 01438 840 730
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
Pembroke House
8 St Christophers Place
Farnborough, GU14 0NH
Contact: Dr Fiona Rogers, General Secretary
Tel: +44 (0)1252 513 930
Fax: +44 (0)1252 516 000
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: iaps@iaps.org.uk
Web: www.iaps.org.uk/
Independent Schools Association (ISA)
ISA members include heads of some 300 preparatory, senior and all-through schools
ISA
Boys’ British School
East Street
Saffron Walden CB10 1LS
Contact: Neil Roskilly, 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: info@scis.org.uk
Web: www.scis.org.uk/
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