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Where Boarding Demand Is Going: UK Contraction, In-Region Return and the Rise of Asia (2026)
How Chinese and Hong Kong families are leaving UK boarding, where they are going, and what it means for international schools and investors in Asia
Version 1.0 (2026) · September 8, 2026
- Pupil numbers at UK Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools fell 3.5% to 526,611 in January 2026, the lowest total since before the pandemic.
- Boarders at ISC schools fell 8.2% to 57,836, the sharpest annual decline in the modern ISC series.
- Non-UK pupils whose parents live overseas fell 10.1% to 22,941; new entrants in this category fell 17.6%, from 11,442 to 9,433.