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 (43)
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.
Mill Hill International is a co-educational day and boarding school in North London for international pupils aged 13 to 18. Situated on the 120-acre site of the Mill Hill School Foundation, it occupies its own refurbished campus at The Mount. The school provides a transition into the British education system, offering GCSE and A Level programmes with dedicated English language support. Students benefit from small class sizes while accessing the Foundation's extensive facilities, which include an indoor swimming pool, a professional-standard theatre, and vast sports fields set within traditional parkland.
Abbot's Hill School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 16, with a co-educational nursery, located in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Set within 70 acres of parkland, the school is housed in a late 19th-century mansion originally built for the Dickinson family. Founded in 1912, it provides a broad education across its Prep and Senior departments. The school emphasises a holistic approach to learning, supported by facilities including a sports hall and a performing arts centre, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals within a historic setting.
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.
Halliford School is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, situated on a riverside site in Shepperton, Surrey. Founded in 1921, the school is centred around an 18th-century Georgian house and maintains a small, family-oriented atmosphere. It provides a broad curriculum with a focus on individual development, supported by facilities including a purpose-built theatre and the Colin Squire Sixth Form Centre. The school offers a range of competitive sports, creative arts, and co-curricular activities, aiming to foster well-rounded individuals within its six-acre grounds.
Situated in the Sussex countryside in Upper Dicker, near Hailsham, Bede’s Senior School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18. The school claims to offer a holistic education that prioritises individual interests, combining academic study with traditions in the performing arts and sport. Notable facilities include an on-site zoo housing over 70 species and the Legat School of Dance. Its ethos focuses on cultivating curiosity and ambition within an inclusive community that values personal growth and both creative and academic achievement.
RGS Surrey Hills is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated in Mickleham, near Dorking. Set within 40 acres of countryside, the school's centrepiece is Dalewood House, a Victorian Gothic revival mansion. Founded in 1959, it is a founding member of the Round Square movement, following the holistic educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn. The school offers a choice between A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Facilities include a modern sports hall and grounds that support a range of activities, including outdoor education and traditional team sports.
Kensington Park School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated in the heart of London. Established in 2017, the school operates across two sites on either side of Kensington Gardens: the Senior School in Bayswater and the Sixth Form, housed in a white stuccoed townhouse overlooking the Natural History Museum. KPS prioritises a personalised education with small class sizes and a modern curriculum. The school utilises prestigious local facilities, including Imperial College’s Ethos Sports Centre and Hyde Park, for its extensive sporting and co-curricular activities.
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.
Seaford College is an independent co-educational boarding and day school situated at Lavington Park, south of Petworth, West Sussex, England. The campus is set within over 450 acres of parkland in the South Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Founded in 1884, the school caters for students aged 4 to 18 across its Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form. Seaford College, affiliated with the Church of England, claims to focus on fostering individual potential, encouraging academic achievement, and promoting participation in cultural, social, and sporting activities.
Battle Abbey School is an independent coeducational day and boarding school for pupils aged three months to 18 years, situated in Battle and Bexhill, East Sussex. The Senior School occupies the historic site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, utilising the 13th-century Abbot’s House and surrounding grounds. The school claims to foster an ethos of kindness, compassion, and mutual respect, prioritising individual pastoral care. Facilities include a dedicated Sixth Form centre and a preparatory department in Bexhill featuring extensive gardens and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
Beechwood Park School is a co-educational day and flexi-boarding preparatory school for children aged 3 to 13, set within 37 acres of Hertfordshire parkland near St Albans. Housed in a Grade I listed Queen Anne mansion, the school occupies a site with history dating back to a 12th-century Benedictine nunnery. Its child-centred ethos focuses on nurturing well-rounded individuals through a broad curriculum. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a purpose-built music technology suite, and a unique pottery cellar. The grounds also feature an extensive Forest School and numerous sports pitches.