Best Schools - ‘Refocus on partnerships’: key message at top independent school’s conference

The parliamentary under secretary of state has urged senior leaders at independent schools to re-focus on the partnerships they have with the state school sector.

Speaking at Brighton College’s Education Conference, Lord Agnew said: “Challenge yourself to re-focus on partnerships, either consider what you can be doing or extend what you’re already doing.”

He gave the example of The London Academy of Excellence, a free school, which was established in 2012 with the help of Brighton College, and was named in 2016 as The Sunday Times’ Sixth Form College of the Year.

Sharing facilities and holding joint events are key to successful partnerships, he said, as well as having joint classes to allow state schools to benefit from the independent school sector’s “world-class teachers”.

He also encouraged teachers to get older independent school pupils to mentor younger state school pupils.

Education group brings boarding school into the fold

A boarding school in Oxford has been acquired by Oxford International Education Group.

Oxford International College (OIC) will be the third school in Oxford International Education Group's schools and colleges portfolio.

The boarding school that boasts strong A-Level results and impressive Oxbridge and other top university admission rates.

"The acquisition is one of a number the group plans to make in the independent sector in the UK," said Lil Bremermann-Richard, group chief officer of Oxford International Education Group.

"With OIC, with its superb track record and global reputation, is ideally suited to help us realise that goal."