British boarding school group woos Indians

A new federation of leading British boarding schools is offering scholarships worth Rs 7 crore to attract pupils from India.
The federation was put together by Anglo Schools International Services (ASIS), which teamed up with Pearson VUE test centres to provide computer-based entrance exam testing across India.
ASIS claims this is the first time a group of schools has made such a direct approach to the Indian market and the first time such large amounts of scholarships have been on offer.
"Indian children bring a special quality to the UK classrooms. They have great values and sharp brains," said ASIS principal partner David Boddy, formerly chairman of the UK Society of Headteachers.

Boddy recently completed a tour of India to promote the new programme.
"There has been a terrific response from parents and children on the tour. People are attracted for various reasons, not least of all because many of them have family in the UK," he said.

ASIS is also offering a 25 per cent "friends and family" discount for the entrance exam for Indians with connections in the UK.
"This single entrance fee opens access to all the schools and all the scholarships, which in some cases are 100 per cent of school fees," Boddy said.
"The message for Indian families in the UK is that it has never been easier, nor more financially attractive, for cousins, other relatives and friends in India to come to school in the UK."

Applicants can register via the ASIS website and Indian families in the UK can pay on behalf of relatives.