Join GSA

What GSA membership can offer

The Girls’ Schools Association is the professional association representing the Heads of leading girls’ independent schools. Membership of GSA offers a wide range of support and regular briefings on educational matters.

Information about applying for membership can be obtained from Jane Carroll, Membership Services Director on 0116 254 1619 or by email to janecarroll@gsa.uk.com

GSA membership can offer Heads:

• a kitemark of excellence in education
• a focus on girls’ education building on the best traditions of single-sex education
• a close and supportive network of colleagues committed to girls’ education
• professional support and continuing development and training for heads and their staff
• local and regional support groups organised through nine regions across the UK
• a high profile annual national conference with opportunities for wider debate
• opportunities to influence national education policy through representation on national bodies
• an international network through the International Confederation of Principals and with girls’ schools and their associations worldwide
• regular newsletters and circulars with current news, information and guidance on educational and regulatory matters
• a ‘hotline’ for information, advice and support on a one-to-one basis
• a dedicated members’ website offering a wide range of support materials and briefings
• a community of collaboration rather than competition
• a unique marketing opportunity through My Daughter™ – a website for parents providing advice on all aspects of raising and educating girls
• access to legal and professional support through ASCL
• Ofsted accredited ISI peer inspection system

Full membership of GSA is open to Heads of independent ‘all through’ and secondary girls’ schools with girls only on roll of the secondary part of the school. Membership is also offered to Heads of schools which, whilst there may not be girls only throughout the age range, have at least a girls-only 11-16 section. Each head is required to be in membership of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the school in membership of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS). Whilst it is the Head who is in membership of the Association it is the school which accredits this membership.

What our current members say:

“GSA deals with professional issues as they impact on girls’ education”
“Membership of GSA keeps me up to date with the current educational agenda”
“The Head of a GSA school has instant access to a network of other Heads through which it is stimulating to share ideas and solutions”