British Elite Schools Expand into India, Seeking New Markets

Several elite British public schools, including some of the UK's oldest, are establishing campuses in India, a move driven by a combination of factors including tightening regulations in China, new domestic tax policies, and a burgeoning wealthy population in India.

This expansion sees institutions like Harrow School, which opened a campus in Bengaluru, India's tech hub, and Bedford School, which launched its first all-girls international campus near Chandigarh, establishing a presence in the South Asian country. Shrewsbury School has a campus in Bhopal, and Wellington College has set up in Pune.

For decades, India has had established boarding schools modeled on the British public school system. However, the market is rapidly evolving as newly affluent Indian families seek more global exposure for their children. The appeal of international curricula, such as the Cambridge curriculum offered by Harrow and Bedford, is a significant draw for many families.

"Our international curriculum is quite a driver for many of them," Caroline Pascoe, head of school at Harrow in Bengaluru, told the BBC. Parents like Harsimran Singh Kocchar, whose daughter attends Bedford Mohali, cited the school's focus on character development and confidence, in addition to academics, as key reasons for enrollment. He also noted the absence of a "VIP culture" common in some Indian schools.

Non-resident Indians looking to connect their children with their roots are also a significant demographic for these schools. Harrow's Bengaluru campus, for instance, imports many of its traditions, such as teachers being called "Beaks" and students wearing the traditional Harrow hats and uniform, while also incorporating local customs like celebrating Hindu festivals.

The shift in focus toward India follows a slowdown in expansion in China. A 2025 study by the UK-based Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) highlighted that regulatory changes and increased scrutiny from national governments in China have made expansion there more challenging. A 2024 Chinese law requiring the integration of patriotic education into all subjects further complicated matters, leading to the cancellation of planned campuses.

Adding to the pressure, Britain introduced a 20% VAT on private school fees in the 2024 Autumn Budget. Naomi Atkins, founding principal at Bedford School Mohali, stated that this has prompted many private schools to actively explore international expansion, particularly in India and Vietnam.

However, India presents its own set of challenges. Most schools operate in partnership with local investors, and profit margins can be significantly lower than in other markets. Atkins noted that fees in India might be as low as 1% of revenue in some cases, compared to potentially 10% elsewhere. There has also been an overestimation of the market size, and competition from established local institutions is intense.

India's lower per capita income also means that the high fees charged by British schools, which can exceed £15,000 annually, can limit growth. Bedford Mohali, for example, has set its fees at roughly half those of other British schools.

While satellite campuses of British schools generated significant profits (£152.4 million between 2011-12 and 2022-23, according to PEPF), growth in India is expected to be gradual. The country's colonial history and growing wealth offer opportunities, but it may not immediately compensate for the reduced market in China.