Why Independent Schools Are Looking Overseas – Steven Winter

The independent school sector stands at a crossroads in 2025. Facing unprecedented financial and political headwinds, a growing number of schools and school groups are viewing opening an international campus not simply as an aspiration, but as a vital strategy for long-term sustainability and growth.

Recent research across the sector suggests that as many as 50% of UK independent schools are actively considering opening an international campus as part of their future planning. For many, this represents a fundamental shift in how schools think about resilience, diversification and global opportunity.

Why Schools Are Looking Overseas

The most immediate catalyst for this international pivot is the increasingly challenging domestic environment. The introduction of VAT on school fees in the UK has dramatically altered the financial landscape. A 20% increase in costs has pushed many families out of the independent sector, contributing to declining pupil numbers, heightened competition and, in some cases, school closures.

At the same time, a notable proportion of families who are financially insulated from fee increases have chosen to relocate overseas, driven by wider economic and political pressures. This has further reduced demand in the domestic market and accelerated the need for alternative growth strategies.

These pressures are compounded by rising operational costs. Schools are facing sustained increases in staff expenditure due to pension and National Insurance changes, alongside higher energy costs and the removal of charitable business rates relief. Together, these factors have created an urgent need for diversified and more resilient income streams.

For many schools, opening an international campus offers a direct response to this challenge by accessing new markets where demand for British education remains strong.

A Growing Global Opportunity

While the UK market contracts, the global education sector continues to expand. The international K–12 schools market has experienced sustained growth, driven by a rapidly expanding global middle class, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. In these regions, British education is widely associated with quality, credibility and long-term opportunity.

For UK independent schools, opening an international campus offers several strategic advantages.

• Financial resilience and revenue generation – overseas campuses create additional income streams that are not dependent on UK fee-paying families. Surpluses can be reinvested into the home school, supporting capital development, facilities improvement or the expansion of means-tested bursaries.
• Financial resilience and revenue generation – overseas campuses create additional income streams that are not dependent on UK fee-paying families. Surpluses can be reinvested into the home school, supporting capital development, facilities improvement or the expansion of means-tested bursaries.
• Brand extension and recruitment – An international campus extends a school’s ethos, heritage and academic reputation into new markets. When well positioned, it can also strengthen global brand awareness and support international student recruitment to the UK campus.
• Curriculum enrichment and global perspective – International campuses can foster a genuinely global curriculum. Exchange programmes and collaborative projects between UK and overseas pupils enrich the educational experience and prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world.

For many schools, the decision to open overseas is not purely commercial. It is a strategic move designed to protect the core educational mission. By securing long-term financial stability through international ventures, schools can preserve the quality of teaching, co-curricular provision and pastoral care that define British independent education.

A Strategic, Not Reactive, Decision

The growing interest in opening an international campus signals a sector adapting creatively to survive. However, success depends on careful planning. International expansion is not a short-term fix; it requires robust market research, financial modelling, governance planning and brand alignment.

When executed well, an international campus does not dilute the founding school. Instead, it provides a stable foundation that allows the UK school to weather domestic pressures and continue delivering world-class education for future generations.

If you would like to learn more, why not join us at our webinar on 10th February, where we explore the realities of overseas campuses and partnerships. You’ll also be introduced to MTM’s proven 4-stage international strategy framework, helping leaders decide whether international expansion is right for their school – and how to explore it intelligently.

You can read more about the webinar here.