HMC is a professional association representing the heads of many of the world's leading independent schools. Historically associated with the great public schools, its membership is now diverse, including co-educational, single-sex, day, and boarding schools for pupils aged 11-18. Membership is considered a kitemark of global quality, innovation, and excellence in education. The conference enables members to share best practices, provides professional development, and offers a collective voice to influence national and international educational policy, championing high standards in all aspects of school life.
HMC Member Schools (140)
Mill Hill School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, set within 120 acres of parkland in North London. Established in 1807 by Nonconformist ministers and merchants, the school occupies grounds that formerly belonged to the botanist Peter Collinson. The campus features notable architecture, including the Greco-Roman School House by Sir William Tite and a chapel designed by Basil Champneys. The school provides a broad education that balances academic study with a diverse co-curricular programme, supported by facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and a dedicated theatre.
Putney High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on a leafy campus in southwest London. Founded in 1893, the school is a prominent member of the Girls' Day School Trust and emphasises an ethos of 'modern scholarship'. The site on Putney Hill combines original Victorian architecture with contemporary sustainable developments, such as the Athena Centre for science and drama and pioneering biophilic classrooms. The school fosters intellectual curiosity and real-world agility, offering a broad curriculum and extensive extracurricular opportunities within reach of the River Thames.
Situated in the Kemptown area of Brighton, East Sussex, Brighton College is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18. Its campus combines historic Gothic Revival buildings with contemporary architecture, including the award-winning School of Science and Sport. The school claims to focus on an ethos of kindness, guided by the Greek motto, 'Let right prevail'. Facilities include 18 university-standard laboratories, a 400-seat theatre, and a 25-metre swimming pool, all located within walking distance of the seafront and the South Downs.
The Royal Masonic School for Girls is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 315 acres of parkland in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1788 to provide for the daughters of Freemasons, the school relocated to its present site in 1934. The campus features a blend of historic architecture and modern facilities, including a planetarium, a dedicated performing arts centre, and extensive sports grounds. The school focuses on nurturing individual talent and potential, offering a broad curriculum alongside a diverse range of extracurricular activities.
Harrow School is a boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18. Located on the Hill in Harrow, North-West London, the school operates within a historic campus environment. It emphasises a holistic education rooted in a set of core values, including courage, honour, humility, and fellowship. The school provides a traditional academic curriculum alongside a wide-ranging programme of sport, arts, and leadership activities. Pupils are accommodated within a system of boarding houses, which serves as the centre of their pastoral care and daily life.
Mill Hill Pre-Prep Grimsdell is a co-educational day school in North West London for pupils aged 3 to 7. As part of the Mill Hill Education Group, the school is set within 120 acres of parkland, facilitating a curriculum with a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and Forest School. The school was established in 1995 within the renovated Winterstoke House and operates with a nurturing ethos centred on kindness. Pupils benefit from an Early Years Village and shared access to the wider foundation’s swimming pool and theatre.
Belmont Mill Hill Preparatory School is a co-educational day school in North London for pupils aged 7 to 13. Part of the Mill Hill Education Group, the school is set within 35 acres of green space, including woodland and a cross-country course, ten miles from central London. Established in 1912 as a boys' boarding school, it became fully co-educational in 1995. The curriculum integrates a "Future Skills" programme alongside traditional academics, supported by facilities including a swimming pool, modern science laboratories, and specialist studios for art, music technology, and design.
Lingfield College is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated in 40 acres of grounds in the Surrey countryside. Originally founded in 1940 by the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, the school transitioned from its origins as a convent school to its current secular status. The college emphasises a well-rounded education, combining academic study with a focus on pastoral care and extracurricular engagement. Facilities include a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and extensive sporting grounds, supporting a curriculum designed to foster individual growth and community spirit.
Ashford School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Kent for pupils aged three months to 18 years. Founded in 1898, the school operates across two campuses: the Senior School at East Hill and the Prep School in the village of Great Chart. Facilities include an All-Steinway music school, indoor swimming pools, and a modern sports centre. Part of the United Learning group, the school occupies a 25-acre main site and incorporates a Grade II listed building. The curriculum is designed to foster individual character and adventurous learning.
Guildford High School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on London Road in the heart of Guildford. Founded in 1887 by the Church Schools Company, the school provides a progressive and nurturing environment based on its "GHS 8" principles of kindness and resilience. The campus combines historic architecture with modern facilities, including a dedicated Sixth Form centre in Morton House and a state-of-the-art sports centre featuring a 25-metre swimming pool. Pupils enjoy extensive extracurricular opportunities, with a particular focus on lacrosse and swimming, alongside direct access to the playing fields of Stoke Park.
Wimbledon High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in the heart of Wimbledon, London. Founded in 1880 by the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school occupies a town-centre site featuring Victorian buildings and modern additions, including a dedicated STEAM tower. Its playing fields at Nursery Road possess significant sporting heritage as the original home of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The school focuses on fostering intellectual curiosity and resilience, encouraging pupils to explore a broad range of academic and co-curricular opportunities.
Reed's School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11 to 18, with a co-educational Sixth Form, located on a 40-acre site in Cobham, Surrey. Founded in 1813 by the Reverend Andrew Reed as the London Orphan Asylum, the school moved to its current premises in 1946. It offers a variety of academic and extracurricular programmes, with dedicated facilities including an indoor cricket centre and a regional tennis academy. The school maintains an emphasis on character development and pastoral care, rooted in its historical foundation as a charitable institution.