The Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) is the leading organisation supporting the business management of independent schools in the UK. It provides professional support, advice, and guidance to bursars and business managers to help them manage their schools effectively. The association offers a range of services, including training, conferences, and publications, to its member schools, which include over 1,300 independent schools across the UK and internationally. ISBA is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and represents the interests of its members to government and other agencies.
ISBA Member Schools (614)
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.
Situated in Eastbourne on the East Sussex coast, Eastbourne College is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. Established in 1867, the school is located between the beach and the South Downs, describing itself as a ‘blue health school’ that promotes well-being through its maritime environment. The campus features the Birley Centre and the Winn Building, offering a mix of modern and traditional facilities. The school claims to focus on a holistic education underpinned by its core values of excellence, integrity, participation, and kindness.
Cumnor House Sussex is a co-educational nursery, pre-prep, and prep school set within a 60-acre campus between the South Downs and the Ashdown Forest in West Sussex. Founded in 1931, the school offers day and flexible boarding options, preparing pupils for entry into senior schools. The extensive grounds feature outstanding facilities, including a state-of-the-art STEM building, a 300-seat theatre, a 17th-century music barn, a high-specification art barn, and heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Pupils also benefit from extensive sports pitches, a bespoke dance studio, and a nine-hole golf course.
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.
Holmewood House is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, set within 32 acres of parkland in Langton Green, Kent. The school is centred around a mansion designed by Decimus Burton, formerly the residence of Sir Charles Locock, physician to Queen Victoria. Established in 1945, Holmewood House focuses on a holistic education that balances a broad curriculum with pastoral care. Notable facilities include a 360-seat theatre, an indoor swimming pool, and a purpose-built music school. The school provides flexible, weekly, and full boarding options.
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.
Blackheath High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated on the edge of the Heath in South East London. Founded in 1880 as the first purpose-built school of the Girls’ Day School Trust, it was officially opened by Princess Louise. The school operates across two sites: the Junior School in Blackheath Village and the Senior School at Vanbrugh Park. Facilities include an £18 million campus redevelopment with a state-of-the-art library, fitness suite, and an extensive sports campus at Kidbrooke Grove.
Croydon High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated on a 20-acre site in Selsdon, South Croydon. Established in 1874, it was one of the earliest schools founded by the Girls’ Day School Trust. The campus features extensive green space and facilities such as a 25-metre swimming pool, a sports hall, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school provides a broad curriculum designed to encourage independence and leadership, supported by a wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities.
Hertford Prep, formerly known as St Joseph’s in the Park, is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11. Set within the historic grounds of Hertingfordbury Park near Hertford, the school occupies a site with 17th-century origins and extensive woodland used for its Forest School. Founded in 1898, it emphasises a nurturing family ethos and a broad curriculum. The school features the Woodlands learning centre, which provides specialist support for pupils with dyslexia and dyscalculia, and has been part of the Mill Hill Education Group since 2021.
Streatham & Clapham High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated across two sites in South London. Founded in 1887 and a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school features a Prep School in a Victorian building and a Senior School bordering Tooting Common. Notable architecture includes 1930s modernist structures and a contemporary Sixth Form wing. Specialist facilities include a recital hall, art suites, and a floodlit all-weather pitch. Guided by the motto "Towards wisdom unafraid," the school balances academic breadth with a wide-ranging co-curricular programme.