The growth of new international schools is giving families more choices as demand for international education continues to rise. Asia is seeing particularly strong activity, with new campuses opening across Thailand, India and China.
For parents relocating for work, school availability can influence where a family chooses to live. However, international schools are not serving expatriate families alone. Local families are also becoming an important part of the market.
According to ISC Research, there are now more than 15,000 international schools globally, serving 7.7 million students and employing around 730,000 staff. The organisation also highlights growing demand from local families as a major force behind market expansion.
Why New International Schools Matter For Families
International schools can give families greater choice when they move between countries or cities.
An EY report identifies ‘better family opportunities’ as one of the factors influencing professionals across generations when considering international assignments. Access to quality international education can therefore play an important role in relocation decisions.
At the same time, the growing number of schools gives local parents more options. Families can now consider British, International Baccalaureate and bilingual pathways without necessarily moving abroad.
For students, this expansion can mean greater access to internationally recognised qualifications, multicultural learning environments and different approaches to education.
New International Schools In Thailand
Thailand has become an increasingly active market for international education, particularly in Bangkok.
Dulwich College Bangkok is scheduled to open in August 2026. The school will initially admit students up to Year 7 before expanding towards Year 13. Its programme includes academic and co-curricular opportunities alongside Thai and Mandarin language learning.
Wycombe Abbey International School Bangkok is also scheduled to open in August 2026. It will offer a British curriculum pathway including IGCSEs and A Levels, alongside boarding, sport, performing arts, STEAM and leadership opportunities.
SPGS International School Bangkok is another new school planned for 2026. The co-educational school is designed for students aged three to 18.
Meanwhile, Middleton International School Bangkok provides a K-12 pathway. Its offering includes a Reggio-inspired inquiry-based approach, the UK International Primary Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE and International A Levels.
Thailand’s expansion also extends beyond Bangkok. Mill Hill School opened its first overseas school in Chiang Mai in September 2025. Glenalmond Phuket International School is expected to open later in 2026, while Highgate International School in Chonburi is expanding its provision towards senior school and boarding.
For parents, this wider geographical spread means international education is no longer concentrated in Bangkok alone.
India Adds New International School Options
India is also seeing new international schools enter the market.
Bedford School Mohali opened in April 2026 as the first British international girls’ school in India. The school, located near Chandigarh, welcomes girls aged four to 18 and offers day and boarding provision.
The school says it is also the first British-branded school in North India. Its curriculum includes Cambridge IGCSE, while its campus provides academic, sporting and co-curricular facilities.
Sagebrook International School in Hyderabad also opened in 2026 in partnership with UK-based Whitgift School. The K-12 school combines British and IB pathways.
In Bhopal, Shrewsbury International School opened in September 2025. The co-educational boarding school operates on a 150-acre campus.
These developments give Indian families more opportunities to access international curricula without leaving the country. They also provide options for families looking for boarding education with an international outlook.
New International Schools Expand Across China And Korea
China continues to attract international school investment, with Harrow International School Guangzhou scheduled to open in September 2026.
The school is planned for Huangpu District and will include an AISL FutureLab. Its programme will focus on digital literacy, entrepreneurship and technology alongside academic learning.
Meanwhile, UK boarding school Benenden has announced plans for a potential international school campus in South Korea. The proposal could add another British education option for families in the country.
For students, such developments can broaden access to international curricula and create new routes towards universities in different countries.
Europe Also Sees New School Developments
International school growth is continuing across Europe, with new schools targeting both internationally mobile families and local parents seeking international curricula.
Brighton College plans to open schools in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon in September 2027. The schools will serve students aged three to 18 and are expected to offer academic, sporting, cultural and collaborative learning opportunities.
The British School of Thessaloniki in Greece is scheduled to open in September 2026. It will initially provide British primary education for children from Reception through Year 2.
Ermitage International School has also announced a new school in Bordeaux. The school will offer bilingual French-English education for students aged three to 18, alongside an IB programme.
In Spain, Coruña British International School has opened a new campus. The campus is expected to become fully operational in September 2026, serving students from early years through sixth form.
What Parents Should Consider Before Choosing A School
More choice does not automatically mean an easier decision for parents.
Families should look beyond the curriculum name and consider how the school delivers its academic programme. This includes class sizes, university pathways, language provision, pastoral care and learning support.
Parents relocating internationally should also check how easily their child’s qualifications can transfer if the family moves again.
Furthermore, families should consider the school’s opening stage. A new school may initially offer only a limited number of year groups before expanding.
Boarding provision, transport, extracurricular activities and campus facilities may also affect the decision.
For local families, the same questions remain important. International education can offer broader academic pathways, but parents should assess whether the school’s approach matches their child’s needs and long-term goals.
International Schools Are Increasingly Serving Local Families
The international school market is changing beyond simply adding more campuses.
ISC Research reports that local family demand is increasingly driving growth. The organisation also highlights the expansion of bilingual provision, school groups and more systemised operating models.
This shift is significant for education leaders and suppliers as well as families. Schools must understand the expectations of increasingly diverse communities rather than focusing only on expatriate demand.
For educators, growing internationalisation can also create opportunities to work across different curricula and education systems.
Ultimately, the expansion of international schools gives families more choice. However, the value of that choice depends on whether schools can provide strong teaching, clear pathways, effective pastoral support and an education that fits the needs of their communities.
Key International School Market Figures
ISC Research reports more than 15,000 international schools worldwide.
The sector currently serves around 7.7 million students and employs approximately 730,000 staff. Annual fee income across the market is around US$69 billion.
The data also points to continued growth in bilingual education and school groups. These trends suggest that international education is becoming a more established part of the education landscape in many countries.
