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Hundreds more disadvantaged children set to go to boarding school after charity merger

The Royal National Children’s Foundation and the SpringBoard Bursary Foundation will unite to form new organisation later this month

Hundreds more vulnerable or disadvantaged children are expected to receive bursaries to attend boarding school, following the planned merger of two charities.

Ian Davenport, who describes himself as “de facto chief executive” of both organisations, said that SpringBoard will be funding 300 children to go to boarding school this September, while the RNCF would do so for 370 children.

However, he said the combined figure would rise to 1,000 in two years’ time, following the merger.

SpringBoard provides full bursaries for children who come from a low-income background, are genuinely disadvantaged and would best benefit from boarding to go to state or independent boarding schools.

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/hundreds-more-disadvantaged-children-set-go-boarding-school-after

See also: Boarding school places for Syrian refugee children remain unfilled

Number of privately educated pupils reaches record levels

The number of children educated in private schools is at its highest since records began, a survey of the sector has shown.

Nearly 523,000 children are taught in fee-paying schools – the highest it has been since 1974, according to figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, said the sector had managed to “confound the doom-mongers” by producing “outstanding exam results”.

“ISC schools offer pupils excellent all-round education, a serious and professional approach to pastoral care and a focus on soft skills,” Mr Lenon added.

“Undistracted by state-imposed accountability measures, our schools are free to focus on the needs of individual pupils, supporting them to become committed and confident young people who thrive when challenged.”

Around 7 per cent of UK school children are educated in the independent school sector, but this rises to 15 per cent for children aged 16, and 16 per cent of those aged 17 and over.

The ISC also highlighted that partnerships between the private schools and the state school sector was also at its “highest ever level”, with an estimated 175,000 state pupils involved in initiatives with fee-paying schools.

https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/education/number-privately-educated-pupils-reaches-record-levels/

See also: Leading private girls' schools to share physics teachers with state sector