Bedford School, one of the UK’s oldest public independent schools, is set to open a purpose-built campus in Mohali, a planned city located on the outskirts of the union territory of Chandigarh.
While Bedford has traditionally been a boys’ school, comprising a preparatory school (ages seven to 13) and an upper school (ages 13 to 18), the Mohali campus marks a significant milestone as it will become the first British international girls’ school in India, catering to students aged three to 18.
“The rapidly growing demand for high-quality, holistic education in India was an important factor in choosing the location for Bedford School’s first international school. And Mohali stood out as a natural choice because of its rich educational heritage and commitment to learning,” Iwan Lloyd, international development director at Bedford School, told The PIE News.
“Within India, it has lately become an education and IT hub, with top universities like Ashoka, Plaksha, and Amity University setting up their campuses there. It is indeed one of India’s most dynamic, rapidly growing and forward-thinking cities.”
The new campus results from a partnership between Bedford and the Dehradun-based, not-for-profit Doon International Education Society, facilitated by ISC Research – a leading English-medium K-12 international school data, trends, and intelligence provider.
Moreover, the campus is expected to feature spacious, modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology, a purpose-built 1,000-seater auditorium for performances, assemblies, and events, along with high-quality sports facilities, science and tech labs, art and music studios, and a well-resourced library.
Pupils will follow the British curriculum for the primary years, with a dual pathway option for the secondary section
Iwan Lloyd, Bedford School
The 14-acre campus will offer both the national and British curricula and will accommodate both day and boarding students, Bedford School said.
“Pupils will follow the British curriculum for the primary years, with a dual pathway option for the secondary section,” stated Lloyd.
“Parents can expect rigorous academic standards, outstanding teaching, and a nurturing environment that supports pupils in reaching their full potential – whether they aim for top Indian institutions or global universities.”
While India is home to its own prestigious residential boarding schools, such as Doon, The Lawrence School, and Mayo College, major international boarding schools, particularly British institutions, are increasingly looking to establish campuses in the country owing to India’s growing middle-class population.
Wellington College partnered with the Unison Group to establish premium schools in India, with the first campus opening in Pune. Harrow School also launched its Bangalore campus, which began operations in September 2023.
Additionally, Shrewsbury International School is set to open its Bhopal campus in August 2025, offering education for students aged 11 to 18, following the English National Curriculum with Cambridge International IGCSE and A-Level examinations.
While Bedford will focus on girls’ education, marking a departure from its traditional UK operations, it aims to set itself apart from its counterparts in India.
“Bedford School’s ethos stands apart through its foundation of strong character development alongside personal and academic achievement. The campus in Mohali will be leading in its field, with facilities and infrastructure that will support values-based learning for pupils and offer diverse experiences,” stated Lloyd.
“What will truly set us apart is the collaboration between Bedford and our local partners, which will ensure authenticity rather than replication.”
According to Lloyd, Bedford’s Mohali campus will adopt an inclusive approach that respects regional traditions, languages, and family values, while also having a faculty that will be a diverse mix of nationalities, including educators from both the UK and India.
“This diverse team will work closely to deliver the best for pupils and uphold academic excellence,” said Lloyd.
Bedford’s move comes at a time when the UK’s Labour government is facing legal challenges over its decision to add VAT to private school fees.
Since January 1, 2025, private schools across the UK have been subject to a 20% VAT – a policy the UK government claims will generate additional funding for hiring more teachers in state schools and help “raise standards for the 94% of children who attend state schools”.
However the legal challenge, brought by the Independent Schools Council, a number of Christian faith schools, and the parent-led Education not Discrimination group, argues that the VAT policy violates the legal right to education and discriminates against families in low-paying faith schools or those with children who have special educational needs and disabilities, who cannot be adequately supported in the state sector.
Additionally, a survey reported on by The PIE last year indicated that international student recruitment in British boarding schools could decline by as much as 28% in September 2025.
With plans to expand into the Middle East as well, Bedford has rejected claims that its move into India is aimed at offsetting a potential decline in international student recruitment.
“We decided about two-and-a-half years ago that we wanted to take Bedford School internationally as we felt it was a natural progression as we are a global school already anyway – a third of our Upper School boys are boarding and about half of those boarders come from about 25 countries from around the world,” stated Lloyd.
“After putting our name out there, we had an incredible response and for about a year and a half, we had people coming from all parts of the world wanted to start a Bedford School overseas, and Mohali was the first and most exciting one to come through.”
