The Independent Schools Association (ISA) represents the Heads of over 650 of the UK’s best independent schools. As a member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), it provides professional support, fellowship, and a collective voice for its members. The ISA is known for its diverse membership, which includes co-educational and single-sex schools, boarding and day schools, and specialist schools for the arts or specific educational needs. It fosters collaboration and high standards, and also organises a wide array of national sporting, artistic, and cultural events for pupils.
ISA Member Schools (328)
Babington House School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in Chislehurst, Kent. Established in 1887 by Madame Rossel and named after the writer Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, the school moved to its current site at Elmstead Grange in 1957. It combines academic rigour with a nurturing ethos underpinned by Christian values. The school is known for its small class sizes and a broad curriculum with a strong focus on the arts, music, and sport, supported by modern facilities for performing arts and extensive games areas.
St John's Preparatory and Senior School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 19, situated in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Set within 28 acres of green belt countryside, the school is arranged across two sites, with the senior department housed in a Grade II listed building. The ethos focuses on developing well-rounded individuals, combining academic rigour with a supportive social environment. Notable features include a compulsory supervised prep hour for pupils aged seven and above, alongside facilities such as a large sports hall and extensive outdoor space.
Cranford School is an independent, co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in the rural village of Moulsford, South Oxfordshire. Originally established as an all-girls school with a single pupil, it provides an all-through education encompassing a nursery, pre-prep, junior, senior, and sixth form department. The campus centres around a historic Georgian brick manor house complemented by modern additions, including an all-weather astroturf pitch, a sports hall, and a purpose-built sixth form centre. The school emphasises a supportive community ethos alongside strong pastoral care.
Beechwood School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Set within 23 acres of landscaped grounds, the school is centred around a grand Victorian mansion constructed in 1855. Founded in 1915 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, it maintains a nurturing ethos based on its founding traditions while welcoming children of all faiths. Facilities include a dedicated auditorium, sports gym, and MUGA pitch, supporting a broad curriculum that offers a wide variety of academic and creative subjects at GCSE and A-level.
Ewell Castle School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in Ewell, Surrey. The school occupies a historic site that was once part of Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace estate, with its primary building being a Grade II listed castellated mansion constructed in 1814. It provides a continuous education across three distinct sites: the Castle, Glyn House, and Chessington Lodge. The school emphasises a balanced approach to academic and personal development, offering a wide range of sporting and creative extracurricular opportunities within its fifteen-acre grounds.
Colchester Prep & High School is a co-educational independent day school in Essex, catering for pupils aged 2 to 16. Situated on an urban site on Wellesley Road, the school comprises a series of converted Victorian houses. It delivers an education focusing on global citizenship, social responsibility, and a digital, STEAM-powered curriculum. Founded to provide a comprehensive education, the school fosters a supportive community that helps develop balanced, confident young individuals prepared for the modern world. It provides continuity from nursery up to the senior stage.
Thorpe Hall School is a co-educational, non-selective independent day school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, catering for pupils aged 2 to 16. Operating as an all-through school, it comprises a nursery, prep school, and senior school. Established on an 11-acre site, the school features extensive facilities, including a seven-acre sports field, an outdoor learning area, a fully equipped 250-seat theatre, and a modern sports hall. Its ethos focuses on traditional values such as hard work, respect, and fairness, aiming to provide a supportive environment that enables every child to develop well-rounded attributes.
Gatehouse School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated in Bethnal Green opposite Victoria Park. Founded in 1948 by Phyllis Wallbank in the gatehouse of St Bartholomew-the-Great, the school moved to its current site in the 1970s. Its educational philosophy is rooted in Montessori principles, fostering an inclusive, non-selective environment. The school prioritises the arts and physical education, utilising its own playgrounds and the adjacent parkland for sports. Recent renovations have added modern facilities, including a new assembly hall and specialised spaces for music and drama.
The Mulberry House School is an independent co-educational pre-prep and nursery for pupils aged two to seven, located in West Hampstead, North West London. Operating across two sites, the school is housed in refurbished Victorian buildings on Minster Road and Shoot Up Hill. The curriculum emphasises the development of the whole child, balancing academic preparation for 7+ transitions with creative arts, music, and physical education. The school's ethos focuses on fostering curiosity and individual potential, maintaining strong links with many of the capital's leading preparatory and senior schools.
Shoreham College is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 16, located in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. Founded in 1852, the school is set within an 11-acre campus that includes a 500-year-old Tudor manor house and historic flint walls. The college follows a non-selective admissions policy and provides an education focused on individual well-being and academic breadth. Specialist facilities include a heated open-air swimming pool, modern STEM laboratories, and a forest school. The site also features extensive playing fields for sporting activities and outdoor learning.
The Ursuline Preparatory School is a co-educational, independent Catholic day school for pupils aged 3 to 11. Located in Warley, near Brentwood, Essex, the school occupies a large Georgian house following its relocation and extensive restoration in 1994. It caters for children across nursery, pre-prep, and prep stages. The curriculum is complemented by a diverse extracurricular programme featuring music, drama, art, and sport. Driven by traditional values and an Ursuline ethos, the school maintains a structured environment designed to support the moral, social, and academic development of every individual.
Cranmore School is an independent day school set within 25 acres of grounds in West Horsley, Surrey. Founded in 1968, the school follows a Roman Catholic ethos and is part of the Effingham Schools Trust. It operates a diamond model, offering co-education in the early years before transitioning to single-sex provision for boys aged 7 to 16. The campus features various facilities, including a purpose-built music school with a Mander pipe organ, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, and a contemporary Science and Technology Centre.