IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) is one of the world’s most prestigious associations for school leaders. It represents world-class headteachers, who lead world-class schools and is proud to work with its members as they deliver excellent standards of education and care to their pupils. Furthermore, IAPS offers personal and professional support to members. The IAPS professional development programme is designed to develop leaders in their school settings and to inspire consistently aspirational leadership. IAPS provides an elite professional network across the globe and membership is a kitemark of quality, demonstrating members offer the highest standards of education.

The IAPS community comprises over 660 of the world’s leading prep schools. The Association and membership believe that schools should be free from government intervention and - with fewer financial and resourcing constraints than state schools - be empowered to ensure that their educational provision is tailored to the needs of the individual children. Schools must reach high standards to be eligible for membership. IAPS sets out strict criteria for teaching including the establishment of a rich and varied curriculum, maintaining excellent standards of pastoral care, as well as keeping staff members’ professional development and training up to date.

Founded in 1892, IAPS is the largest independent school heads’ association in the UK. Throughout its history it has relied on voting members, who are serving heads, to govern the Association. At the Association’s AGM in 2022 members approved a change in governance so that a new Board will be created to begin operation from 1 September 2023. This Board will be made up of seven current full members of IAPS and five new ‘independent’ appointees. The independent Board members will bring a diverse range of professional skills to complement those intrinsically brought by the school heads.

IAPS is not a charity, and Board members are company directors of IAPS, which is a private company limited by guarantee without share capital. Board meetings tend to follow a pattern linked to the academic year, whereby the Board normally meets once per term at the HQ in Warwick, though financially the budget is run through the calendar year. Financial details can be found at Companies House, but the Association is in a strong position with appropriate reserves and it owns the HQ building (part of which it sub-lets).

Board members will be expected to:

• Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the School and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
• Oversee the financial performance of the School and making sure its money is well spent

Independent Board Member (HR / Law)

Applicants will bring strategic-level leadership experience within the HR function, for example as an HR Director or a Director of People, or will have held a leadership role within the legal profession, for example as a Partner in a commercial law firm or as a Legal Counsel.

Independent Board Member (Communications / Marketing / Digital)

IAPS is looking to appoint an independent Board member who has a background in either communications, marketing or digital.

Communications: This individual will have experience leading successful communications campaigns. They should be able to evidence success in communications, and have a strong, positive reputation with well-developed professional networks in the education sector.

Marketing: This individual will have experience in brand management and brand positioning, including campaign / segment and product marketing. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of how digital marketing, including the use of websites, emails and social media, can be used to support organisational growth.

Digital: This individual will guide the Board on how to develop an innovative digital approach. The successful candidate will likely be a digital entrepreneur or senior digital leader, to challenge and guide the Board and senior leaders in this area. This candidate may be experienced in digital innovation or digital transformation.

Independent Board Member (Finance)

Applicants will be financially-qualified, and will bring a strong understanding of financial management. They may be a CFO or Finance Director, but could equally come from a variety of backgrounds so long as they have strong financial acumen and strategic level business leadership experience. The successful candidate will be able to leverage their knowledge of finance in a governance setting, challenging Board members when appropriate, and asking the right questions.

It is recognised that this list is not mutually exclusive and that high-achieving professionals may well have skills in several of the above areas. In any event, it is important to IAPS that prospective Board members are able to demonstrate empathy with the independent school system and, ideally, the work of IAPS.

You can read more about current Board members here.

The Board meets three times per year (once per term), at IAPS HQ in Warwick (although virtual attendance is occasionally possible). Board members will initially be appointed for a term of four years and, thereafter, may offer themselves for re-appointment by the Board for a second term in office for a maximum of four years. Additionally, there will be ad hoc communication with the Board and school visits. Reasonable, pre-agreed domestic expenses will be reimbursed.

The Chair of the current Board, who will also be the Chair of the new Board for the first academic year, is Andrew Nott. The current CEO, Christopher King,  will be retiring in August 2023 and Dominic Norrish will be taking over as CEO from 1 September 2023.

As Board meetings take place in Warwick, candidates will be willing to travel to Warwick / Leamington Spa.

IAPS welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. It is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and it positively encourages applications from all sectors of the community. As those from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.