𝗔 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮.

⚠️ Please read this:

“This debate is becoming predictable. Each time independent schools are raised, we see the same claims repeated.
They rely on outdated assumptions, selective use of data, and too often miss the reality of the families at the centre of it."

Independent school families can’t be taken for granted.
They are not a stereotype.

These are parents making real choices, real sacrifices, often under real pressure, because they believe a particular school is right for their children.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙚.

Their families and school communities contribute billions from their own after-tax income.

This is families making a contribution to their child’s education while reducing pressure on taxpayers.

Independent school families are part of the education debate, part of the cost-of-living debate, and increasingly part of the political debate."

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳?

You could easily assume this was written about the UK.

But it wasn’t.

These are messages from Independent Schools Australia and the excellent public advocacy work being led by Shaun Rigby, their Director of Communications.  And their work is paying off.

I’ve found it both inspiring and emotionally difficult to observe their progress.

Because the same issues exist here in the UK.

The same stereotypes.
The same simplistic narratives and assumptions about our families.

That is exactly why the Association For Families Of Independent Schooling (AFIS) C.I.C. was established last year;

To bring balance, humanity and much-needed evidence into a debate that too often turns complex family realities into political shorthand.

Repeating the words from Down Under:
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙚.

In the U.K., one parent founded the Association For Families Of Independent Schooling (AFIS) C.I.C. to meet the need.

In Australia, this work is supported by the infrastructure and resources of a major national organisation.

But AFIS has largely been built by one parent volunteering her time, energy and personal resources because she believes our families deserved better.

Since our launch in December we have grown rapidly, with new members joining us every day, a handful of visionary school leaders choosing to assist us, and our wonderful Chairman, Peter Hogan pitching in. 

📣 AFIS will soon launch an important fundraising campaign. 
If you believe our work matters, please support us however you can.

I genuinely cannot do this alone. 

🙏 With admiration to Independent Schools Australia for showing what can be achieved when families’ voices are taken seriously.