Enriching Education - Queen's Online School

 Britain’s reputation as the home of world-class schooling is facing renewed scrutiny, with experts warning that rising costs, uneven standards and growing international competition could threaten its historic status as “the envy of the world”.

 

A recent report in a national newspaper raised the question whether British education remains the country’s greatest export, highlighting that the global market for private and international schools has become crowded and increasingly digital. 

 

Once seen as the benchmark, British schools abroad now compete with well-funded American and European institutions offering similar learning opportunities and modern facilities.

 

Yet despite the competition demand for a British-style education remains strong among expatriate families and international students. There are now more than 12,000 schools, enrolling over six million pupils worldwide who are teaching a British curriculum, according to the Council of British International Schools.

 

At the same time, a new wave of online British schools is emerging to meet families’ needs for flexibility and continuity.

 

Former mainstream secondary school headteacher Lisa Boorman, who now leads Queen’s Online School, said the shift reflects changing family lifestyles as much as educational values.

 

“British education still carries weight because of its structure, its rigour and its emphasis on critical thinking,” she said. “What’s changed is that you no longer need to live in Britain to benefit from it. Families who move frequently or live overseas can now access that same experience online.”

 

An analysis by the International British Online School Network suggests that remote British education can cost up to 60 per cent less than a traditional international school, while still preparing pupils for GCSEs and A-levels recognised by universities worldwide.

 

Ms Boorman said an increasing number of pupils from the Middle East, Europe and Asia are joining her school’s live online lessons.

 

“For some families, this is about consistency,” she explained. “Children can stay on track with GCSEs or A-levels without disruption. For others, it’s about belonging to a school community that feels familiar, wherever they are in the world.”

 

However, there have been criticisms that quality can vary and that some overseas schools use British branding without meeting the same safeguarding or equality standards as those inspected in England.

 

A national newspaper investigation found that several overseas institutions had received British accreditation despite operating restrictive or outdated curricula.

 

Ms Boorman believes maintaining Britain’s reputation depends on ensuring those standards stay consistent.

 

“A British education should mean the same high expectations and values everywhere,” she said. “If we can protect that integrity while making learning more accessible, then Britain can continue to lead the world in education just in a different form.”

 

 

Sources for reference

 

• The Telegraph: “Britain’s private schools are no longer the country’s greatest export” (Oct 2025)
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) data, 2024–25 global report
• International British Online School Network, British Online School vs Traditional International Schools (2025)
• The Guardian: “Overseas schools given British accreditation despite anti-equality curriculum” (May 2024)