The Association for Families of Independent Schooling (AFIS)
Championing parental choice and diversity in schooling options and advocating for fairer representation of families who choose independent education for their children.
Why We Exist
Families who choose independent schooling for their children deserve to be understood, fairly represented, and properly considered in public debate.
What We Do
AFIS is a growing membership community for parents, grandparents, educators, alumni, schools and supporters who value parental choice and diversity in schooling options.
Together, we work to strengthen our collective voice, improve public understanding, promote fairer representation, and ensure that children's interests remain at the heart of debates and policy decisions affecting their futures.
The more members we have, the stronger our collective voice becomes.
Is AFIS for you?
AFIS is for you if:
- You believe families who make independent schooling choices deserve to be understood, fairly represented and properly considered in public debate.
- You are concerned by the growing assumptions, stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding independent schooling families.
- You value parental choice and diversity in schooling options.
- You believe children's interests should be at the heart of decisions affecting their schooling and futures.
- You want public debate to be informed by evidence rather than assumptions.
- You would like your experiences and views to help inform independent research and policy discussions.
- You want to connect with other parents, grandparents, educators, alumni and supporters who share similar values.
- You want to be part of a growing national community championing parental choice, educational diversity and fair representation.
- You want to help build a stronger voice for the community we serve.
- You would like access to member benefits, resources, updates and exclusive partner offers.
Join AFIS free today and help shape a better-informed conversation about schooling, choice and children's futures.
A New National Voice for Independent-Schooling Families
AFIS is the only membership organisation that brings together families who choose and value independent education in the U.K. Our work supports our member families, and the whole sector, championing parental choice, securing fairer representation for independent-schooling families, supporting members with benefits and resources, and widening access to independent education. We also provide a valuable network for all families who opt for private schooling, whatever their circumstances and reasons for doing so.
It's FREE to join AFIS as an individual, a family or a school.
Beyond Stereotypes. Towards Understanding.
Public debate and policymaking should be informed by evidence, understanding and lived experience, rather than assumptions about school type, wealth or privilege. Through research, advocacy and the collective voice of our members, AFIS works to improve understanding and bring greater balance to conversations that affect children, families and schools.
Families choose independent schooling for many different reasons — including faith, special educational needs, pastoral support, educational philosophy, particular strengths and interests, local schooling options, or simply because they believe it is the best fit for their child.
Many make significant financial, practical and personal sacrifices to do so, because they place a high value on finding the right educational environment for their children.
AFIS celebrates the shared values, positive school cultures and strong partnerships that help bring families and schools together in support of children, enabling young people to flourish and develop into confident, capable adults who contribute meaningfully to society and the economy.
By amplifying our members' collective voice, we help ensure these families are better understood, fairly represented and properly considered in public debate.
"Too often, our families are reduced to stereotypes that bear little resemblance to their real lives. Behind every schooling choice is a unique child, a family trying to do its best, and a story that deserves to be understood rather than assumed and judged based on misinformation and preconceptions."
Michelle Daniells
AFIS Founder and mum of 2
AFIS is Apolitical and Independent
AFIS is a not-for-profit community interest company with no shareholders and no commercial interests to serve.
We are independent of political parties and are not a lobbying organisation or think tank. While we engage constructively with policy developments that affect our member families, AFIS is not aligned with any political agenda.
AFIS was not formed in response to a single policy issue, nor as a short-term reaction to changes such as VAT on school fees. We exist to provide long-term support for families who choose independent approaches to education.
We are not funded by schools, political bodies, or think tanks. AFIS is supported by donations from our members and supporters, and by revenue generated when members choose to use the AFIS Shopping Centre.
How does AFIS achieve its goals?
Financial Support
Support families and schools by providing funding that helps make independent schooling more accessible.
Research & Insight
Invest in research to contribute to constructive, well-informed debate about private education.
Member Benefits
Offer value through information, exclusive perks, events, and special offers.
Optimising the benefits of our members' collective spending power.
To help fund our vital work, keep AFIS membership free for all eligible families and schools, and support our community in saving money, the AFIS online Shopping Centre brings together a specially curated collection of fantastic deals from leading brands as well as small producers and fabulous artisans. To support AFIS, lots of fabulous companies are offering perks and discounts to AFIS members on everything from books and shoes to holidays and accommodation.
Each time our AFIS members shop through the unique AFIS Shopping Centre, not only do they have access to exclusive special offers, but our partner brands contribute a small percentage of each purchase towards the work of AFIS. These contributions turn everyday shopping into meaningful support for families in independent education and helps to keep our membership FREE for all our families. Importantly, members never pay higher prices or lose access to public offers or loyalty rewards. The contributions from our retail partners go towards our Schooling Costs and Bursary Funds, our research work and our operational costs. All profits are re-invested into the AFIS not-for-profit, community interest company.
Here are just a few of the brilliant brands who are supporting AFIS by offering our members special deals and perks:
Real Impact, Real Benefits
Through our collaborative community, credible independent research, and authentic storytelling of our members' lived experiences, AFIS brings truth, clarity and robust data to public and policy discussion.
Our work delivers meaningful benefits to members, including practical resources, valuable information and exclusive money-saving offers, events and perks.
We also provide funding to support member families facing financial pressures through the AFIS Schooling Costs Fund, which offers direct grants for school uniform, trips, and equipment, as well as subsidies towards school fees, helping to keep children in the schools they love.
The AFIS Bursary Fund helps create more opportunities for children from all backgrounds to benefit from the high-quality education, schooling environments, and enriching opportunities offered by British independent schools.
It's free to join AFIS
AFIS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to championing parental choice, securing fairer representation for independent-schooling families, supporting members with benefits and resources, and widening access to independent education.
AFIS and Association for Families of Independent Schooling are registered trademarks of AFIS UK LTD.
The Association for Families of Independent Schooling (AFIS) C.I.C. is a community interest company, incorporated in England and Wales, company number 16817786.