Rugby School Nigeria

Jess Harris highlights the enduring appeal overseas of a British education

Business is booming for British schools overseas, with leading UK independent schools increasing their international presence at a galloping rate. Wycombe Abbey is opening a senior school in Hong Kong in August. Harrow School is opening Harrow New York in the US this autumn, and its 13^th school in Asia in Guangzhou, China in 2027. Dulwich College International owns and operates a network of schools in Asia with more than 9,000 pupils.

And the growth is no longer confined to Asia, with many schools opening campuses in Africa too. Charterhouse Lagos opened its prep school in the Nigerian city last September, and its secondary school will open in the autumn – the same time as Rugby School Nigeria. Malvern College Egypt is already well established in the Egyptian capital, and Uppingham Cairo opened in September last year as the first overseas school in the Uppingham Group. Hereford Cathedral has also recently announced the establishment of a school in Rwanda. Kenya’s well-developed private education sector which hosts 25,000 pupils in British curriculum schools, is currently recording 18% annual growth.

The Independent Schools Council’s 2024 census shows ISC schools are now operating 129 campuses overseas and educating 93,257 pupils, an increase from 71,500 pupils in 107 campuses in 2023. This means the number of pupils attending British schools overseas now far outweighs the number of overseas pupils taught in the UK.

However, the number of school-aged children coming to study in the UK is still growing, and there are now 26,195 non-British pupils at ISC schools in the UK whose parents live overseas. Which perhaps begs the question, if there are so many leading British schools opening new campuses worldwide, with amazing sites, impressive facilities and at a fraction of the cost (Harrow HK’s annual fees are currently less than Harrow UK’s termly fees), then why are international families still educating their children in the UK?

A global brand and an excellent education

Discerning international families want the best for their children. So, it’s no surprise that many want to buy into the global brand, and the golden standard that is a ‘British education’. They want their child to have a globally recognised education, and to many, there is no equivalent to the likes of Eton.

Whatever domestic misgivings there might be about the inequities of an independent education in the UK, around the world, it’s still seen by many as the best of best.

The curriculum in top schools is forward-thinking and progressive, and the teachers often outstanding. But what truly sets these schools apart is their genuinely holistic education that extends far beyond the classroom, with an emphasis on pupils being involved in sport, art, oratory, music and performing arts.

World renowned schools like Brighton College encourage innovators and entrepreneurs which is a very different offer to the rigorous academic focus of some education systems overseas.

The Hogwarts effect 

Harry Potter has made British boarding cool again. The ancient buildings, vaulted halls and Gothic spires are no longer seen as belonging to an obsolete past but an aspirational future. Children and parents alike want the Harry Potter experience. Many UK schools have an unmistakeable history and heritage in which they take enormous pride, and the deeply held traditions of such schools instils a sense of confidence and belonging in its pupils. In today’s increasingly digital world, these historically rich sites encourage a unique type of real-life immersion beyond screens, creating an awe-inspiring environment in which to live and learn.

Modern boarding

UK boarding has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Gone are the cold showers of yesteryear; in its place are comfortable facilities, modern attitudes and exceptional pastoral care. The boarding house might date back centuries, but the rooms are now often en suite. And for a full boarder there is seven-day a week access to a whole campus of activities at any time, with a vast array of extracurricular sport, creative programmes and outdoors experiences such as beekeeping, cross-country running and even farming at some schools.

A British experience with a global network

Many families want the cultural benefits of a British-based education. Not only will their children learn English, now the world’s lingua franca, but modern boarding schools are a comfortable home from home, with the added advantage of community living and the cultural immersion that comes with it. Being educated in the UK brings rich opportunities and broad horizons, instilling in pupils a sense of awareness and cultural difference. And there is no doubt that along with the very Britishness that many families hope to imbibe in their children, there’s also the knowledge that their child, by attending an elite British school, will be developing social connections and entry to a global network that should benefit them for life.

Sport

Sporting tradition and sporting provision is unmatched in British public schools. Many of the international franchises won’t offer the same range, or elite level of some sports offered by the British originals. British ex-pat families in Dubai, for example, will often send their sons back to the UK from as young as nine, so they can excel in rugby, as well as get a taste for boarding before they go to senior school at 13. From rowing, golf, cricket or even riding, the range of sports on offer in some of the bigger boarding schools is exceptional.

Preparation for university and life beyond

The UK, and London in particular, has some of the leading universities of the world, and Britain’s independent schools are seen as a gateway to the higher education big hitters such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, King’s College London and the London School of Economics. UK independent schools consistently achieve excellent grades nationwide, enabling pupils to secure places at the most prestigious universities – with 91% progressing to higher education. Perhaps more importantly though, UK sixth forms have an excellent understanding of the merits of different universities and therefore the suitability for its pupils. And, with an increasing number of pupils looking to study in the US too, many UK independent schools are quickly adapting to offer comprehensive support in this area, opening up a broader range of higher education opportunities. It’s no longer the case that pupils attending British schools are only suited to British universities.

The real deal

Many of the British schools opening international campuses do so through licensing agreements. They lend their name to these schools and publicly state that they have the same overarching structure and ethos – plus many British-educated teachers – as the ‘mothership’. But dig a little deeper, and in some ways, they could not be more different. For example, Harrow School in the UK is a single sex, senior boys’ boarding school, whereas Harrow School Hong Kong is a co-ed school for three to 18-year-olds. Neither is better than the other, but nor could you argue that they are directly comparable.

Those opting for the original UK schools tend to do so in favour of the hundreds of years of traditions and experiences that are continually being refined and passed down through the generations.

Jess Harris is head of educational consultancy Quintessentially Education

Jess Harris