in September 2023, describes the process as a “fantastic challenge” in a “hotly contested local environment.” “We are looking long term, not where the market is
now, but where it will be in ten, 15 or 20 years,” he says. “We have gone in at a high price point at the top of the market, but we still need to sell that value proposition for the Indian market. Now the school is open and people can see the facilities we are seeing a bigger ramp up.” Anuradha Monga, chair and founder of TAISI advises
starting with sixth grade. “Parents don’t want to pay for the younger children and there are some good local schools for this age,” she says. The cost of employing expat teachers can also be
expensive. “Tax is 33% and there is 12.5% social security charge so that needs consideration when building a business plan,” cautions Scott Bryan. While most students will be local, many teachers
will be British or international. At Wellington College International in Pune there is a minimum of 50% expat and 50% local staff. “That is our real differentiator, but it means we have to be at a high fee point to make it work as a business,” says David Bates. As in other locations, the choice of local partner is
crucial. In India, most schools partner with an investor already in education, which makes for a smoother process.
WHICH CURRICULUM IS MOST POPULAR? Over 650 schools in India offer Cambridge programmes, including A levels, but the International Baccalaureate (IB) is becoming increasingly popular, helped by its recent introduction to 30 state schools in Delhi. There are 224 IB World Schools in India, including
164 offering the IB Diploma (DP). Over the next five years, the IB intends to expand into an additional 450 schools, including the inception of 100 new IB Career Programme (CP) schools. British brands in India, or planning to be, including
AISL Harrow International School, Wellington College International, Shrewsbury International School, Whitgift and Ardingly College International, will all offer the IB. “The IB is particularly strong in India and is seen as the premium international curriculum, crucial for holistic development and academic focus,” says David Bates. The Indian government’s 2020 National Education
Policy (NEP) changed how education is delivered, bringing it into a more multidisciplinary, skills-focused approach and closer to an international school approach. In Indian state schools the most common curriculum is the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
WHAT SORT OF FEES ARE SCHOOLS CHARGING? “India is a price-sensitive market and fees are lower than in other places,” says Natalie Williams, director of membership and engagement at the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). “Fees at premium schools are between £12,000–£15,000, which is lower than in some other countries. Fees are also capped in some areas so schools have prioritised opening in places without restriction.” The lower end of the premium market is widely
regarded to be the best entry point, but that could be changing. “We are seeing the emergence of a sub-sector of super-premium fee schools like Wellington, charging between £20,000–£30,000, that align with other markets
such as the UAE,” says ISC Research’s Freddie Cloke. Indians are savvy consumers and appreciate schools
offering better value for money in terms of facilities and curriculum delivery. Schools looking to enter the market need to consider what makes them different and demonstrate how their value matches the fee. Since AISL Harrow International School opened in
Bengaluru with similar fees to some Indian international schools, parents have voted with their feet. “Harrow offers things parents don’t see in an Indian international school – rigorous academics combined with sport, music and other extracurricular things,” says TAISI’s Anuradha Monga. Whitgift is entering the market at a lower price point
and has signed an agreement for a co-branded K–12 school in west Hyderabad. It’s a joint venture with an education partner that is already a respected school owner and operator in the city. “We have gone in at the top end of the mid-market,” says David Bates. “From our perspective, it is a way of differentiating our school’s brand.” The school will be called SageBrook Academy and is set to open in 2026 following the British curriculum and offering the IB. Ardingly College International has also been exploring
opportunities in India. “The price point is becoming commercially possible. It’s at a tipping point,” says the school’s director, Jamie Large.
IS BOARDING AN OPTION? The concept of boarding schools in India is already well established, particularly at the premium end of the market. Several respected Indian schools, including Mayo College in Ajmar, established in 1875, the Doon School, established in 1935, Woodstock School and Scindia School offer boarding. In addition, Wellington College International, Shrewsbury International School and AISL Harrow International School will also have boarding provision.
MORE INFORMATION
Enjoy more new articles to support choosing and applying for school places around the world in the online Guide to International Education & Schools 2024/25
“ The affordability is definitely there. We are seeing massive economic growth, huge infrastructure development and a big rise in the middle classes, as well as more expats coming in.”
FREDDIE CLOKE, HEAD OF SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, ISC RESEARCH
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GLOBAL EDUCATION
INDIA
Guide to International Education & Schools
For parents, employers & relocation professionals
2024/25
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