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In the vicinity of Chandigarh, located in Punjab, India, a significant development unfolded earlier this year with the opening of the first all-girls international campus of Bedford School, a venerable British public school with a history spanning 473 years. Unlike its traditional Gothic-style main building in Bedfordshire, England, the campus in Mohali features contemporary academic facilities, yet retains a striking red-brick clock tower that reflects its British origins. This expansion represents part of a broader trend, with at least six historic British public schools establishing campuses across India. Their move comes against the backdrop of more challenging market conditions in China and the forthcoming introduction of a 20% VAT on private school fees in the UK starting January 2025.
Several prestigious British schools have set up bases in major Indian cities, aligning themselves with regions known for their educational and technological prominence. The Harrow School, known for educating India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, established a branch in Bengaluru—a city famed as India’s Silicon Valley. Shrewsbury School opened a campus in the central Indian city of Bhopal, while Wellington College chose Pune, which is often referred to as the “Oxford of the East” due to its reputable universities. Other notable institutions like Millfield and Queen Elizabeth’s School are also reported to be planning satellite campuses in India in the near future.
These British institutions are tapping into a rapidly growing market of wealthy Indian families who aspire to equip their children with a global education. Traditionally, India had its own elite boarding schools modeled on the British system, largely serving aristocratic classes. However, the rising affluence of new Indian families and the demand for international curricula have created fertile ground for these British schools. Caroline Pascoe, head of Harrow’s Bengaluru campus, highlights the appeal of the international curriculum to these families. Harrow and Bedford are among the few schools offering the Cambridge curriculum, recognized worldwide and delivered seamlessly from primary to A-levels.
Despite promising opportunities, the Indian market presents challenges. Naomi Atkins, principal of Bedford School Mohali, explains that local partnerships are necessary to establish operations, but profit margins can be very slim—sometimes as low as 1%, compared with higher percentages in other countries. Moreover, competition within India is intense due to the widespread presence of English-medium education and the sensitivity Indian families show toward pricing. While the fees at Bedford Mohali are set at roughly half the cost of other British schools, fees as high as £15,000 per year for full boarding could restrict rapid growth. Although the closing of the Chinese market due to regulatory hurdles has prompted British schools to look to India, the growth there is expected to be steady rather than explosive. The legacy of colonial ties and emerging wealth provides a solid foundation, but it may not immediately compensate for the loss of the previously lucrative Chinese market
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