How does one get from professional golf to international education?
Well, just lucky, I guess. I loved my golf as a young man but playing golf for a living is like working in a chocolate factory – at some point you stop liking chocolate.
Hoevere, I am privileged to have found my calling working in the Boarding Schools sector which I found by working for a large media company who purchased a publication called The Hobsons UK Boarding Schools Guide and I’ve worked on this portfolio for more than 20 years!
How many schools do you represent?
We currently represent 200 UK Boarding Schools – all of whom we have visited by myself or my team within a two-year period. We meet the Head of school, eat the food, meet with the admissions teams and speak to the pupils. If we don’t feel the standard is good enough then we simply don’t let them join as partners.
How do you help agencies find the best option for their students?
As we visit all our schools regularly, we pride ourselves on knowing them all intimately, so we are well placed to help agents with the selection process. Essentially, agents know many schools in the UK but occasionally they will have an enquiry that needs more research and that’s where our free selection service helps. All agents must do is let us know the requirements of the family and we’ll supply a list of schools (normally around 5) that can offer what they need. We can provide this list within 24 hours, for free and the agent still receives their full commission – we really see ourselves as the agents London office!
How do you help schools with marketing and enrolment?
We help our schools with recruitment strategies (mainly overseas) supplying in country data, introducing them to key agents and important contacts, hosting international fairs as well as providing lots of training.
How the events you organise and attend help to promote British schools?
We host 20 events around the world and take between 10-20 member schools depending on the individual market. We focus mainly on newer, emerging markets having recently launched into Sao Paulo, Monterrey, Taipei and Buenos Aires. In addition, we work closely with ST Alphe and of course, ASEPROCE.
As a member organization our core job is to simply provide opportunities for our member schools to recruit great pupils!!
We understand that the Aseproce workshop is one of the most important ones.
Yes, the Spanish market is very important to us in the UK and working alongside a valued partner who represents premium agents is of huge importance. It’s all about the people and many agents, colleagues and schools are now considered to be good friends.
After Brexit and covid, it seemed that nothing more could happen but now you have brought in VAT with a 20% tax.
Yes, it’s been a difficult journey for everyone, and we have seen some casualties along the way. That said, the schools will be stronger and better equipped in the future both financially (as businesses) and delivering more value for families.
How are schools going to face this new challenge?
Well, we have seen an increase in school groups, which helps by centralizing core costs (finance departments etc…) but also by the expansion of school’s portfolios to offer add-ons such as Summer Schools, International Schools, Weddings etc.
Has there been any kind of appeal against this law?
There has been many and it’s still ongoing, but our schools are not planning for any significant changes anytime soon.
How do you see the future of the schools? Do you think that the international market will be the economic support for them?
The international market has been very important for many years – and this will continue to be the case but, in the UK, we are seeing an increase in interest for day pupils as the state provision is poor. This will enable schools to maintain a high level of British pupils supplemented by British and international borders.
Education in the UK stands out for being more academic while in other countries experience is more valued. How will AI influence the education system in the UK?
Not sure that is necessarily the case these days. Many Metropolis Schools are non-selective and therefore accept a wide range of pupils of all abilities – furthermore, more and more schools offer short term and immersion programmes, meaning more pupils can access this high-quality education. The other aspect is the wide range of co-curricular activities and extra-curricular activities with some schools offering over 100 activities for pupils to get involved in every week – plus the weekend excursions and trips really add to the value. As to AI, I’m not sure I’m best placed to answer (at the age of 53) only to say that AI will have many benefits both educationally and in the business world – with many applications and benefits still yet to be uncovered
What does the Spanish market bring to British schools?
Great question. The Spanish pupils are probably the noisiest, the most fun and certainly the most enthusiastic embracing the school environment and the opportunities our schools provide. They really do love the experience and add so much to the whole school – we just wish we had more for longer!
