State (public) schools vs. international schools in the UK?

International schools certainly have their advantages. First, many expats assume that international schools are better suited to their children as they allow students to continue with the curriculum they were studying before moving abroad. Students also get to meet a diverse community of people, the language classes are usually very good and the percentage of students going to university is very high. 

For expats whose companies are willing to pay for such schools, it is usually an offer that can’t be refused, but is it really worth it?
Expats living in countries where the state school curriculum is not as good as their home country curriculum will have little choice but to send their children to an international school, but in countries where local schools are on par with international schools, which is preferable?

Having personally been to a state school, I find it difficult to understand why expat parents often overlook this option. In many cases, especially in the UK where there are many prestigious state schools, if you choose an international school you can end up paying private school prices for state school quality.  

International schools around the world almost always have higher fees than Eton or the other elite British public schools, yet in many cases the quality of the education offered and the quality of the facilities may lag.

Additionally, local schools can often offer the same level of quality but with one massive advantage:  the potential to quickly become fluent in the local language.

Learning the local language provides benefits far and beyond the comfort of being bilingual in a foreign country.  Being part of a local school will allow students to be more involved in the local community, events and issues; thereby giving students a greater insight and appreciation for the country in which they’re living. 

State school attendance also provides the opportunity for secondary students to choose between a local university or one in their home country.  In times when places are short and fees are high, doubling the pool you can apply to can only be a good thing.

Universities and employers also love people with multiple languages.  With companies becoming more and more international by the day, being fluent in multiple languages will help people stand out a mile in the usual haystack of CVs.

Making a decision is often very difficult, and there are a lot of competing interests that must be balanced.  However a good compromise is to send your children to a local school when they are young so that they get the benefit of becoming bi-lingual, then sending them to an international school for the last portion of their education.  This ensures that they get the best of both worlds; a second language, an experience of the local culture, local and international friends and a leg up into university.
 

Good day, we are immigrating via my wifes Ancestral Visa to the UK in 2017 - my question - will our children (under 18) - be allowed to enrol in state school (ie: state paid)?

Hi Marc

State schools are open to  British citizens and foreigners legally living in the UK, so your children should be able to enrol. Bear in mind that admission is based on location.

See our page on Education and schools in the UK for more information. 

Kind regards,
Alex