ISC‘s 1411 member schools cover almost all the top private educational institutions in Britain, covering all stages of education from kindergarten to high school. Through these statistics, ISC not only provides important insights for schools, but also provides valuable reference for policy makers.
ISC(Independent Schools Council) has been established for 50 years, focusing on collecting and publishing the Report on British Private Schools every year to provide data support and services for the British government's education policy.
ISC's 1411 member schools cover almost all the top private educational institutions in Britain, covering all stages of education from kindergarten to high school. Through these statistics, ISC not only provides important insights for schools, but also provides valuable reference for policy makers.
1. What are the TOP3 countries in the world where young international students come from?
According to the latest ISC report ISC 2024, the number of young students from Chinese mainland in the UK has exceeded 10,000, reaching 10,375, ranking first.
China followed closely, ranking second with 7,677 people, while the United States ranked third with 4,759 people. In addition, there are 5,297 students from the European Community and the European Economic Area (EEA).
It is worth noting that the number of students studying in elite private schools in Britain has also increased for three consecutive years, and the total number of students in 2024 is about 556,500.
2. Why do more and more families send their children to elite private schools in Britain even though their assets are shrinking?
According to the White Paper on the New Middle Class, in 2023, 43% of middle-class families in China are facing asset shrinkage, but the number of children sent to private schools in Britain has reached a new high. This phenomenon not only reflects the education concept of the middle class in China, but also shows that elite families all over the world favor private schools in Britain, hoping to provide their children with the best education and future development opportunities through this choice:
Educational quality and traditional advantages: British private schools are famous for their excellent educational quality and long history. According to statistics, the academic performance of private schools in Britain is usually higher than that of public schools, and the A-Level pass rate of many private schools exceeds 98%. These schools usually have first-class teachers and rich educational resources, which can provide students with comprehensive academic and non-academic training. It is worth noting that only 7% of school-age students in Britain can enter these private schools, while 47% of students from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge come from these 7% of private school graduates, who occupy more than 80% of important positions in British society. This investment in education is regarded by many families as a "worthwhile" long-term return.
International reputation and social network: Students studying in private schools in Britain can get in touch with outstanding peers from all over the world and establish a wide range of international social networks. This kind of network has an important influence on future career development and social status. For example, the alumni network of many private schools has a strong influence in all industries around the world, which provides more opportunities for students' future career development. The data shows that many international companies prefer to choose candidates with international education background when recruiting.
Global advantages of language: In British private schools, students can gain a comprehensive experience of English culture and have the opportunity to improve their English ability, which is extremely beneficial to their future international exchanges and career development. Research shows that students who master English are more competitive in the global job market, especially in multinational companies and international organizations.
Individualized education and all-round development: British private schools pay attention to individualized education and all-round development, and help students fully tap their potential through rich extracurricular activities, leadership training, art and sports education. The data show that students who participate in extracurricular activities generally perform better in academic performance and social ability, and this concept of holistic education has been paid more and more attention by families.
Security and privacy considerations: Choosing a private school in Britain can provide higher security and better privacy protection, which is especially important for families of public figures or famous families. According to the survey, many parents said that the security measures and campus environment of private schools made them feel more at ease. In addition, private schools usually provide small classes, which not only improves the quality of education, but also enables children to get more attention and support in their study and life.
To sum up, despite the economic pressure, more and more families are still willing to invest in their children's education in order to create a better future for them. Education is regarded as a long-term investment, especially in the context of increasingly fierce global competition, the value of quality education has become increasingly prominent. With the rise of the middle class in China and the deepening of globalization, the number of families choosing elite private schools in Britain is expected to continue to increase.
3. How many places do British private schools give young students from China every year?
In the process of considering sending their children to private schools in Britain, an important problem faced by parents is the competition for places. According to the data of ISC(Independent Schools Council), there are 1,411 private schools in Britain, but the places provided for young students in China are extremely limited. Here are some key data and analysis:
By age:
Junior School (enrolling kindergartens to Y7): 630.
Senior School (Y7 to Y13): 272.
Mixed-age School (for all ages): 509.
By sex:
Mixed schools: 1,155, accounting for about 82%.
Girls' schools: 155
Boys' schools: 101
According to the form of boarding:
Day schools: 973, accounting for about 68%.
Boarding schools: 438
For most young international students, especially those whose parents don't accompany them, boarding school is a more ideal choice. Among the 438 boarding schools, parents need to screen the schools that can apply according to their children's age. For example, if you want to apply for Y9 students, the number of schools you can choose will actually be reduced to 272 (including boarding schools and non-boarding schools). Therefore, the number of schools that can finally apply for the exam will be further reduced.
In these 272 schools, it is necessary to meet the boarding conditions and consider the following factors:
Gender type: Parents need to decide whether to choose a mixed school or a single-sex school.
School ranking: Some schools are more prominent in academic and social reputation.
Geographical location: Schools in different regions have differences in living costs and environment.
Degree of internationalization: Some schools prefer international education, which is suitable for students from different countries.
Proportion of international students: The proportion of international students accepted by the school affects the competitiveness of students in China.
Academic expertise: Some schools have stronger advantages in specific disciplines.
Due to the superposition of these factors, the number of schools that can finally apply is very limited. The places offered by these schools are global, which means that young students in China need to compete with children from elite families in Europe and America for extremely limited places.
Based on the above analysis, it is particularly important to consult and plan in advance to help students' families match the top and most suitable private schools in the UK, regardless of the data from authoritative institutions in the UK or our years of experience in studying abroad at a young age. Through early preparation, parents can better understand the school's application requirements, competition and the best application opportunity, thus improving their children's chances of successful admission.