At British boarding schools fair, parents drawn by prospects for children’s all-round growth
MUMBAI: Mrunalini Singh, a working professional from Dubai, flew to Mumbai to attend the British Boarding School Fair held in the city on Sunday. She wanted to choose a school for her son for grade 9. “As my son is currently in grade 7 learning the British curriculum, I am looking for a better boarding school for him in the UK. He is interested in sports too, so my focus is mainly on a school that will stress sports.”
The British Boarding School Fair, featuring admissions heads from 14 British boarding schools, drew many students and parents who were looking for a more holistic development besides academic excellence. Parents are often attracted to the exposure to international standards and cultural diversity offered by these schools.
There are approximately 500 boarding schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with 1,926 Indian overseas students enrolled in 2023, according to the Independent School Council. Notable attendees at the fair included prestigious institutions like Sevenoaks School, Millfield School, Rugby School and Brighton College among others. Hosted at a five-star hotel in Lower Parel, the fair aimed to provide guidance on curriculum choices, extracurricular activities, and pastoral care systems offered by British boarding schools.
Organised by The Red Pen, an independent education consultancy, the fair serves as a platform for interaction between students, parents, and admission directors from top British boarding schools. These schools typically enroll students in grades 8 and 11, offering curricula such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A-levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.
The annual fees for UK boarding schools range from £40,000 to £70,000 (Rs 42 lakh to Rs 73 lakh). More than 90 parents took appointment to meet with representatives of schools at the fair.
Admission requirements vary, with schools assessing students’ academic records, conducting interviews, and administering entrance exams. Alex Patton, the deputy headmaster of Brighton College, said, “India is a major market. Most of the schools in the UK have witnessed a surge in Indian student enrollment. This academic year, Brighton College is going to open a new complex with additional classrooms, a computer science suite, social space, a dance school, drama schools, and other facilities,” he added.
Parents and students who visit the stalls feel a strong connection to the history of Millfield School, says Andrea Critchley-hope, head of senior admissions at the school. She said, “We have a strong connection with India as our school was founded by RJO (Jack) Meyer in 1935, following his return from India with seven Indian boys, six of whom were princes.” Mentioning that at least 25 Indian students enroll every year, she said, “Four years ago, we invested in a cricket ground, golf club, and other sports activities.”
Laura Bursey Faulkner, director of admissions at Rugby School, said there has been a 20% increase in the number of international students in British Boarding Schools in recent years. She said, “Our school offers more than 200 co-curricular choices.” Anuj Arenja, a healthcare businessperson and father of two daughters, said, “I am an alumnus of Sevenoaks School, and I enjoyed my stay there as well as the quality of education, so I decided to send both my daughters to a British boarding school.”