Top British school opens branches in India and Dubai

Key facts

• Queen Elizabeth's School, a UK state school, has opened international branches in Gurugram, India, and Dubai.
• The new schools are independent, fee-paying institutions.
• The initiative is a partnership with Global Education (GEDU).
• The schools aim to generate revenue for reinvestment in the original Barnet school.
• The Dubai branch opened in August 2026 and offers education from Nursery to Year 8, with plans to expand.
• The Gurugram branch also opened in August 2026.

Queen Elizabeth's School, a prominent British state school known for its academic achievements and extracurricular offerings, has expanded its reach by opening fee-paying branches in Gurugram, India, and Dubai.

The initiative, branded as QE Global Schools, marks the first time a UK state school has established affiliated international campuses. The new schools, Queen Elizabeth's School, Gurugram, and Queen Elizabeth's School, Dubai Sports City, commenced operations in August 2026.

These international branches are independent entities, operating on a fee-paying basis and catering to a broader age range than the original Barnet school. They aim to attract affluent families by offering high academic standards, including A-level qualifications, and specialized programs such as football coaching in partnership with Real Madrid. The Dubai school received initial approval from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in October 2025, initially enrolling students from Nursery to Year 8, with plans for phased expansion up to the sixth form.

The project is a collaboration with Global Education (GEDU), an experienced international education provider. GEDU will handle much of the administrative burden, allowing the Headmaster and senior staff at QE Barnet to focus on maintaining standards at the UK campus. Revenues generated from the global schools are intended to be reinvested back into the Barnet school, thereby enhancing educational opportunities within the UK state sector. The launch in Gurugram was met with support from British officials in India.