Riding the global wave of elite English private schools

Abstract

Demand for elite English private schools overseas is increasing and their numbers have risen rapidly in the first two decades of this century. With little research focussed on this type of international school, Bunnell (2008) discusses their first ten years, and the reasoning behind their initial appearance in Thailand. In this paper I examine Bunnell’s work and explore different views of these international elite English private schools. I reflect on the growth since Bunnell’s research and, using Kapferer’s model of globalisation (2005), re-position the globalised elite English private schools in relation to different school groups and their business models. I follow their progress and development over their second decade and argue how their primary task may have shifted focus, before discussing the increasing use by these international schools of accreditation and affiliations for the purpose of legitimisation. I conclude that these newer, globalised international schools have shifted from an ideological base to one of capitalism, noting how the globalised elite English private schools have branded themselves to support their longevity in an increasingly crowded market.