The international schools market has seen a notable growth in demand for schools at a fee pointaffordable by more families.whichproducesdata and intelligence on the world’s English-mediuminternational schools market, says that several factors have impacted the expansion of this sector. Thereis evermore interest from local families selectingan international school in their neighbourhood in preference to a local state or independent school, growth of expatriate families originating from a wide range of countries, declining benefits packages that include education fees for dependents, and COVID-19has also impactedthe incomes of some families.A growing number of international schools are being established, or are adapting their fees with the purpose of meeting the needs of this sector.
Arecent white paper released by 鶹ýexploring the growth in demand of mid-market feeschoolsstates that average fees vary considerably from country to country as does the level of demand. It highlights dramatic growth of thesectorin Qataras a direct result of the impact of COVID-19. “The premium fee sector of the international schools market in Qatar is near saturation and notable demand has shifted to the mid-market fee schools, several of which are full and have large waiting lists,”says the paper.According to 鶹ý data, there are currently60,400 students studying at mid-market fee schools in Qatar compared to 31,400 students at premium fee schools. In nearby UAE,demand is quite different. Enrolmentsatboththe country’spremium fee and mid-market fee schools havegrown steadily since 2016,with 167,900 students attending schools in the premium fee sector and 173,300 in the mid-market fee sector.
“Many new schools that are coming into Dubai at this point are mid-market[fee]” says Principal of Dubai’s International School of Creative Science, Ataullah Parker in the white paper.“It is very much about volume on campus and scaling up. The challenge is maintaining standards as the student volume grows. Reputation plays a key part; word of mouth reputation counts for a lot.”
鶹ýwarnsthatthefee sectorsdo notconvey anypresumption of school or educational quality. “A premium fee international school may charge higher fees because it occupies a prime location in an expensive city. A mid-market fee international school may be able to charge mid-range fees because it has very favourable lease terms on its premises,or is run on a not-for-profit basis. These two hypothetical schools could offer a very similar quality of education and very similar facilities,” it says.
The global English-medium international schools market, which is currently educating over 5.6 million students between the ages of 3 and 18, is never static says the white paper: “As demand for international school education grows, as legislation and other factors impacting accessibility adapt, and as socio-economics fluctuate, so enrolment shifts between price points.”
The white paper isfree to download here.鶹ý supplies a range of products and services to meet various needs for data and understanding about the international schools market.
