With the rise of new wealth markets and the increasing mobility of (U)HNW families, a new generation of international and online schools has come into the limelight. The Spear’s Schools Index 2026 recognises the world’s 100 leading private schools, and this year’s ‘Rest of the World’ Index highlights outstanding boarding and day schools in India, Pakistan, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Kenya. It also spotlights pioneering digital educators who cater to remote and globally mobile learners.
The unique geographical settings of many of the schools featured in our index are central to their appeal and often shape the fabric of their curriculum.
At Michaelhouse, a leading all‑boys boarding school set on 1,700 acres in the KwaZulu‑Natal midlands of South Africa, lessons often draw on the surrounding landscape. At Peterhouse Boys in Zimbabwe, pupils take part in the learner hunter programme, giving them hands-on experience foraging and trekking through the region’s rich biodiversity. Meanwhile, in São Paulo, students at St Paul’s School, the British School can take part in a Duke of Edinburgh Award across the rolling hills of the Brazilian countryside.
Explore other schools within the Spear’s Schools Index:
Related
- UK senior schools
- UK prep schools
- Switzerland schools
- Europe (excluding Switzerland) schools
- North America schools
- Middle East schools
- Asia Pacific schools
One major trend shaping education is the rapid rise of digital learning. Following the pandemic and the widespread adoption of remote learning, many families have realised that education doesn’t have to take place in a conventional school environment. The growth of private online schooling is transforming how the children of wealthy families learn, particularly those who are globally mobile or for whom a traditional classroom is not the right fit.
Reflecting this shift, our index features a number of leading online schools. Many offer a personalised curriculum and allow students to complete lessons at their own pace. Among the online education schools on our list are Crimson Global Academy and Wolsey Hall.
Spear’s has identified leading private schools at the forefront of modern learning, providing children with top-level education. For families around the world and those seeking an alternative to the traditional classroom setting, this index serves as a key resource.
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- Methodology
- The best private schools (the rest of the world): some names to know
- The complete list of top private schools (the rest of the world)
- Find out more
Methodology
Spear’s has worked closely with the expert team at Thuso to refine the methodology underpinning the index, and to convene an expert panel of leading international educationalists to contribute their knowledge and insight to the research and selection process.
The Spear’s Research Unit collected data and information directly from candidate schools, using a combination of online forms and interviews. This was supplemented with additional research and intelligence and insight from Thuso and the panel of expert educationalists.
The Spear’s Schools Index has also been underpinned by the following key principles:
- While examination results and academic attainment are key considerations, they are not the only things that matter. Leading schools are not necessarily the most academic. ‘Hot houses’, therefore, are not to be viewed with approbation.
A wide range of social, cultural, and pastoral factors have been weighed in finalising the index. In some cases, some schools with strong academics have been omitted where they fall short in relation to these wider considerations. Notably, the team have been cognisant also of ‘cultural’ and ‘value based’ factors which are of growing concern in relation to many families. This is especially relevant in a climate in which some schools may be viewed as adopting an ‘indoctrinatory’ approach that might risk stifling free debate and the associated critical thinking. - Families are increasingly mobile, with new global cities emerging as key hubs. This is particularly the case for cities such as Dubai, as well as established regional hubs in Europe, Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia, and the Pacific. Likewise, a growing number of families, often citing concerns over cultural considerations, are opting for more ‘traditional’ institutions, in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East, in preference to institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland.
- Reputation and standing are not insignificant. The reputation and standing of a school shape and influence its character, the parents and pupils it attracts, and its position both regionally, and internationally. In particular, some of the schools best established in the Index continue to draw many generations of international families, demonstrating the extent to which they have retained the trust of alumni.
Further information about the composition of the panel is available here.
The best private schools (the rest of the world): some names to know
St. Paul’s School, the British School of São Paulo
- Focus: Equipping pupils to achieve their best
- Country: Brazil
- Day fees: On application
St. Paul’s School, the British school of São Paulo, offers a well-rounded international education with a British bilingual and bicultural offering – the school is aligned with the UK national curriculum while incorporating elements of the Brazilian core curriculum. Many children stay from the age of 3 to 18, enjoying an atmosphere that encourages aspiration and curiosity.
Students study towards IGCSEs and the IB diploma, and the school’s range of facilities – including a huge library and state-of-the-art ICT suites – and small class sizes provide pupils with the optimal environment to grow and develop into well-rounded young adults.
Read St Paul’s School, the British School of Sao Paulo full profile at Spears500.com
Hilton College
- Focus: Inspiring boys to inspire others
- Country: South Africa
- Boarding fees: $27,800
Hilton College has been teaching boys the importance of respect, honesty and integrity for over 150 years. The school, located on a 4,000-acre estate in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, serves as a term-time home to nearly 600 boys, all striving to achieve personal and professional success.
Hilton College graduates go on to matriculate at some of the top universities in South Africa and around the world, while older Hiltonians regularly visit the college to attend cricket matches, gathering in the famed Fleur-de-Lys Club to reminisce.
Read Hilton College’s full profile at Spears500.com
The Doon School
- Focus: Developing ethical citizens
- Country: India
- Boarding fees: $15,000-$17,200
A boarding school close to the Himalayas, The Doon School takes a central place in Indian life, with an emphasis on social service rather than privilege. The curriculum prepares students for Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examinations, and for the final two years students can choose between the Indian School Certificate (ISC) or the IB.
Alongside a rigorous education, boys are treated to a vast offering of sports, clubs and activities. Students can partake boxing and golf, which is offered at a local course, as well as enjoy a 25m pool, an indoor gym, and badminton, squash and tennis courts.
Read The Doon School’s full profile at Spears500.com
St Anne’s Diocesan College
- Focus: A values-driven education
- Country: South Africa
- Day fees: $11,300
- Boarding fees: $20,900
St Anne’s Diocesan College is a day and boarding school for girls between the ages of 13 and 18. Since its foundation in 1877, St Anne’s has been nurturing girls to make positive impacts on others through the values of humility, respect, compassion and empathy.
The St Anne’s curriculum encourages girls to ‘possess an intellectual curiosity and a love of learning for its own sake’. St Anne’s offers a range of core subjects as well as subjects such as consumer studies, visual arts, life orientation and economics.
Outside of the classroom, girls can participate in the many sports on offer within the college’s extensive grounds: swimming in the heated pool, playing tennis, netball, hockey and football, or enjoying outdoor pursuits such as horse riding, canoeing and cross-country running.
Read St Anne’s Diocesan College’s full profile at Spears500.com
The complete list of top private schools (the rest of the world)
Find out more
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