The Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) is the governing body for association football in the UK independent sector. Recognised by the Football Association, it operates as a membership organisation for schools ranging from prep to senior levels. ISFA's primary aims include the promotion of high standards of sportsmanship and the provision of competitive opportunities through national cup competitions and representative pathways. It is governed by an Executive Committee of school representatives and provides a structured framework for coaching development, ensuring football remains a central pillar of the independent school sporting curriculum.
ISFA Member Schools (112)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bishopsgate School is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 13, situated on a 30-acre site in Englefield Green, Surrey, adjacent to Windsor Great Park. Founded in 1896, the school provides a broad curriculum that balances academic study with extensive extracurricular opportunities. Facilities include a modern sports hall, an indoor swimming pool, and a dedicated forest school area. The school focuses on developing well-rounded individuals, preparing them for transition to a wide range of senior schools at the end of Year 8.
St John's School, Leatherhead, is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Surrey for pupils aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1851 to provide education for the sons of the clergy, the school moved to its current 50-acre site in 1872. The campus features a blend of Victorian red-brick architecture and modern facilities, including a sports centre with a 25-metre swimming pool. St John's emphasises a balance of academic ambition, strong pastoral care through its house system, and a broad range of co-curricular opportunities in sports, performing arts, and community service.
St Albans High School for Girls (STAHS) is an independent day school for pupils aged 4 to 18. Established in 1889, the school operates across two Hertfordshire sites: the Senior School in central St Albans and the Preparatory School set within 18 acres of parkland in Wheathampstead. Rooted in the Church of England tradition, the school follows a "Teach to 25" philosophy. Facilities include a performing arts centre, an indoor swimming pool, and extensive sports grounds for lacrosse and tennis, alongside a modern Sixth Form centre.
Bromley High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on a 25-acre campus in Bickley, Greater London. Established in 1883 and a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school moved to its current site in 1981. It holds the distinction of being the world's first all-girls All-Steinway School, housing a specialist music wing. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and floodlit sports pitches. The school provides a rigorous academic environment alongside a diverse range of extracurricular opportunities in music, sport, and the arts.
Epsom College is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated on an 84-acre estate in Surrey. Established in 1855 by Dr John Propert, the school was originally founded as the Royal Medical Benevolent College to support members of the medical profession and their families. The campus features distinctive Grade II listed Victorian Gothic architecture, including the notable St Luke's Chapel. The college provides a broad curriculum with a strong emphasis on science and the arts, supported by facilities such as a purpose-built theatre and an indoor swimming pool.
St Columba's College is a co-educational Catholic day school for pupils aged 4 to 18, situated in St Albans. Established in 1939 and managed by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart since 1955, the school occupies a site overlooking St Albans Cathedral. Its ethos is guided by the "Columban Code", which promotes courtesy, courage, and compassion. The campus combines historic properties with modern facilities, including a Sixth Form Centre and all-weather sports pitches. The school provides a broad curriculum complemented by an extensive co-curricular programme, including the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
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.