International school leaders have issued a list of five policy requests for the next government aimed at benefitting both their growing sector and the state system at home.
The leaders, who form the Tes Global Advisory Board (GAB) composed of 11 members in Europe, the Middle East, China, India and Asia, said their first request was to ensure the strong supply of talented teachers into the profession, given the recruitment concerns affecting both international and domestic schools.
Vanita Uppal, director of The British School New Delhi, said the ongoing growth of the British international school market means that a pipeline of quality teachers into the profession is vital.
“The desire for, and value of, a British education is immeasurable for many families, who see it as the gold standard,” she said.
“To have a stable supply of high-quality teachers from the UK...will be essential to retain Britain’s educational strength overseas.”
International school teachers coming home
To help with this, the group said that the the number of accreditations recognised by the Department for Education should be increased so more early career teachers can complete their induction while working overseas.
The GAB also said that more must be done to help international teachers looking to return home to the UK to find jobs in the state school system - something that many can find difficult.
“Teachers that have taught abroad have a breadth of experience and skills that should be recognised by the UK institutions that shaped them to deliver so much to so many,” said Mark Leppard, headmaster of the British School Al Khubairat in the United Arab Emirates
The leaders’ calls come after government data revealed that full- and part-time teacher vacancies have increased by 20 per cent compared with last year, and have more than doubled in the past three years.
As well as making these requests, the group has also urged the next government to address the issue that some UK citizens overseas can face paying international fees when applying to universities at home - something that can put them off applying.
Ruth Sanderson, principal of The British School of Amsterdam, said many British students abroad “face an unknown future” regarding fees and access to places at universities at home, and this needs to be addressed.
“The British government needs to prioritise support for these students’ futures and this highly successful industry,” she added.
The group said that a plan for UK students who live in Europe to pay international fees for university courses in the UK from 2028 should be scrapped.
The group also raised the idea of the Ucas application window moving to earlier in the year so the process is fairer and “more efficient” for overseas students and schools when applying to UK universities.
Finally, as a broader ask, the GAB said that any future government must do more to “recognise, promote and celebrate the value of the British education system” so that the growth of the international school sector is supported as best as possible.
“The UK education system is more than academic success, it is a vital element of Britain’s soft power projection around the world that shouldn’t be underestimated,” Mr Leppard said.
Currently there are more than 14,000 English-medium international schools, many of which deliver GCSE- and A-level-based curriculums, and they are often staffed by UK-trained teachers who have moved to work abroad.
