The 2020-2021 academic year ended with the international听schools听market continuing to expand听and shift.听听
As of July 2021, 小蓝视频 data recorded听a total of听12,373听international schools around the world enrolling鈥5.6 million students and employ 550,846听teaching staff.听The sector听has听demonstrated defensive resilience throughout COVID-19,听generating over $53 billion USD in annual school fees,听and looks set to听emerge from听the pandemic stronger than ever.鈥听
International schools听meet听parents鈥 aspirations听
Only a few听brand听new听international schools have opened since July 2020听due to the impact of COVID-19, but听very听few have been forced to close听and, during that same time, enrolment听across the sector听has听increased听by 41,200 students.听An increasing number of parents want their children to be educated in English, to a听standard of learning and qualifications recognised by most of the world鈥檚 universities and industry.听Much of this demand is coming from听aspirational听families听throughout Asia听with听the financial means to enrol their child into their local international school.听听
Most popular international curricula听
The British A and International听A听Levels remain the most popular exit qualifications offered by 34% of international schools serving senior students, with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme being offered by 26%.听Bilingual learning is growing in popularity, with 34% of international schools听now听offering听learning in the language of听English听and at least one other language, compared to 27%听just five years ago.听听听听
Increased access听
There has been听notable growth in demand for听international听schools at a fee point鈥痑ffordable by more families. Several factors have听influenced this including the expanded demand听from local families selecting鈥痑n international school in their neighbourhood in preference to a local state or independent school,听the increase听of expatriate families originating from a wide range of countries听particularly within Asia,听and听declining听employee听benefits packages that include education fees for dependents.听COVID-19鈥痟as also impacted鈥痶he incomes of some families.鈥疉 growing number of international schools are adapting their fees, or being established, to respond to听these factors.听听
The pandemic has been a living laboratory听for the world听and听within K-12 education听during this time,听international schools have been cited for听delivering听best听practice听in听teaching and learning, community wellbeing, inclusion,听and education technology.听听
The resilience shown by the international听schools听market听affirms听its position听as听a听stable and听viable investment option.听As the recognised source of data and intelligence on the world鈥檚 international听schools听market for听over听25听years, ISC听Research supports educational investors听as well as the schools and suppliers听with听expert services.听To remain informed of latest market developments听sign听up to听the 小蓝视频听newsletter.听
