About
Independent Schools Futures.
We create specialist SEND schools on established independent school sites, working with the leaders who have the buildings and the commissioners who need the places.
Why ISF exists
Two sectors, one practical answer.
Independent schools have capacity
Falling rolls and tighter budgets have left many independent schools with capacity they cannot fully use: empty classrooms, under-occupied estate, and governing bodies thinking carefully about what's next.
Local authorities need places
Over 20,000 children with EHCPs are still waiting for the right placement. Local authorities want local, specialist provision, and are running out of routes to deliver it.
ISF connects the two: turning capacity that's already there into specialist provision children need.
What We Do
ISF creates new, DfE-registered specialist SEND schools by partnering with independent schools to repurpose surplus estate. We handle the regulatory, operational, and commercial infrastructure so that schools can protect their legacy and commissioners can secure local places.
For Schools
- •New guaranteed revenue stream from LA-funded placements
- •Freehold and brand fully protected through separate legal entity
- •Regulatory firewall isolates your ISI rating from SEND operations
- •Zero capital outlay, we use existing buildings
For Local Authorities
- •Local specialist places on established, inspection-ready sites
- •No profit extraction: transparent, sustainable pricing
- •Operational in 36 weeks, not years
- •Reduces out-of-area spend and tribunal exposure
How we work
Built on experience from both sides of the table.
Both sides of the table
We've led schools, inspected schools, and stood on the LA side of commissioning. We know what each side needs to protect, and what each side needs to deliver.
End-to-end, not advisory
From DfE registration to first placement, we stay in the room. We don't hand over a document pack and walk away. We deploy alongside you until the school is open.
Founders
ISF was founded by two people who saw the same problem from different vantage points, and realised the answer required both.
Martyn Ward
Over 15 years leading schools through change. Former head of two independent schools, head of an SEN school, schools inspector, and educational consultant.
Martyn's lived experience of managing transformation, navigating regulatory frameworks, and achieving inspection readiness ensures ISF doesn't just build revenue streams: we build outstanding schools.
Architects the transformation methodology. Mitigates educational risk.
Noah Price
Distinguished British Army officer turned commercial leader. 18 years scaling operations and delivering high-value solutions in complex, high-stakes industries.
Noah brings the commercial rigour and strategic discipline to manage finances, technology, and stakeholder relationships, the operational backbone that makes ISF's model work.
Architects the business model. Mitigates commercial risk.
Ready to talk?
Whether you're a school leader thinking about your estate's future, or a commissioner looking for local SEND places, we'd welcome a conversation.