FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS LAUNCHES TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT

PRESS RELEASE

For the first time, parents, carers, extended family, alumni and staff of independent schools, have a nationwide community and a central platform through which to engage, collaborate and support private schools.

The Association for Families of Independent Schools™ (AFIS™) is the only organisation that brings families and schools together, providing members with exclusive services and benefits and a platform through which to take part in discussions and important research.

1. Offering AFIS ™ members a central platform through which to engage with other supporters of independent education, share ideas and opinions, receive perks and special offers and take part in important research 

2. Funding and commissioning independent, robust research to contribute to a more balanced national debate about independent education; and

3. Generating funds for schools to offer more means-tested fee assistance for more young people

Families simply sign-up to an annual membership (free and paid options are available) and have access to tailored content, discussion groups, events and research participation as well as exclusive offers on goods and services from AFIS™ sponsors.  

AFIS™ founder, Michelle Daniells says, “AFIS exists to champion and celebrate independent education in the UK.  With the strength in our numbers and attractiveness of the AFIS™ audience to consumer brands, we are able to partner with selected companies who are offering AFIS™ members lots of valuable perks.” 

Schools can also join AFIS™; school membership is free and, as well as a vehicle for wider participation, schools receive a proportion of AFIS™ revenue in donations for their means-tested bursary provisions.  

 

The small team of committed parents who have brought AFIS™ to life know that a national, unified platform for all supporters of independent education is much needed.  Their pre-launch surveys confirmed the demand and highlighted parents’ needs and concerns, shaping the creation of AFIS™.

Michelle says, “The independent education landscape is changing rapidly, in no small part because of the recent addition of VAT to school fees: fewer families are able to choose an independent education for their children and schools are having to reduce the amount of fee-assistance they offer to families.  The debate around private schools has become more divisive and destructive.  We decided to do something productive to help families, children and schools”.

Michelle continues, “Parents, from all walks of life, make choices about education (state or private) based on the specific needs of their children and their family circumstances.  Most of the families we know at our private schools are not wealthy. We make personal and financial sacrifices in order to do what we believe is best for our children. Many families have support for paying fees, either directly from the schools or from grandparents and other family members.”

AFIS™ will fund, commission and publish independent research and analysis, providing a clearer picture of the demographics of independent schools’ families and increasing awareness of the societal and economic contributions they and their schools make. 

“AFIS™ is passionate about creating a credible, unified and powerful voice that will shout loudly and in the right directions, to counteract the negativity and biases that are divisive and detrimental to all children and to society as a whole,” Michelle says. “Together, we are helping to enhance and safeguard the future of independent education as part of the vibrant mix of UK schools.”

AFIS™ is not a lobbying or campaign group, receives no funding from political groups and is aligned to no political party.

 

Michelle Daniells  

Founder and Managing Director

The Association of Families for Independent Schools™ (AFIS™)*  

michelle@afis.org.uk      +44 (0)7949 153319       www.afis.org.uk 

 

 *The Association for Families of Independent Schools™ and AFIS™ are trading names of AFIS UK LTD, incorporated in England and Wales, company number 12635667