Issue 4: A Briefing on the Business of Education and Creative Thinking
St Paul’s School leads a reshaped prep landscape, ILG expands, AI events, and Le Carré’s archive opens in Oxford
ANALYSIS / Sector Update
💭 Jonathan Lloyd
In this week’s briefing, I round up key developments from the term in the independent education sector.
Last week, I published the second part of my analysis on the future of independent education following feedback on the initial piece. Part two offered a breakdown of activity across independent senior and preparatory schools.
Unsurprisingly, the highest concentration of market activity has been observed within UK preparatory schools. This has lead to some valuable insights, which I intend to collate and use to develop further strategic recommendations on how independent prep schools might adapt to ensure long term resilience and sustainability.
As Andrew Elias aptly commented, “There will be hundreds of closures to track, sadly, in the next few years. There are groups who are buying schools right now, so there is light and hope – but only for the fast movers. Time is not the sector’s friend.”
Time is certainly not the sector’s friend.
Highlights
Among the most notable announcements this term:
The formation of the St Paul’s School Group, which sees St Paul’s Junior rebrand as St Paul’s Prep, merging with local prep schools Durston House and Shrewsbury House. This is a development to watch because it retains choice for parents seeking a boys’ education. (As a note, I previously served as Head of Geography at The Hall School, another boys’ prep in London, and understand the experience it offers pupils.)
The group is also establishing the St Paul’s School Research Centre for the Education of Boys, aiming to share best practice in this area. An exciting development.
Inspired Learning Group (ILG) has acquired Shrewsbury High School from the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). According to the school’s own announcement, it will move to a co-educational model, an important development that was notably absent from ILG’s official news release.
ILG has stated that its immediate focus will be on expanding nursery provision at the school. From what is understood, current nursery numbers are tiny. All teaching and support staff will transfer to ILG as part of the acquisition.
This follows ILG’s announcement in October of its acquisition of the Royal Hospital School, indicating a period of active expansion for the group.
Other key highlights from the quarter include:
Bilton Grange opens a new co-educational boarding house
CVC acquires a 20% stake in International Schools Partnership at triple its 2021 valuation
Prestfelde School merges with Shrewsbury School
Oxbridge Online College enters administration
Key Point Academy (KPA) joins the Affinitas Education Group
Nord Anglia acquires Etqan Global Academy, expanding its presence in Qatar
This brings the strategic deal count to 74 for the year to date.
Summary
As always, these figures are not definitive, but rather an attempt to interpret the sector’s evolving landscape and to highlight emerging trends and insights. There remain important questions to explore particularly around specific mergers, their implications for teaching staff, and the wider school communities they serve.
For colleagues working in classrooms, these are undeniably challenging times. Independent schools, meanwhile, must demonstrate strategic and creative leadership to ensure their long term sustainability.
I also publish previews of the Class Futures Briefings using LinkedIn newsletters. If you’ve subscribed there too, thank you. Your support is genuinely appreciated. The newsletter series looks at how education, technology, and business are changing, and how creative thinking helps us make sense of it.
You can reply to this email with news and tips, or message me on LinkedIn.
THE PLANNER
✏️ Pencil it in: events for the term
DEBATE / Leave Private Schools Alone!
On Wednesday 19 November, The Spectator will host a live debate exploring the future of private education in Britain. The event will feature Toby Young and David Starkey defending independent schools against criticism from David Aaronovitch and Stella Tsantekidou. With VAT on fees and further independent school closures, this promises to be a lively discussion on whether private schools are a vital part of our educational landscape. Tickets here.
CONFERENCE / Jason Bradbury headlines Berkhamsted’s IT Shindig
Former Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury will lead this year’s Berkhamsted School IT Conference, 26–27 November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross. Now in its fourth year, the event brings together schools to explore ideas and best practice in AI and edtech. Tickets from £120 + VAT. Register here.
CONFERENCE / Educational Technologies 2026
ICEduTech isn’t your typical edtech event. It’s an academic conference where researchers and educators explore how education is changing. If you’ve got ideas or research to share, you can submit a paper by 10 November 2025. All submissions are peer reviewed, meaning they’re checked by experts before being accepted. Information here.
EVENT / AI
Are you based in or near the North West of England?
Join members of the AI in Education practitioner panel at the University of Manchester on Wednesday, 13 November 2025, from 17:00 to 18:30 GMT, for the first regional meet up. It’s hosted by Chris Hillidge and James Radburn, with contributions from Benjamin Barker, Ben Davies, and others. As well as networking, the session will showcase how AI is being applied in schools across the region. Register here.
EVENT / BRILLIANT
BRILLIANT Festival opens next week on November 11 and it is free to attend. More details in issue 2.
LIFE & ARTS / Books
Inside the mind of a master: John le Carré’s archive opens to the public
For the first time, the private archive of John le Carré, David Cornwell, was unveiled in John le Carré: Tradecraft, which opened on 1 October 2025 at the Bodleian’s Weston Library in Oxford. Featuring annotated manuscripts, personal letters, and field notebooks, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the meticulous craft and moral complexity behind the modern spy novel. Runs until 6 April 2026.
PEOPLE / Retirement
David Woodgate will step down as Chief Executive of ISBA in June 2026, marking ten years in post. The Board has begun the search for his successor, praising his decade of leadership.
PEOPLE / Departure
Dominic Norrish, currently chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), is set to depart the organisation to become CEO of Unity Schools Partnership, a multi-academy trust based in East Anglia. He will begin his new role in the new year. IAPS represents over 650 independent schools in the UK and abroad but this figure needs urgent revision. Its website directory still lists closed schools unfortunately.
“I believe that schools have got to be run as businesses, but if they are run solely as businesses they will fail.”
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