In Relocate Global’s new annual Guide to International Education and Schools it is reported that there are now around 8,000 English medium international schools, a figure that is set to double over the next ten years. And speaking at the Relocate Global International Education Forum, 19th February, Diane Glass, Business Development Director of International School Consultancy explained to delegates that statistics show that 41 per cent of those schools teach a British curriculum. Sir Michael Wilshaw has suggested that teacher shortages in the UK are being “exacerbated” by an increasing number of teachers being recruited by international schools to work overseas, often with attractive salary packages in warmer and sunnier climates.“Anyone regularly perusing the job vacancy pages of the education press cannot help but notice just how many of our elite public schools are busy opening up international branches across the globe,” says Sir Michael, “especially in the Gulf States and the Far East. Two years ago, there were 29 of these overseas franchises. At the end of 2015, there were 44 and the number will rise again in the coming months with several new campuses scheduled to open soon.”Sir Michael goes on to describe the famous British education institutions such as Harrow, Marlborough, Shrewsbury and Brighton College as, “clamouring to meet a growing demand for a ‘traditional’ English education among the burgeoning middle classes of these countries as well as the increasing number of British ex-pats who have relocated there.”The OFSTED chief inspector has observed that the “current vogue” among these prestigious British education institutions for establishing overseas branches is part of a much bigger “worldwide boom” in international schools in recent years, with UK companies dominating this lucrative market.Reflecting the trends in international school curriculum choice revealed at the Relocate Global International Education Forum, Sir Michael believes that the growing demand for a British education overseas means that there is little wonder that the UK is losing so many of its newly qualified teachers.  “It is no surprise that demand for UK-trained teachers is soaring,” he says. “In 2014−15, there were thought to be 100,000 full-time teachers from the UK working in international schools – making us the world’s biggest exporter of teaching talent.”Last year, the International School Consultancy reported that the number of teachers from the UK leaving to teach in English medium international schools (18,000) was higher than the number of teachers who qualified through the PGCE (post-graduate certificate in education) route in England (17,000).Sir Michael believes that the UK needs to offer better-targeted financial incentives to newly qualified UK teachers.“We need to demonstrate to our teachers through action as well as words that their country needs them and that it values the job they do,” he appealed in his monthly OFSTED commentary. “As far as I’m concerned, that means Barnsley not Bangkok, Doncaster not Doha, and Kings Lynn not Kuala Lumpur.”To find out more about the growing international school sector, the new annual Relocate Global Guide to International Education and Schools offers all the latest intelligence and views from education leaders for families faced with making those crucial international education and school choices.To order copies, download an order form, complete it using your keyboard, and email, fax or post it to us.

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