IGCSE Board: Cambridge schools doubled in India over the past decade, writes senior VP

Vinay Sharma

International education is undergoing a significant expansion in India. As global borders continue to blur and parental aspirations for high-quality education grow, an increasing number of schools are adopting international curricula. This reflects a deeper focus on empowering learners with future-ready skills and preparing them to thrive in a rapidly evolving, interconnected world. International education, with an emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and inquiry-based learning, goes beyond academic achievement.

IGCSE: Demand, expansion, regionalisation

India now hosts the second largest number of international schools in the world, demand accelerating sharply in the last few years. According to ISC Research, the country has seen a steady increase in both demand and supply for international schools, particularly in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23.

At Cambridge, this growth is evident both in the number of schools and in exam entries. Cambridge has over 160 years’ experience in the field of education and offers qualifications to nearly one million students every year across 160 countries. Over the past decade, Cambridge has experienced remarkable growth in India, and more than doubled its growth to over 820 schools today. This growth moves beyond numbers in providing high quality education.

Cambridge qualifications offer a gateway to world-class higher education and meaningful career pathways, both in India and internationally. From IITs, Delhi University and Ashoka University to Ivy League institutions and Oxbridge, our learners are welcomed by the world’s leading academic institutions.

Last year’s Destination Survey shows that over 50% of Cambridge learners from India pursue their undergraduate studies within the country followed by universities in the US, UK, Singapore and Australia.

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IGCSE Board: Knowledge to real-world readiness

Operating in full compliance with local laws, the Cambridge International curriculum offers a comprehensive and progressive pathway from 3 to 19 years, with over 70 subjects available at Cambridge IGCSE and 55 at Cambridge International A-Level. We work with schools worldwide to build an education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills, giving learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world.

Our learners build subject knowledge and conceptual understanding, and develop a broad range of skills, learning habits and attributes to help make them ready for the world.

Across all stages of the Cambridge pathway, the curriculum is designed to help learners grow in knowledge, understanding and capability — developing the skills and confidence they need to thrive in an uncertain world.

At the heart of the international education approach is a strong emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical reasoning — competencies that are increasingly indispensable across industries and societies. A programme like Global Perspectives, offered from primary school onwards, allows learners to explore local and global issues, work together to solve problems, and reflect on their experiences.

Cambridge Board: Regional responsiveness, innovations

One of Cambridge’s distinct strengths in India has been our ability to respond proactively to regional needs. The curriculum is adaptive and inclusive, enabling schools to tailor learning experiences to the unique aspirations, cultural contexts, and academic goals of learners.

Demand from schools has shaped several key regional initiatives including the India-specific March examination series, uniquely timed to align with national academic calendars and other high stakes examinations. The 2025 March exam series saw nearly 85,000 entries — a significant 11% increase over the previous year. These numbers reflect growing parental confidence in the Cambridge Pathway, both for studying in India or across the globe.

Another key regional initiative, Cambridge Connection Bridge Course offers a strong foundation for students aiming for high-stakes national competitive examinations like engineering, medicine, and similar areas, ensuring a smooth pathway for pursuing careers in these fields. This aims to support students in the STEM subjects, irrespective of their future aspirations within the Cambridge curriculum in IGCSE and A levels.  Cambridge Early Years, the play-based learning programme for three- to six-year-olds, was also first launched in India and then adopted globally.

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The focus on purpose-driven learning and equipping Indian students for the future is also illustrated by other new initiatives such as Young Pioneers, a programme that nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset, equipping learners to think creatively, take initiative, and find sustainable solutions to real-world problems.

Similarly, Climate Quest, an initiative that provides learners from Classes 8 through 12 with a foundational awareness of climate change goes beyond environmental awareness to instil climate resilience, skills crucial for the next generation of global citizens. In a real sense, Cambridge is leading the way in climate change education and embedding it into the curriculum to help learners thrive in a changing world.

Recognising that educational quality depends on the skills and confidence of our teachers, Cambridge has been investing substantially in professional development of the educators and school leaders in India, with over 500 trainings across the country annually.

At present, less than 20% of Indian teachers receive ongoing professional development. We aim to train 50,000 teachers by 2027, addressing the country’s teacher shortage and supporting its growth. The comprehensive ecosystem includes professional development programmes and qualifications and various upskilling resources.

Cambridge Board: The next decade

Cambridge’s journey in India highlights the evolving role of international education that is responsive and regionally rooted. While 53% of Cambridge International Schools are in Tier 1 cities, reflecting a strong urban concentration, the Southern region of India has the greatest uptake of Cambridge schools in smaller cities. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities together make up 47%, showcasing a spread of international education into non-metro cities and towns.

As India harnesses its demographic dividend, the expansion of international education reflects a deeper shift — toward inclusive, aspirational, and globally-aligned learning. Cambridge is meeting this demand with a responsive curriculum, localised innovations, and commitment to empowering both learners and educators. The next decade will be defined by how well we prepare learners beyond assessments and make them future-ready.

Vinay Sharma is Senior Vice President, International Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia.

This piece first appeared in the 200th issue of the Careers360 magazine, published in August, 2025