Clifton College in Bristol has announced it will take over an international school in India in the latest example of a private school taking its brand heritage overseas.
The institution, formerly called Pathways School Gurgaon,Gurugram, is an IB school offering the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme.
Under the deal, brokered by Lighthouse Learning, which will manage the school, it will be rebranded as PSG Clifton International School.
Dr Christopher Stevens, Clifton College Education Group’s executive head, said the move underlined the school’s desire to have a meaningful impact in the country.
“This is a long-term engagement for the benefit of both organisations, not an expansionist flag-planting move,” he told Vlog.
“It is a belief that schools can be stretched beyond their local boundaries to support international education.”
Stevens, who formally started his position in September 2026, said Clifton College had been considering an overseas expansion since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, but took its time to ensure the right deal before moving forward.
“The brand is not the most important part of this expansion,” he added. ”[It’s vital] to prove credentials quickly and build trust within the local market, and quality education is the key.”
Clifton College’s decision to partner in India was driven in part by the enormous growth potential, the linguistic affinity, and the nation’s openness to British educational institutions, Stevens said.
He pointed out that the partnership with Lighthouse Learning facilitates engagement with schools across India in activities such as virtual Model United Nations debates, as well as exchanges and social impact trips.
He also stated that there is a “broader vision than just one school”, suggesting the possibility of additional openings in the future.
Clifton College joins other British schools in India, although the likes of Bedford School and Royal Grammar School, Guildford have opened their own institutions rather than taking over existing ones.
India is home to the second-largest number of international schools, with in 2025, behind China’s , according to ISC Research.
Notably, China has seen a slowdown in international-school presence, partly due to stricter regulation. This is in contrast with India’s more welcoming stance on British-curriculum schools.
