The Society of Heads is a professional association representing the leaders of approximately 150 well-established independent schools in the UK and overseas. A constituent member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), it was founded in 1961 to provide a supportive network for heads of diverse institutions, including co-educational, single-sex, boarding, and specialist arts schools. The Society focuses on fostering a non-elitist, holistic approach to education, facilitating professional development, and promoting high standards through sharing best practices among its community of school leaders.
SoH Member Schools (59)
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.
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.
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.
Claremont School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school situated across two campuses in East Sussex. The Nursery and Prep School are located in St Leonards-on-Sea, while the Senior School and Sixth Form occupy a rural site in Bodiam. Catering for pupils aged one to 18, the school claims to focus on personalised learning and global opportunities as a member of the International Schools Partnership. Facilities include a football academy, forest school, and an award-winning performing arts department. The school provides both full and weekly 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.
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.
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.
Farringtons School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in Chislehurst, Kent. Set within 25 acres of parkland, the school was founded as a Methodist girls' school and transitioned to co-education in 2010. It maintains a strong Christian ethos, guided by the motto "Posside Sapientiam" (Growing in Wisdom). Facilities include an indoor heated swimming pool, a large sports hall with a dance studio, and a dedicated chapel. The curriculum emphasises a holistic education, supported by a diverse co-curricular programme that encourages personal development and curiosity.
LVS Ascot is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–19. Situated on a 26-acre parkland campus in Ascot, Berkshire, the school offers an all-through education comprising infant, junior, and senior departments, alongside a sixth form. As a member of the Round Square network, it provides a broad curriculum that balances academic studies with a wide range of sporting, creative, and performing arts opportunities. Managed by the Licensed Trade Charity, the school fosters a community focused on developing student independence and confidence within a stable, supportive environment.
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.
Wetherby Senior School is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18, situated in Marylebone, Central London. Established in 2015, the school operates across two sites and offers a curriculum leading to GCSE and A-Level examinations. The school provides tailored support for pupils applying to global universities, including institutions in North America and Europe. Facilities include specialist science laboratories, a drama studio, and music rooms, while sports make use of external grounds. Its ethos emphasises character development, academic curiosity, and preparation for success in an increasingly global society.
Copthorne Prep is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 2 to 13, situated within 55 acres of countryside and woodland in West Sussex. Founded in 1902 as a feeder for Winchester College, the school is housed in a 19th-century country house and features a chapel converted from a former observatory. The curriculum follows an enquiry-led pathway alongside a range of extracurricular activities. Facilities include a 17-metre swimming pool, a climbing wall, and floodlit sports pitches. Since 2023, the school has been a member of the Caterham Family of Schools.