Competitive Spirit with Integrity and Fair Play
The Independent Sporting Association (ISA) exists to connect and grow students from diverse schools through offering a leading sports program founded on competitive spirit with integrity and fair play.
As a values-driven school sport organisation, ISA is committed to fostering connection, growth, and excellence across its 19 Member Schools in New South Wales. Our core purpose is to deliver high-quality inter-school sporting competitions for students in Years 7 to 12, while providing access to representative school sport pathways.
The ISA competitions promote inclusive participation and excellence across a range of sports for both girls and boys. Competitions are primarily held on Saturdays, following a home-and-away format that builds community, school spirit, and camaraderie.
ISA is more than a fixture list — it is a platform for student development, leadership, and lifelong memories. Through our commitment to Creating Experiences of Excellence, we aim to inspire students to thrive in sport and life, grounded in the values of integrity, fair play, and competitive spirit.
We are also deeply committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful sporting environment where all children and young people are valued, protected, and empowered. In partnership with our Member Schools, ISA promotes child safety through strong governance, open communication, and education — ensuring every student can participate in sport free from harm, abuse, or discrimination.
ISA is an Incorporated Association governed by a Board comprising Heads of School elected from member schools. Each member school is represented at the ISA Heads of School General Meeting held twice a year, and on the ISA Heads of Sport Committee, which meets each term to oversee and review the sporting program.
Membership to ISA is open to schools that meet established criteria aligned with our values and commitment to delivering experiences school sport excellence.
Our History
The ISA was born from a shared vision: to provide a competitive and inclusive Saturday sport competition for independent schools not aligned with existing associations like GPS and CAS.
In 1990, an ad hoc meeting was convened at Pittwater House, chaired by Martin Orrock. At this meeting, John Giacon of St Patrick’s College strongly articulated the need for a structured inter-school sporting competition for schools outside traditional associations. A subsequent gathering in Cremorne brought together Heads of Schools for whom Saturday sport was a clear priority. The group included boys’ schools such as St Patrick’s College and St Andrew’s Cathedral School, as well as co-educational schools both large and small, such as Redlands, Oxley College, Chevalier College, Central Coast Grammar, and Pittwater House.
From the outset, the ISA embraced diversity, blending single-sex and co-educational schools, metropolitan and regional campuses, large and small communities. While this presented initial challenges, it ultimately became one of the Association’s great strengths.
Founding Spirit and Early Leadership
Redlands played a crucial role in launching the ISA. The Association owes a lasting debt of gratitude to Belinda Hunter, Martin Longhurst, the Redlands Board, and particularly Peter Cornish, whose leadership and vision were instrumental in transforming the idea of the ISA into reality.
Over the decades, the ISA has benefited from exceptional leadership from its Chairs, including Richard Lornie, Grahame Smollett, Phillip Heath, John Edwards, Paul Kidson, Br Peter Ryan, John Collier, and current Chair Jonathan Byrne.
The formalisation and profile of the ISA were significantly strengthened by the contributions of Annette Gee Maclean and John Townsend, who served as co-Directors from 1999 to 2007. Their efforts laid the groundwork for sustainable growth and operational structure.
“History will record the huge effort made by colleagues from disparate backgrounds – Heads and games directors alike – to bring the ISA to life. From managing logistics, incorporating for insurance and governance, and establishing competitive credibility, ISA has grown to stand proudly alongside AICES, CAS, CSSA, GPS, IGSA, and others.” History will show – and practice will always emphasise – the pivotal role of sport in a complete model of education in any school of merit.“
Peter Cornish
A Legacy of Excellence
From 2008 to 2022, the ISA was led by Director Annette Gee Maclean, whose professionalism, pragmatism and vision elevated the Association and provided generations of students with meaningful opportunities to grow through sport. Her legacy remains foundational to the current structure and aspirations of the ISA.
In 2023, Stuart Newman was appointed ISA Director of Sport, ushering in a new era of leadership, as the ISA continues to build on its rich history while responding to the evolving needs of students, schools, and the wider educational landscape.
Today, the ISA remains true to the founding spirit – providing competitive opportunities that unite, challenge and grow students through the power of sport.
