With an audience comprising private schools considering overseas ventures, those already active in the field, along with private equity, banks, architects and other consultancy specialising in the international education sector, it was clear that all were focused on how to leverage the opportunity presented by the big rise in demand for international schooling abroad.

Growth is being propelled by the rise in demand from local wealthy families for an internationally-educated child; 80% of demand is now thought to come from this sector.

Brummitt spoke of a predicted 6.2 million students at international schools by 2020 and revealed that 47% of those international schools canvassed by ISC’s research arm teach all or part of a UK-based curriculum. Many international schools “are expanding as quickly as possible”, he said, but failing to keep up with demand. Moreover, the market remains very fragmented.

South Korea is keen to build up Jeju Education City, to stop the diaspora of the international education-seeking elite

Many there were schools keen to learn from examples such as Marlborough College in Malaysia, and North London Collegiate School in Jeju, Korea, whose Deputy Head (Franchising), Dan Lewis, was very insightful on the financial benefits of their operation – which required only operational and no financial investment, given that the South Korean government was keen to build up an English-medium education hub, Jeju Education City, in part to stop the diaspora of the international education-seeking elite.

Lewis revealed that NLCS Jeju, which charges US$25,000 per year for students and more for boarders, enables its mother institution to offer full bursaries to UK students, which was one of the ambitions of undertaking such a project. Lewis added that a very significant benefit, in hindsight, was the engagement of UK staff who are involved in helping select staff for the Korean school and in training or delivery in Korea.

“This has lifted levels of self-evaluation, professionalism and ambition among staff”, he said, adding that UK students were also able to undertake gap year placements in the Korean sister school, running sports teams and engaging with Asia.

IPSEF is running its next event in Hong Kong, capitalising on the interest in Asia, which was pinpointed as the region offering the most potential (although closely followed by the Middle East, and Dubai was highlighted as the city with the most international schools, followed by Karachi).

In China, 9.5% of disposable income is spent on education

Also speaking at the event was Jose Rodriguez Cesenas, Director of Sovereign Capital (which has an Education & Training division) who explained that in China, 9.5% of disposable income is spent on education.

He indicated that a growth in wealth among local middle classes along with a desire for their children to speak English and have a route to global universities were among reasons attracting the attention of the private equity sector. International schools are also “cash-generative”, he said, customers had a propensity to pay and demographics supported growth predictions.

Challenges to entering the sector included high fixed costs, reputational risks and local implementation. Investors cannot be short-termist, he counselled. Eyeing the major opportunity for involvement in the sector, Rodriguez Cesenas added that less than 5% of current international schools belong to a group.