State Grammar School to Open Fee-Paying Branch in Dubai
Queen Elizabeth's School (QES), a historic state grammar school in north London, will become the first state-funded UK school to open an overseas campus when it launches in Dubai next August.
This new fee-paying branch aims to support and finance the British counterpart of QES by attracting international students.
Significance and Context
Experts suggest this pioneering move might inspire other state schools to seek supplementary funding through international ventures, potentially creating a new revenue stream. However, there are concerns it could widen the gap between successful and struggling schools.
Previous Attempts and Challenges
- Earlier efforts by state schools to tap into the estimated £100 million international market were unsuccessful.
- St Olave’s School in Bromley, Kent, abandoned its controversial plans to open campuses in China.
About Queen Elizabeth’s School and Dubai Branch
QES is a 450-year-old boys’ grammar school in Barnet, London, known for consistently outstanding Ofsted ratings and its reputation among the best state schools in the city.
The new co-educational school will be located in Dubai Sports City and has received approval from Dubai authorities.
Tuition fees will be up to £32,000 per year, and the school will keep the name Queen Elizabeth’s.
Applications for students from nursery level through to Sixth Form are already open.
"A UK state school is opening a fee-paying branch in Dubai to help finance its British counterpart."
Author's summary: Queen Elizabeth’s School pioneers a fee-paying overseas campus in Dubai, combining tradition with new funding models for UK state schools abroad.