To protect and promote the interests of its member schools, ISASA provides over fifty services in ten categories.

International Links

• Updates on trends in independent school sectors, both globally and locally
• Links with important international organisations (e.g. NAIS, ICP, Global Connections)

Governmental Relations

• Promoting and protecting the interests of independent schools
• Influencing policy at national and provincial levels
• Analysing and interpreting legislation and policy for member schools
• Representing ISASA on policy forums and statutory bodies (e.g. ETDP SETA, SACE)
• Involvement on provincial and national independent school alliances
• Providing extensive legal support on a number of issues relating to independent schools

Quality Assurance

• Appraisal of potential ISASA members
• Monitoring conditions for registration of schools at national and provincial government levels
• Providing instruments and training for school evaluation and accreditation
• A partnership with CIE to establish a quality assurance body for independent schools

Communication and Advocacy

• ISASA Input (a quarterly overview of key developments and ISASA?s activities)
• ISASA Insight (a strategic review of the political, economic and social environment
• Independent Education (the official ISASA magazine, distributed quarterly)
• The International Guide (a glossy, high quality directory of ISASA schools)
• Reaching Out (a survey of community development projects in ISASA schools)
• ISASA and SABISA websites
• Informing staff, parents and pupils at member schools about ISASA
• Promoting the ISASA brand as representing quality, value-based education
• Informing the public and media about ISASA and the independent school sector
• Researching key developments in the independent school sector

Curriculum and Assessment

• Interpretation of curriculum policy and trends for schools
• Conferences, workshops and seminars on curriculum-related issues
• Providing curriculum advice through the ISASA Directorate and consultants
• Ensuring exam choice through lobbying stakeholders and responding to relevant legislation

Professional Development

• Teacher learnerships and mentorships
• Informal courses, conferences and seminars for school staff
• Formal/accredited courses for heads and bursars
• Staff Development Fund (awards for staff to undertake national or international visitorships)
• Opportunities for international study

Financial Support

• ISASA pension and provident fund (managed through Old Mutual)
• ISASA medical aid advice (managed through Alexander Forbes)
• Public liability insurance for schools?(managed through Alexander Forbes)
• ISASA Salary Survey (an annual survey of various salary categories at member schools)
• Benchmarking Survey (a comprehensive comparison of schools, undertaken every other year)
• Risk management advice
• Financial and legal advice on rates and taxes, especially property rates

School Support

• One-on-one advice to heads, governors and bursars
• School visits, both by regional directors and national office staff
• Organising local school cluster groups
• Best practice manuals and workshops (e.g. governance, human resources, industrial relations)
• Publication of Mail Packs (list of positions vacant) and Staff Pools (list of job seekers)

Strategic Partnerships

• Development Bank of Southern Africa (technical assistance and loan finance)
• ISASA Maths, Science and English Partnership (increase the number of black matriculants with these subjects)

Maintaining ISASA

• Identifying new and potential member schools for ISASA
• Organising and recording meetings
• Managing or assisting to manage annual ISASA Conferences (heads, bursars and others)
• Encouraging interest groups (marketers, chaplains, counsellors, librarians, etc.)