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 (42)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Berkhamsted Prep is a co-educational day school in Hertfordshire for pupils aged 7 to 11. As part of the Berkhamsted Schools Group, which was founded in 1541 by John Incent, the school operates within a "diamond" structure. It is situated at the Doctors Commons Road campus and offers a progressive curriculum rooted in traditional standards. Facilities include specialist classrooms for science and art, alongside access to senior school resources such as a 25-metre swimming pool and a 500-seat theatre. The school focuses on developing well-rounded individuals through diverse academic and sporting opportunities.
Bethany School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, set within 60 acres of the Weald of Kent near Goudhurst. Founded in 1866 by Reverend Joseph James Kendon, the school maintains a Christian ethos and focuses on the development of individual character. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a climbing wall, and a high ropes course. The school provides a broad curriculum of GCSEs, A-levels, and BTECs, supported by a specialist learning support department and a programme of over 50 extracurricular activities.
Canbury School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, located in Kingston upon Thames. Established in 1982, the school is characterised by its small class sizes, which are typically limited to fifteen students to facilitate individualised learning. The curriculum covers a broad range of academic subjects alongside extracurricular opportunities in art, music, and sport. Situated near Richmond Park, the school provides a supportive environment designed to foster student confidence and independence within a small, community-focused setting.
City of London Freemen's School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 7 to 18, situated in 57 acres of parkland at Ashtead Park, Surrey. Founded in 1854 by the City of London Corporation, the school is centred around a Grade II listed mansion house. Facilities include a specialist music school with a 200-seat recital hall and a modern sports centre featuring a competition-standard swimming pool. Its ethos encourages students to learn, lead, and make a difference, balancing academic rigour with extensive extracurricular opportunities in a historic rural setting.
Claremont Fan Court School is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 100 acres of the historic Claremont Estate in Esher, Surrey. The campus is centred around a Grade I listed mansion, built in 1774 for Lord Clive of India and later used as a royal residence by Queen Victoria. The grounds feature landscapes designed by Capability Brown and William Kent. With a focus on character education and a values-led ethos, the school provides a broad curriculum alongside modern facilities, including the Sir Sydney Camm Science and Technology building.
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.
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.