ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNING BODIES OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

The Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS) is the primary advisory, training and standard-setting body for the governors’ of independent schools in the United Kingdom. Its’ members represent the leading independent and private schools in the country, including a mix of boarding and day schools, primary and secondary schools, single-gender and co-educational schools. Only governors of schools whose Head is a member of a prescribed, Independent Schools Council affiliated membership body are eligible to join AGBIS. AGBIS works closely with those other organisations through it’s membership of the Independent Schools Council to advance standards in the sector and to ensure the United Kingdom remains a leading global market for independent schools.

ABOUT

The Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools was formed in 2002 when two separate but collaborative bodies – the Governing Bodies Associations (historically boys’ schools) and The Governing Bodies of Girls’ Schools Association – merged to form a single, united organisation. These two predecessor organisations trace their history back to 1940 and 1942 respectively (the former having been founded as the Association of Governing Bodies of Public Schools exclusively admitting members representing boys’ Public Schools before its name was changed in 1944 and the association admitted members representing other independent schools).

AGBIS, as a single organisation, continues the work of these previous associations, facilitating and supporting the development of policy, procedures and strategic management best-practice for leading independent schools in the United Kingdom. The association offers advice, guidance and training to schools and their governing bodies in order to achieve these ends whilst also acting as a lobbying group and representative voice for its members and the sector more widely.

AGBIS is one of the member associations of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and all AGBIS members are also members of that organisation. Only governors and governing bodies representing schools that are subject to inspection and oversight by the Independent Schools Inspectorate are eligible for membership of the body and, only then, if the heads of the respective schools remain in association with one of the heads’ membership bodies that are also members of the ISC (such as the HMC, GSA, IAPS, ISA, or SOH). Governors of schools that are members of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, Welsh Independent Schools Council, or Council of British International Schools are eligible for associate membership.

The organisation has traditionally been comprised of secondary school governing bodies only but, as more of these schools acquire or establish preparatory schools, AGBIS has greatly expanded over the years to include many attached or fully independent preparatory schools.

Membership of the organisation may vary depending on the status of relevant school governors or headteachers but has been known to recently include those listed below. For the latest information, please visit AGBIS or get in touch with your preferred school.

MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

SELECT THE FIRST LETTER OF THE SCHOOL NAME BELOW OR CHOOSE LIST VIEW FOR A SIMPLE LIST OF ALL LISTED SCHOOLS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN SELECT SCHOOLS USING THE MAP BELOW.

FORMER MEMBERS

MAIN PAGE

LIST VIEW

FORMER OR LAPSED MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

ABBERLEY HALL SCHOOL

ABBERLEY, WORCESTER WR6 6DD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ABOUT

ESTABLISHED 1878
FEE-PAYING
BOARDING & DAY
CO-EDUCATIONAL (MIXED)
AGES 2 – 13 (NURSERY – YEAR 8)
MALVERN COLLEGE

abberleyhall.co.uk

CLOSED IN 2023

PROFILE

ENGLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

AGBIS

BSA

IAPS

ISBA

ISC

OXFORD GROUP

GREAT SCHOOLS

BRUTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

BSG

SUNNY HILL, BRUTON, SOMERSET BA10 0NT, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL
GIRLS SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ABOUT

INC. SUNNY HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED 1900
FEE-PAYING
BOARDING & DAY
GIRLS (CO-EDUCATIONAL PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL)
AGES 2 – 18 (NURSERY – SIXTH FORM)
KING’S BRUTON

brutonschool.co.uk

CLOSED IN 2022

PROFILE

ENGLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

AGBIS

BAISIS

BSA

GSA

IAPS

ISBA

ISC

HARVINGTON PREP SCHOOL AND NURSERY

20 CASTLEBAR ROAD, EALING, LONDON W5 2DS, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
GIRLS SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ABOUT

ESTABLISHED 1890
FEE-PAYING
DAY
GIRLS (CO-EDUCATIONAL PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL)
AGES 3 – 11 (NURSERY – YEAR 6)

harvingtonschool.com

MERGED WITH DURSTON HOUSE IN 2022

PROFILE

ENGLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

AGBIS

ISA

ISC

HOWELL’S SCHOOL

HOWELL’S SCHOOL, DENBIGH / YSGOL HOWELL DINBYCH

PEAKES’ LANE, DENBIGH, DENBIGHSHIRE LL16 3EN, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
ALL-THROUGH SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL
GIRLS SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL
SPORTS ACADEMY (EQUESTRIAN)

ABOUT

ESTABLISHED 1859
FEE-PAYING
BOARDING & DAY
GIRLS
AGES 3 – 18 (NURSERY – SIXTH FORM)

howells.org

CLOSED IN 2013

PROFILE

WALES

UNITED KINGDOM

AGBIS

BSA

GSA

KNIGHTON HOUSE

DURWESTON, BLANDFORD FORUM, DORSET DT11 0PY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ABOUT

ESTABLISHED 1950
FEE-PAYING
BOARDING & DAY
CO-EDUCATIONAL
AGES 3 – 13 (NURSERY – YEAR 8)
BRYANSTON

knightonhouse.co.uk

MERGED WITH BRYANSTON IN 2021

PROFILE

ENGLAND

UNITED KINGDOM

AGBIS

BSA

IAPS

ISBA

ISC

GREAT SCHOOLS

LANESBOROUGH SCHOOL

MAORI ROAD, GUILDFORD, SURREY GU1 2EL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM

NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
BOYS SCHOOL
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
CHOIR SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL (CHOIR)
PRE-PREPARATORY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL