Tip of the iceberg

Dr Mark Abell asks, will the rapid growth of UK schools overseas continue during the next academic year?

Posted by Hannah Oakman | June 27, 2016 | International

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The past academic year has seen a great deal of growth and some exciting innovations on the international scene by UK independent schools keen to establish new income streams that will help them ensure their long term financial sustainability. The big question, however, is whether 2016/17 will see more of the same, or is the international bubble about to burst? 

The past year has seen a rash of schools signing deals and opening schools overseas.  For example, Wellington has opened more schools in China, Brighton College is opening in Thailand, Dulwich is continuing its apparently relentless growth in Asia, North London Collegiate is due to open in Singapore and has signed a deal the UAE, The Royal Grammar School Guildford has signed a deal in Qatar and Christ College Brecon has announced that it has signed up a deal for a school in Malaysia. 

But that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many more, at the moment confidential, deals in the system, which will be announced over the coming year. In Bird & Bird's international education practice alone we are currently advising on no less than 25 separate international deals for UK schools establishing themselves across the Middle East, India, China and South East Asia.

So there does seem to be both an, as yet unsatisfied, appetite for international growth amongst UK schools and a body of willing investors eager to invest in establishing them overseas.

That positive view is supported by many of those who are actively involved in the international education field.

Judging from the commercial negotiations that schools are having with their prospective partners, it seems that educational technology is set to become a key part of many school's international strategy 

David Miles, International Education Director at Sherborne, says: “The growth of UK independent schools moving into the international market is set to continue over the next academic year and beyond. Traditional schools will be looking to tap into established and expanding markets as the demand for their brand and education continues to grow. The blend of rigorous curriculum, outstanding pastoral care, inclusive extra-curricular programmes and inherent networking opportunities make the well-established names outstanding partners in today’s changing global marketplace.”

Bob Ukiah is the Bursar at The Royal Grammar School Guildford and is overseeing their entry into Qatar.  He says: "I know of a large number of UK schools that are investigating opportunities overseas and I expect that several of these may announce projects over the coming months. There is a high demand in many regions of the world for good quality British schools; since the RGS Guildford announced the opening of its school in Qatar in September 2016, we have had approaches from a list of countries including China, Egypt and the UAE."

So where are exactly are these deals all taking place?

According to ISC Research, the UAE is the prime area of growth with 548 English medium schools in the private school market and more expansion on the cards. China is also a very active market, with 545 such schools and much expansion in the pipeline.

Other countries in which UK schools are setting up include India, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea and more recently Japan.

However, opening bricks and mortar schools is not the only way in which UK schools are claiming a piece of the international market. For example, Eton has opted for a digital platform, under the name EtonX, to deliver educational services to students in China, instead of the more traditional approach. 

It may well be that it is an increase in the use of this technology that becomes the distinctive development in international growth over the next academic year or so.

Indeed, judging from the commercial negotiations that schools are having with their prospective partners, it seems that educational technology is set to become a key part of many school's international strategy, as their local partners begin to understand both its earnings potential and its strategic importance in an international education portfolio.

So where is all of this growth leading?  

It would seem likely the international educational services that UK independent schools  provide will follow the well-worn track of rationalisation over the next decade or so, resulting in a small number of substantial international players acquiring the international rights to a large portfolio of educational ‘brands’ and leveraging their success through a well-established international infrastructure, detailed knowledge of the subtle differences in demand for education in each market and a well-oiled marketing machine. That is probably no bad thing for UK independent schools, as it will help to ensure the long term success of their international expansion, be it through brick and mortar, educational technology or a blend of the two. 

Dr Mark Abell is Partner at Bird & Bird and Bird LLP

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