International schools market reaches 8,000 schools
November 2015 - The number of English-medium international schools around the world has reached 8,000.
According to a 2014 report by the British Council and the University of Oxford, the desire to learn in the language of English is a ‘growing global phenomenon’. It is one of the reasons why the number of English-medium international schools (teaching children aged from 3-18) has reached 8,000 and continues to expand at pace.
Data published this October by ISC Research (part of The International School Consultancy) indicates that there are now over 8,000 international schools teaching 4.26 million students. By 2025, ISC Research predicts there will be at least 15,000 English-medium international schools teaching over 8 million students.
The reason for their increasing popularity is that international schools provide an English-medium education, often with globally recognised curricula, and high standards of learning and teaching. For many parents, local as well as expatriate, this is considered an important educational route; one through which their child can gain a place at a western university, well prepared in language, qualifications, and a western-style of learning.
Karen McKellin, Executive Director of International Student Initiatives at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada says: “International schools are a very important market for us. Their students meet all of our requirements; they are well prepared to mix and participate, they have very good facility of English language, and they’ve been exposed to internationally recognised curricula.” Typical of an increasing number of universities today, a significant percentage of the transnational undergraduate students (70% in the case of UBC) originate from English-medium international schools.
According to ISC Research, which has tracked and analysed data on the world’s international schools for over 20 years, the market has grown dramatically since the year 2000. This year’s ISC Market Intelligence Country Reports for several countries, including the UAE and Hong Kong, state that demand for places at many of the leading international schools exceeds supply with long waiting lists. In Dubai alone, 21 new English-medium international schools are due to open over the next two years.
The international schools market in China is also attracting attention. Strict restrictions stop local children attending the traditional international schools for expatriates in China (known as Schools for Children of Foreign Workers). However, Chinese-owned international schools, which can accept local Chinese students, are now emerging. These schools are often partnered with a recognised independent school brand from the UK or US to support the delivery of a western learning ethos and approach.
“In many developing countries, English-medium international schools are growing in popularity, and several governments are including planned international school development within their economic transformation programmes,” says Nicholas Brummitt, Chairman of ISC Research. “The market is looking extremely healthy.”
Where are the greatest number of international schools?
August 2015 - There are now 22 countries in the world with over 100 English-medium international schools. This means that for expatriate and local families, opportunities for their children to follow an English-medium education and to learn through an internationally-recognised curriculum are becoming increasingly accessible.
Here are the figures published by ISC Research from August 2015. The UAE leads the world with 511 international schools teaching over 508,000 students. 253 schools in the UAE are located in Dubai alone. Here the options are extensive although competition for the best schools remains high. The National Curriculum of England is the most popular curriculum option and is offered in half of all international schools in the UAE.
China has 480 international schools. For such a vast country, this may seem a relatively low number. A large part of the reason for this is that most of China's early international schools are foreign-owned and, with few exceptions, are not allowed to enrol local children. However, there is a rapidly increasing demand from Chinese parents for English-medium education for their children, and the international schools landscape in China is changing in response to this demand. The number of Chinese-owned international schools is growing fast and, crucially, local children are allowed to attend these schools.
Elsewhere, India, Pakistan, Japan, Spain and Saudi Arabia all have over 200 international schools offering all or part of the curriculum in English (Pakistan has 439, India has 411, Saudi Arabia has 245, Japan has 233, and Spain has 203).
Countries with over 100 international schools include Indonesia (190 schools), Thailand (172) and Malaysia (142) in South East Asia; Qatar (152) in the Middle East; Hong Kong (176) in East Asia; Mexico (122), Brazil (135) and Argentina (160) in South America; Germany (169), Netherlands (151), Sweden (107), France (104) and Switzerland (103) in Europe; and Nigeria (129) and Egypt (188)in Africa.
4 million students now study at international schools around the world
June 2015 - English-medium international schools now provide education for over 4 million students around the world. This number has risen dramatically in recent years. Just 15 years ago there were fewer than 1 million students, and 5 years ago there were 2.75 million. Demand for places at international schools in many countries is growing at pace.
The International School Consultancy which provides data and intelligence on the English-medium international schools market says the 4 million figure was reached, for the first time ever, in May 2015. The reason for the growth is two-fold. Expatriate families demand places for their children at international schools to ensure continuity of language, curriculum, examinations or orientation. Secondly, an increasing number of wealthy local families seek out places for their children at international schools to give them an English-medium education with a learning approach and qualifications that provide the best opportunities for a place in a Western university.
Chinese parent Tao Sun says “If you want your child to have many options for world-class universities, and if you want them to survive, thrive and succeed there, then they need to start learning and speaking English as soon as they can. That’s why many families who can afford it, look to schools that provide such an opportunity for their children.” Tao is also the Chairman of HD Ningbo School in Zhejiang, China which provides English-medium learning and where students study for IGCSEs and A-levels. “Many children come to our school because our English component provides the best education in the world, with good discipline, educational heritage, and with qualities and qualifications that are respected by universities in Britain, the US and Canada,” he says.
The country with the highest number of students attending international schools is the United Arab Emirates which has 479,700 students attending 514 English-medium international schools. However, China has now surpassed the UAE as the country with the largest number of schools. China has 530 English-medium international schools but currently only 326,400 students. The reason for this is that China's earliest international schools are foreign-owned and, with few exceptions, such schools are not allowed to enrol Chinese nationals. The increasing demand from Chinese parents for English-medium education for their children is changing the face of international schools in the country, with Chinese-owned bilingual international schools and English-medium Sino-Foreign Cooperative Schools now being established, both of which meet government criteria to accept Chinese nationals. Many of these schools offer internationally recognised curriculum and examinations.
“The English-medium international schools market is exceedingly healthy, with strong growth in the numbers of schools and students certain for the foreseeable future in many regions,” says Nicholas Brummitt, Chairman of ISC. “English-medium international schools are a vital education provision in most major cities today. The best international schools are among the most successful in the world, with exceptional examination results and a high proportion of students going on to the universities across the globe.”
The 2015 Global Report from ISC, which provides trends, analysis and forecasts on the world’s English-medium international schools market is now available from ISC.
Anne Keeling
Marketing & Media Relations
The International School Consultancy Group (ISC)
Email: anne@annekeeling.co.uk or anne@isc-r.com
Telephone: 02920-712265
Mobile: 07906-353-863
Skype: Anne_Keeling
www.iscresearch.com