The Spear’s Schools Index is now entering its sixth year, in a context in which the sector has faced unprecedented change, uncertainty and challenges.
Established since 2020, the Spear’s School Index has become recognised as a leading point of reference for international families, for (U)HNW individuals, and those advising family offices, while also garnering recognition in a wide range of national and international media. As such, it is widely regarded as the definitive index of the world’s 100 leading private schools.
This year, as we seek to strengthen, refine and ensure the relevance of the index, Spear’s has again collaborated closely with the expert team at Thuso Group. Thuso works with schools, universities, investors, family offices and foundations, with an expert and highly international team ideally placed to provide valuable insight.
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Related
- The complete list of the world’s leading schools
- Methodology
- The 2025 edition of the Spear’s Schools Index
- Expert Advisory Panel
- The structure of Spear’s Schools Index profiles
- Find out more
The complete list of the world’s leading schools
Methodology
The methodology that underpins the index has been jointly developed by Spear’s and Thuso. Again, it is supported by an expert panel of leading international educationalists. The panel includes professionals with expertise and knowledge that collectively covers the myriad regions captured by the guide.
The methodology is based on the following principles:
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- While examination results and academic attainment are key considerations, they are not the only thing that matters. 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, 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; 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.
The 2025 edition of the Spear's Schools Index
As in previous years, the panel sought to ensure that range of ‘international’ and ‘local’ families were catered to; that a range of geographies, demographics, and preferences were covered (boys’ schools, girls’ schools, a range of curricular offerings, and schools catering to learners across all age ranges); that emerging markets maintained due prominence within the listing; and (most significantly) that ‘common sense’ prevailed in finalising the list.
The principles above are reflected in a shift in the number of schools from certain geographies or regions. While the recent VAT imposition on independent schools in the UK is unlikely to affect most internationally mobile families, it has taken place against the a background of broader policy shifts that have rendered the UK less attractive for (U)HNW families. As such, the number of British schools included in the index has declined.
Many families are relocating to the United Arab Emirates or elsewhere in the Middle East, and another notable trend has been a significant increase in families opting for established schools in Africa. In many cases, families decisions are underpinned by the view that stand-out schools on the continent continue to be rooted in ‘traditional’ values that are perceived as being in decline at a number of British schools.
In this context, the index continues to serve as an invaluable resource for those advising family offices, or HNW individuals directly, as well as those seeking insights into leading schools when working overseas, on diplomatic postings, or when investing in emerging markets (particularly for those seeking to acquire or establish leading schools internationally).
For ease of navigation, the top 100 schools in the Spear’s Schools Index 2025 have been separated into eight different lists based on geographic region. In the case of British schools, there are separate rankings for prep and senior schools:
- Best senior schools UK
- Best prep schools UK
- Best private schools in Switzerland
- Best private schools in Europe (excluding Switzerland)
- Best private schools in North America
- Best private schools in the Middle East
- Best private schools in Asia Pacific
- Best private schools in the rest of the world
Expert Advisory Panel
Spear’s, in collaboration with Thuso, has drawn carefully on the guidance and insight of an Expert Advisory Panel, jointly chaired by Matthew Goldie-Scot, managing director at Thuso Group, and Aisha Alli, Head of Research at Spear’s.
The members of the panel are listed below.
Matthew Goldie-Scot, Thuso
Co-chair, Expert Advisory Panel
Matthew serves as managing director at Thuso, a leading international strategic consultancy focused on education, philanthropy, investment, emerging markets, with offices in London, the EU, the UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore. Born in Lesotho, Matthew spent much of his childhood in East Africa and later studied at both Cambridge and Oxford. He also taught for a number of years at Cambridge, as well as working with independent schools in a range of international contexts.
Matthew has advised numerous families on the operation, expansion, sale and acquisition of education holdings. He has also provided extensive guidance to families on their own educational planning, supporting candidates in securing places on leading executive education programmes, as well as at the world’s finest schools and universities. He has also supported the development of education-focused indices and rankings catering to HNWs and family office advisers, including those of Spear’s and Knight Frank. His views on education are frequently reported in the national and international press.
In addition to his work with private clients and investors, Matthew works as an adviser to UN agencies, the Commonwealth Secretariat and national governments.
Most recently, he has worked closely with the African Union Commission, supporting the Continental Education Conference, as well as the development of a revised Continental Education Strategy for Africa, and the second Continental SDG Report for Africa, as part of a set of initiatives funded by a private foundation, and on behalf of UN Agencies. He continues to support education reform throughout conflict-affected areas, with a particular focus on Somalia, as well as regional education initiatives in the Pacific Islands.
Aisha Alli, Spear’s
Co-chair, Expert Advisory Panel
Aisha Alli is the Head of Research & Insight at Spear's. She leads the research team and collaborates with private client firms and luxury brands. She is also a contributor to the magazine and has interviewed influential figures such as Richard Branson, John Caudwell, Shalini Hinduja and Mauricio Umansky.
She attended Repton School Dubai and holds a first-class honours degree from the University of St Andrews.
Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, Independent Schools Association
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Rudi is chief executive of the Independent Schools Association, an association of over 650 headteachers of independent schools. He was previously chief executive of the Religious Education Council, the subject association for the curriculum subject RE.
He spent seven years at the Independent Schools Council where he was deputy general secretary and ran the research department. Until recently, he served as a governor of a foundation of seven independent schools for a nine-year term.
Sioban O’Connor, Debrett’s Education
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Siobhan started her working life at Lloyds Bank before changing tack and working in advertising as a copywriter. After several years as a theatre director, she spent 30 years in British independent/private schools as both teacher and school leader. More recently she became the founding partner at Debrett’s Education, a consultancy offering bespoke, impartial and expert advice to families looking to access UK independent education, from pre-prep to university.
She has a MA in education management and was one of the first independent school leaders to gain her national professional qualification for headship. She is also a former A-Level and GCSE examiner and school governor and is well placed to support families who are looking for the best education pathways for their children.
Grace Moody-Stuart, Good Schools Guide
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Grace Moody-Stuart is director of the Good Schools Guide Education Consultants and has worked for the guide for 20 years. She graduated from Cambridge with a classics degree. After a 10-year career at the Bar, specialising in pensions and childcare, she taught classics at Sussex House School for seven years, where she was assistant director of studies, responsible for senior school transfer.
She has long and wide-ranging experience of advising parents about schools and education, working with families with children of all different ages. With four children of her own, all educated at different types of school, she understands the pressures and anxieties that parents experience surrounding decisions about the education of their children.
Education has always been an interest for Grace, who grew up in a boarding prep school in Sussex that was founded by a direct ancestor in 1837 and was run by her parents as joint heads. Her extensive expertise includes London schools, state and independent, as well as boarding schools across the UK.
Selina Boyd, Good Schools Guide
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Selina has been with the Good Schools Guide since 2020 and is the international editor. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of international education to the guide as a co-founder of School Notices Asia and a former consultant for BESSA (British Education and Schools Show in Asia), Talk Education and US college consultants, IvyWise.
With an extensive network of international school leaders and admissions teams, as well as the many families she speaks with when reviewing international schools, Selina has an unrivalled level of insight into the subtle nuances behind the glossy marketing of international schools and a deep understanding of different curricula and pathways.
Now based in the UK, Selina previously lived in Singapore for 12 years. ‘Having moved my own children between British and international schools when they were young and then again as teenagers, I understand and empathise with the anxieties and concerns of families considering an international school move and I really enjoy advising and supporting other families through their own decision-making processes,’ she says.
James Mitchell, Think Tutors
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
A graduate of the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, James Mitchell is a co-founder and executive director of Think Tutors, The Few, and White Dot Education. He is an expert on institutional admissions.
With more than 15 years of professional tutoring and mentoring experience (ranging from the pre-test at 11+ through to postgraduate level), James has developed a black book of connections within the education sector, which he wields to help his clients. He forms close relationships with UHNW families in the UK and abroad.
Rupert Syme, Lionheart Education
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Rupert Syme is a leading specialist in bespoke education and mental health support, advising HNW families on complex academic and personal challenges. A director at Lionheart Education since 2005, he designs tailored interventions, oversees school transitions and provides expert guidance on neurodiversity and adolescent wellbeing. With a background in educational psychology and adolescent mental health, he is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society.
He also founded Lions Campus, which delivers residential and day programmes supporting adolescents and young adults in overcoming mental health and behavioural challenges. His expertise blends academic excellence with a nuanced understanding of the pressures shaping young people’s development.
Ed Richardson, Keystone Tutors
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Ed is Keystone Tutor’s managing director and read Zoology at St. Andrews University before completing a secondary science PGCE at Oxford University. He has since undertaken a masters in teaching and learning at Oxford too. Prior to joining Keystone, he taught all three sciences to GCSE as well as A-Level biology at an outstanding state comprehensive academy in Oxfordshire.
Ed is a trustee of a schools group and regularly speaks on a variety of educational topics from ‘The Importance of Parents in a Child's Attainment’ to ‘The British Education System’.
Jenny McGowan, Keystone Tutors
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Jenny is Keystone Tutor’s Asia director. A qualified teacher with a PhD in education from Oxford, Jenny has spent 15 years working in education and has built extensive knowledge of the UK education system as well as the international school scene across Asia.
Based in Hong Kong since 2018, Jenny and the team support many families transitioning between Asia and the UK each year. Jenny travels extensively across Asia meeting clients and visiting schools to ensure she understands the context of the families Keystone is working with.
Daniel O’Brien, Thuso
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Daniel O’Brien, a senior consultant at Thuso, was educated at Charterhouse, the University of Cambridge and the UCL Institute of Education. He has taught at a range of institutions in the UK, in Europe and in the Middle East, and has published highly innovative research on the use of augmented reality in mathematics education.
An Australian national, he has rich insight into schools in the Asia Pacific Region, as well as the Middle East, in addition to having particular expertise on schools throughout Africa. He has extensive experience of working with family offices and HNW individuals. Before establishing his career as an educationalist, he worked in a range of senior roles in the pharmaceuticals industry, including at AstraZeneca and Merck. Both his children are currently attending leading boarding schools.
Patricia Vlad, Thuso
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Patricia is an accomplished educator, researcher and consultant with international experience in education, public policy and peacebuilding. A graduate of the University of Cambridge with a masters and a bachelor of arts in education, she has contributed to high-level initiatives across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Patricia has expertise in curriculum development, technical education and humanitarian consultancy, working with governments, UN bodies, NGOs and private organisations.
A former Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, she excels in strategic leadership and fostering social impact. Fluent in multiple languages, Patricia is dedicated to driving innovation and equity in education and development worldwide.
Timothy Leddy
Member, Expert Advisory Panel
Timothy Leddy was schooled at Regis, one of the leading schools in New York, and then read for his undergraduate degree at Magdalen College, Oxford. He has also undertaken studies at Harvard and Chicago. He supported the establishment and operations of a new school for an American family office and has worked extensively with private clients in New York applying to highly competitive schools and universities, on which he is a leading expert.
The structure of Spear's Schools Index profiles
Each school profiled in the Spear’s Schools Index has a ranking:
- Top 100 indicates that a school is one of the 100 leading private schools in the world, according to the assessment of the Spear’s Research Unit, our partners at Thuso and the expert panel of educationalists assembled to create the Spear’s Schools Index
- Recommended indicates a very high-calibre school that is just outside the top 100.
Spear’s Schools Index profiles include – where available – details about the unique character of the school (‘focus’) and information about fees, academic attainment, and the number and age range of pupils.
The ‘Spear’s Review’ section of the profiles is intended as a short digest about the school and has been prepared by the Spear’s Research Unit based on information supplied by the schools themselves, interviews with school representatives, the insight and knowledge of the expert panel and third-party data from reliable sources.
Schools included in the Spear’s Schools Index have the opportunity to enhance their profile by adding further elements such as images, video, contact details and additional information on certain parts of their approach and offering. Enhanced profiles are available for a fee.
The Spear’s Schools Index is committed to providing the best-quality information to its readers and users. Therefore, commercial partnerships never influence a school’s ranking or the makeup of the top 100.
Find out more
- For further information about the Schools Index, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
- For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles and packages, please contact Commercial Director Shady Elkholy: shady.elkholy@spearswms.com
- To keep up to date with the Spear's 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear's on Linkedin and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2025, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
- Click here to order a print copy of The Spear's 500.
