A survey of the teaching and academic qualifications of private school staff, published by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), shows that teachers in ISC schools are very highly qualified academically and in teaching. This will surprise some. The commonly held belief is that, because people can teach at independent schools without certain teaching qualifications, they are necessarily less appropriately qualified than teachers in state schools. In fact the Teacher Survey finds an overwhelming range of qualifiications held by teachers in ISC schools, despite teaching qualifications not being mandatory. A very high level of relevent academic and professional expertise is the norm. Moreover both are particularly strong in key subjects such as science, maths and modern languages.