In today's competitive education landscape, private schools need to stand out and clearly communicate their unique value to prospective parents. Established in 2007, the Independent Schools Shows (ISS) and the Boarding Schools Shows (BSS) have become the leading showcases for private schools.
These events take place in the wealthiest areas of the UK and key markets worldwide. Schools at the shows connect with thousands of engaged parents, who are planning their child's future. Our post-show reports provide exhibitors with vital insights into the backgrounds and educational decision-making of thousands of UK and international prospective parents.
Contact us to reach our highly targeted audiences of parents.
Please call Ben Hitchman and the team on +44 (0) 20 3301 0299 for more information or fill out the form here.
4 Shows in London | 2 New Venues
Our ‘Newʼ Format
Why Exhibit at ISS?
- Weekday shows attract key audience: Parents attend after school drop-off and adjust their work schedules to participate, ensuring strong engagement.
- New format significantly reduces costs for schools: Eliminates the need for stand builds, furniture rentals, and hotel expenses, making participation more cost-effective.
- Strategic focus improves value for London parents: Each ISS event is tailored to specific entry points, compelling London parents to visit.
- Smaller, targeted events enhance engagement: Schools connect with highly purposeful parents during crucial decision-making periods, fostering meaningful interactions.
- 1x Saturday show preserves ISS's legacy as a gateway event: Maintains its long-standing role in introducing families to the independent school sector.
Dates & Prices
Our new approach for smaller, more targeted, and regular events throughout the year, designed to enhance accessibility and relevance for families navigating their childrenʼs educational journeys.
Our mission is to deliver the right visitors to your stand, driving the meaningful engagements that lead to successful recruitment.
With over 17 years of experience and more than 80 events under our belt, we have the expertise to help your school succeed.
Download the 2025-6 programme to read more about how we are curating each event.
The Contemporary Boarding School Parent | Presentation
The programme also includes full details of this year's overseas shows.
Central London home locations of Summer Fair visitors
Meet parents from hundreds of feeder schools
Our attending families live all over the capital. Large groups of parents came from well-known preps and central London state primaries. This year the top ten feeder schools attended by visitors' children were:
- Thomas's Battersea
- Devonshire House
- Christ Church Primary Chelsea
- Eaton House
- Kensington Prep School
- Newton Prep
- St John’s Walham Green
- Fulham School
- Orchard House, Chiswick
- Dulwich Prep London
In one day exhibitors met parents with children in 226 feeder schools.
See the full list in the Summer Fair Post-Show Report.
Our shows in the capital are the most efficient way to cover the entire London market.
What people say about the shows
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It was great to be able to represent King’s Bruton and Hazlegrove for the first time with you and I am delighted to report that the show exceeded my expectations. We were able to meet some really interesting parents and of exactly the quality we would like. King’s Bruton has not had a profile previously in UAE and so it was refreshing to meet parents who knew of the school’s strong reputation and who were genuinely interested. Many congratulations on a highly successful show!
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I enjoyed meeting large numbers of families, both in Monaco and Geneva, who were keen to broaden their children’s educational experience through boarding in the UK. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet so many people in their own country, and to be able to reassure them that we are very much open for business despite the political turmoil. Huge thanks to the BBSS team for putting on these two incredibly useful and successful events.
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We are thrilled to have received an application today for Sixth Form 2021 directly as a result of the recent webinar we participated in. It started with a phone call from an impressed parent and today we have received the completed application from a highly credible candidate to study with us next year. It is really good to see this working, thank you and please include Lancing again!
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It was a pleasure to exhibit at the ISS Show, Battersea, in November 2023; a friendly, well-attended and professionally-run event. Both days were buzzing with families we felt were actively looking and determined to find the right school, and our stand was constantly full. We were delighted to have this opportunity to meet so many prospective parents and children and tell our story properly face to face. We look forward to the next ISS Show!