Amid growing India-UK cooperation in education, particularly in school education, several British legacy school brands have in recent years either established a presence in India or entered into substantial partnerships with Indian schools. Bristol-based Clifton College, the 164-year-old boarding school, has now entered into an academic collaboration with Lighthouse Learning, one of India’s leading pre-school and K-12 education groups, headquartered in Mumbai, with more than 2,000 preschools and 60 K-12 schools.
Announcing the partnership in New Delhi on October 5, the two institutions said the collaboration “combines Lighthouse Learning’s scale and education expertise with Clifton College’s 164-year history, international outlook and academic pedigree.” The partnership will create opportunities for knowledge exchange, global exposure and academic collaboration. It will also explore new approaches to preparing young people for a rapidly changing world, with an emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, cultural understanding, adaptability and independent thinking.
The MoU was signed by Prajodh Rajan, Founder and Group CEO, Lighthouse Learning Group, and Dr Christopher Stevens, Executive Head, Clifton College Education Group, at a ceremony attended by senior officials from both institutions, including Nilesh (Neil) Sachdev MBE, Non-Executive Chair and NED, Clifton College; BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Goel; and Dr Joseph Emmanuel, CEO of CISCE and former Director (Academics), CBSE, along with invited guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Prajodh Rajan said: “This partnership is not simply about bringing Clifton to India; it is about bringing together the best of the Indian and British educational ecosystems to create exceptional learning experiences for our children. Our mission is to ignite the love for learning in one million children. We believe children in India should have access to the best educational thinking and practices from around the world. For us, therefore, Clifton College not only brings a global perspective and generational learning experience and excellence, it also brings a different lens where both of us look at developing a model that is adaptive and relevant to a changing world.”
The partnership marks Clifton College’s first international presence outside the UK, with Lighthouse Learning bringing the institution’s educational expertise to India. For Lighthouse Learning, the collaboration represents a key milestone in expanding access to international educational practices and global exposure for its students. Officials indicated that the partnership could also be expanded to include teacher training and academic exchanges.
Dr Christopher Stevens, who made a presentation outlining 12 requirements of a good school, said: “Establishing Clifton’s first international presence beyond the UK in India reflects our ambition and our belief in the country’s growing significance as a destination for global education. India’s young population and increasing engagement with international education create strong opportunities for collaboration and learning. Through this partnership with Lighthouse Learning, we look forward to bringing Clifton College’s legacy and educational approach to a new context while learning from India’s diverse education ecosystem. Our children and our schools must always look outwards and look forwards to embrace the opportunities the future holds. This partnership offers a wonderful opportunity to do just that.”
