Beijing Education Crackdown: UK Private Schools Face Curbs On China Links

British independent schools face fresh pressures on expanding their links with China as the authorities tighten restrictions on foreign influence in the education system and seek to more than halve the number of children educated privately.

Restrictions on visas for foreign teachers are also contributing to a slowdown in the establishment and expansion of private schools for Chinese nationals, dozens of which have links to well-known British institutions — including Harrow, Wellington, Dulwich College and Charterhouse.

The changes are part of China’s attempt to equalise education opportunity following the rapid growth in private schools, including those offering international exams and teaching in English as more students seek to apply to foreign universities.

The reforms follow recent draconian curbs on private tutoring services.

The central government in May stopped approving new private schools for the compulsory, or first nine of 12, years of education and last month at least four provinces said there was a goal to cut the proportion of children who attend such schools from more than 10 per cent to less than 5 per cent by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, some provincial authorities are imposing controls on the curriculum and the use of foreign textbooks in private schools.

ISC Research, an educational consultancy, has identified 66 schools in China with an affiliation to 29 UK schools.

These include 12 for children born overseas to Chinese citizens, who can hold foreign passports and Chinese identity cards until they have to make a choice of nationality when they turn 18.

There are also 52 bilingual private schools open to other Chinese citizens.

ISC said it was aware of a further 28 schools being planned.

The government policy does not explicitly target the schools for dual nationals or bilingual establishments, which comprise about one-fifth of China’s 15,000 private primary and secondary schools, but some have been caught up in the clampdown and leaders in the sector are expecting more.

The schools with foreign links are usually owned and operated by Chinese investors but pay fees to the affiliated British school, which often lend their brand name and provide some staff as well as materials and advice on teaching methods.