Association for Families of Independent Schooling Launches to Support and Connect Independent Education Families
London, UK – The Association for Families of Independent Schooling (AFIS) has officially launched on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. The newly established not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) aims to bring together parents, carers, alumni, and extended family members who support independent education.
For the first time, families across the UK will have access to a dedicated national community offering representation, reliable information, and opportunities to participate in innovative research that will shape public understanding of independent schooling.
According to AFIS Founder, Michelle Daniells, the organisation aims to champion parental choice, widen access to independent education, and contribute to a more balanced national conversation. “Our work is centered on community, research, and shared values that place our member families at the heart of everything we do,” she says.
Through its research studies, AFIS, in collaboration with the University of Chichester, will survey the diverse range of families who choose independent schooling. This will include their demographic profiles and motivations for sending their children to independent schools, providing robust data and greater clarity to public and policy debates.
In addition to its research, AFIS is also carrying out regular “parent polls” to obtain snapshots of its member families’ views and experiences on topical issues affecting them. The current poll asks about the impact of VAT on families, while January’s topic is “should independent schools operate more like commercial businesses?”
Membership to AFIS is free and open to all supporters of independent schooling, including current and prospective parents, past parents, carers, alumni, and extended family members such as grandparents. The organisation also welcomes families involved in home-schooling, online, and hybrid schooling provisions.
As part of its community model, AFIS is developing a national network of Partner Schools who are collaborating with AFIS on research, outreach to school communities, and providing benefits and support to members. Participation is free, and many independent schools from all parts of the UK have already joined AFIS as Foundation Partner Schools.
AFIS offers a growing range of practical benefits for families, including access to a resource and information centre, expert-led webinars, events, and an online shopping centre featuring exclusive offers from sponsors and partner brands. These initiatives help build a collaborative, supportive community while also generating revenue for AFIS’s wider mission.
The organisation is also establishing two grant funding programs for its members and partner schools – the Schooling Costs fund and the AFIS bursary fund. The Schooling Costs fund will provide financial support to eligible member families struggling with school fees, while the AFIS bursary fund will provide means-tested support for school fees, widening access for children who would not otherwise be able to benefit from the opportunities offered by independent schools.
According to Daniells, AFIS was founded to provide a platform for families to express their perspectives in a credible and unified manner. “During the recent debates surrounding VAT on school fees, many parents struggled to find a trusted platform to express their perspectives. AFIS was founded to provide clarity, constructive dialogue, a coordinated national approach, and a respected, evidence-led space for families to be informed and heard,” she explains.
As a Community Interest Company with no shareholders, AFIS ensures that all income is reinvested into its mission. The organisation is non-partisan and independent, with no political affiliation or lobbying agenda. Its funding model is built on member engagement and revenue raised via the AFIS Online Shopping Centre and retail partnerships, as well as grants and donations, ensuring a sustainable approach that benefits families directly and supports the wider community.
AFIS has three core aims:
1. To provide families with a national platform to connect, share experiences, and access trusted information, research, and other member benefits.
2. To commission robust, independent research that brings evidence and balance to the national discussion about independent education.
3. To develop responsible, member-funded initiatives that strengthen accessibility and help support families with rising education-related costs.
Daniells adds, “Our pre-launch surveys highlighted a clear demand for a constructive, national space where families can contribute to the conversation about independent education. Parents make deeply personal decisions, often with significant commitment, sacrifices, and financial support from grandparents and from schools. They deserve accurate representation. AFIS will help schools and families work together, informed by evidence, to safeguard choice and strengthen the sector for the future.”
To learn more about AFIS and its mission, visit their website at www.afis.org.uk or contact Founder and CEO, Michelle Daniells at michelle@afis.org.uk or +44 (0)7949 153319.
