In many countries, the right of independent schools to exist is tenuous and determined by the ruling political party; in many others, it rests on historical practice and the de facto reality of the schooling they provide. In South Africa, independent schools are fortunate that their right to exist is enshrined in the Constitution.

ISASA seeks to preserve the independence of its member schools to serve the democratic society from which that independence derives. It also believes that independent schools need to be responsible to their stakeholders and society at large, and must act ethically within the relevant constitutional and legal frameworks. In the interest of the public good, our schools should seek to contribute to the development of quality education for all children in Southern Africa.

The five core tenets of independence of ISASA members are the right of a school to:

1. follow its own distinctive mission (including its particular ethos, faith or philosophy);
2. determine its learner admission and promotion policies;
3. choose its curriculum and exit examinations;
4. determine how it will be governed, financed and staffed; and
5. manage its operations.