The IBSC was established in 1995 by founding member schools: Belmont Hill School; The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland; Brunswick School; Collegiate School; Crescent School; Gilman; Harrow School; The Haverford School; The Hutchins School; Montgomery Bell Academy; The Roxbury Latin School; St. Alban’s School; St. Bernard’s School; St. Christopher’s School; St. Mark’s School of Texas; Scotch College; Town School for Boys; and Woodberry Forest School.

The idea for this formal consortium first came about in 1989 when the heads and principals of a number of leading boys schools from around the world (including Eton College; The Hutchins School; University School and Upper Canada College) met to discuss matters that jointly affected them as boys-only schools. Emanating from that discussion was the realisation that all present and, indeed, many of their peer schools, were highly concerned about the future of single-sex education and the need to present a united front advocating for boys-only education as an option for pupils. In 1993, Hill hosted the first formal conference specifically for faculty of boys’ schools and setting the groundwork for the creation of a dedicated conference and cooperative association. The following year, founding member, Belmont Hill, invited a number of heads and principals of such schools, including those mentioned above, to attend a wider conference focussed on boys’ schools which, ultimately, set out what would become the International Boys’ Schools Coalition.

The IBSC has developed into a large, global mission with some 300 members and a number of occasional members who participate on an ad hoc basis. The organisation is under the stewardship of a steering committee and annually appointed trustees who help govern the organisation. The members of both being selected from the faculty of member schools. The steering committee liaises with and advises the host schools for each annual conference that have taken place every year since the IBSC’s foundation (with virtual conferences taking place during the global COVID-19 pandemic).

These annual conferences include: ‘What Boys Can Be‘, 1995 (University School); ‘Making the Difference: Celebrating What is Essential in Boys and Their Schools‘, 1996 (Upper Canada College); ‘The Wonder of Boys: What Works in Boys’ Schools‘, 1997 (Landon); ‘Boys in Action‘, 1998 (Wesley College); ‘True Grit: Boys Taking Responsibility‘, 1999 (Montgomery Bell Academy); ‘Bridge to the Future: Mentoring Boys in the New Millennium‘, 2000 (Town School for Boys); ‘Making the Grade‘, 2001 (Dulwich College); ‘Standing Tall‘, 2001 (The Browning School; The Buckley School; Collegiate School; and Saint Thomas Choir School); ‘The Spirit of Boys‘, 2003 (The King’s School and Shore School); ‘Broad Shoulders, Open Minds‘, 2004 (St. Mark’s School of Texas); ‘Leadership and Service‘, 2005 (Georgetown Preparatory School); ‘The Best of Boys: An African Celebration‘, 2006 (St John’s College); ‘Boys and Their Worlds‘, 2007 (The Roxbury Latin School); ‘New Worlds for Boys‘, 2008 (Brebeuf College; Crescent School; Neil McNeil High School; Royal St. George’s College; St. Andrew’s College; Sterling Hall School; and Upper Canada College); ‘Windows in Manhood‘, 2009 (Lindisfarne College); ‘Inventions in Teaching‘, 2010 (The Haverford School); ‘Inspiring Boys, Inspiring Schools‘, 2011 (City of London School); ‘Unearthing Creativity‘, 2012 (Scotch College); ‘Brother to Brother: Looking In, Reaching Out‘, 2013 (St. Christopher’s School); ‘Building Boys into Good Men‘, 2014 (Montgomery Bell Academy); ‘Lessons from Madiba‘, 2015 (Bishops Diocesan College); ‘Boys as Global Citizens‘, 2016 (St. George’s School); ‘Beyond Innovation: Creativity, Discovery, Engagement‘, 2017 (The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland); ‘Our Boys, Their Future: Learning to Lead‘, 2018 (The Southport School); ‘Boys and the Arts: Great Minds, Big Hearts‘, 2019 (Selwyn House); Virtual Conference, 2020; Virtual Conference, 2021; and ‘The Path to Manhood‘, 2022 (St. Mark’s School of Texas).

Membership varies year on year, especially with the growing movement towards co-educational schools which has seen many traditional boys-only schools admitting girls and thus no longer qualifying as IBSC members. However, those schools which maintain a diamond model or that operate co-ordinated or segregated boys and girls streams may still participate in the IBSC. The core membership of the consortium has remained largely the same, with many famous schools that are revered around the world. IBSC member institutions range from primary to secondary level schools and include both boarding and day schools, faith-based and progressive schools.

Today, the IBSC has grown to encompass some 300 subscribing members – including honorary non-school members who have contributed significantly to the coalition’s agenda over the years. The schools listed below are current or recent member schools of the IBSC, however you should consult with the IBSC secretariat or your preferred school about current membership status.