From Dubai to Birmingham: UK or International?

Having just swapped the sun and skyscrapers of Dubai during GESS Dubai for the cancelled trains, snow and bitter temperatures up in Birmingham, I came out of the The Schools & Academies Show yesterday with my colleague William Saville with a thought: much like the vibrant international schools market and the more cautious UK sector, some changes in scenery are often welcomed.

While Birmingham may not exactly be exotic, the show itself was fantastic. Seamless organisation from the teams involved; some interesting sessions/panels and, as always, some insightful talks with educational suppliers.

I was, however, pretty disheartened by MP Catherine McKinnell's (Labour's Minister for School Standards, Department for Education ) talk. Some important, and clearly articulated, questions were asked. The responses? Vague, fluffy, meandering.

I digress. The purpose of this article is elsewhere: to share some more thoughts on the UK vs. the international schools market. Much like the changes in scenery I found myself in yesterday, I wonder if those educational suppliers focusing on the UK education market should be considering a change of scenery.

British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) 's latest Barometer Q3 2024 report was released yesterday. It's really an insightful read available for BESA members and I would strongly recommend those interested to get in touch. It reveals a stark contrast between the UK education market and the international schools sector, with the latter offering more lucrative opportunities for educational suppliers. Despite some growth, the UK market continues to present challenges for suppliers, driven by ongoing budget pressures and sector-wide difficulties (specifics are available for those interested in membership).

One such nugget of information is that a notable 41% of suppliers reported an increase in sales to international markets in Q3 2024, compared to just 32% for the UK. This reflects the significant opportunities abroad, as the international education sector remains strong and offers more growth potential. With almost 10% growth over the last 5 years in terms of total international schools worldwide; 23% growth over the last 5 years in annual tuition fee income and a current total annual tuition fee income exceeding USD 64B, English-medium, fee-paying international schools remains sturdy. While confidence in international markets is not without its fluctuations, it remains more positive than in the UK, with many suppliers seeing greater long-term growth prospects outside of the domestic market.

That's not to say the international schools market comes without its own challenges: as per ISC Research 's own exceptional insights (shameless plug), governments are increasingly tightening their oversight of international schools, introducing new accreditation standards and modifying visa and work permit regulations for foreign teachers like never before. With that said, international schools and their respective student bodies are increasingly becoming more and more diverse. The traditional image of the international school catering for wealthy expat families is certainly changing and has been for a few years now: with this transition comes the need for more diverse solutions; from an increase of EAL providers to solutions catering for SEND students, to name two prominent examples.

It's certainly not all doom and gloom across the UK market either: the energy at yesterday's conference was palpable and the traffic at so many stands I visited clearly shows there is plenty of opportunity here in the UK, with net confidence remaining stable over the last two quarters. However, I do feel there are many suppliers out there with exceptional solutions that would benefit by getting their solutions in front of international schools. Especially right now as diversity is changing the international education market.

By way of conclusion, then...For educational suppliers seeking sustained growth, in a market that proves year on year its buoyancy, the international schools market presents a more dynamic and profitable avenue. With stronger sales figures, higher confidence, and a more optimistic outlook, international markets are increasingly the go-to opportunity for expanding business in the education sector.

Always great to catch up with the usual suspects and some new faces. Thank you all, whether it was a quick hello or a more in-depth chat: Nick Finnemore Sarah Finnemore Ben Rose Jim Nicholls ?? Emily Worthington Clare Rawlings Sanjeev Baga Amelia Boldero Geoff Elliott Katherine Andreen Heath Langdon Chris Sainsbury Charlie Lovell Helen Swann Cheryl Prior Nicola Allen Rameez A. Naveed A.

I'd welcome differing opinions on the UK vs. International debate from those willing to get involved in the debate!