Stirling Education

What Stirling Education does

Stirling Education is a UK-headquartered, founder-led international education group that directly owns and operates a network of more than 100 K-12 schools and universities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. The portfolio spans kindergarten through PhD, delivered primarily under British and Cambridge curricula, and includes flagship brands such as Richmond Park Schools (Bosnia), Stirling Schools (Iraq/Kurdistan), Thames British School Madrid, International Hope School Bangladesh, Salahaldin International (Egypt), Perrott Hill (UK), and two universities — International Burch University (Sarajevo) and Tishk International University (Erbil). The group employs 1,001–5,000 staff (65% qualified educators) and serves approximately 8,000 university students plus tens of thousands of K-12 pupils, with revenues generated almost entirely through recurring tuition and school fees paid by individual families; no tuition pricing is publicly disclosed.

The business model is roll-up acquisition and direct operation: Stirling has acquired and integrated school groups since its 2018 founding (Middle East Schools and RPS/IBU in 2018, Thames British School Madrid in 2020, IHSB Bangladesh in 2024) and supplements them with greenfield offerings such as the online Global MBA launched at IBU in 2021. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability referenced; technology is positioned as standard digital curriculum and systems integration. Distribution is entirely direct via each institution's admissions process, with no resellers. Competitive positioning rests on British-curriculum delivery, international accreditation (notably the first BSO accreditation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024), academic outcomes (top national exam rankings in Iraq's Wezary exams, 100% IHSB A-Level pass rate, placements at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Columbia, UC Berkeley), and multi-country brand presence — Stirling does not face enterprise customer concentration but carries material geographic and political exposure to Iraq/Kurdistan, where a major share of its 47 schools and one university operate.

Name

Stirling Education

Legal name

Stirling Education UK Ltd

Website

https://stirlingeducation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 and Higher Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• Higher education services
• British curriculum schools
• Private school operations
• University education

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. K-12 School Operations: Stirling Education owns and operates international schools across multiple countries (UK, Europe, Middle East, South Asia), providing K-12 education from kindergarten through secondary school, following British and international curricula. Revenue is generated through tuition and school fees.
2. Higher Education / University Operations: Stirling Education owns and operates two universities — International Burch University (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Tishk International University (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) — offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Revenue is generated through tuition and related university fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stirling Education owns and operates a global network of international K-12 schools and universities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. It delivers British and international curricula (Cambridge, GCSE, A-Level) from kindergarten through PhD, operating wholly-owned campuses including Richmond Park Schools, Stirling Schools, Thames British School Madrid, International Hope School Bangladesh, and universities such as International Burch University and Tishk International University. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and school/university fees.

Product overview

Stirling Education operates a diversified international education portfolio spanning K-12 schools and higher education institutions across the UK, Europe, Middle East and South Asia. The group manages schools under multiple brands including Richmond Park Schools (Bosnia), Stirling Schools (Iraq/Kurdistan), Thames British School (Spain), International Hope School Bangladesh, Salahaldin International (Egypt), and Perrott Hill (UK). In higher education, Stirling Education owns and operates International Burch University in Sarajevo and Tishk International University in Erbil, offering undergraduate through PhD programmes. The portfolio includes the Stirling Learning Hub educational resource platform and the Global MBA programme offered through IBU. The group follows British curriculum standards across its schools, with institutions ranging from kindergartens to universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Richmond Park Schools: British curriculum K-12 schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina with over 25 years of educational excellence, 11 campuses, and more than 1,500 students
• International Burch University
• Tishk International University
• International Hope School Bangladesh
• Thames British School
• Salahaldin International School
• Perrott Hill
• Stirling Schools
• United Science International School

Products and services

• Stirling Schools (Iraq/Kurdistan) Network of international K-12 schools across Iraq including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Basra, delivering British curriculum education from kindergarten to secondary level. Targeted at families seeking international-standard education in the Kurdistan region and broader Iraq.
• Richmond Park Schools British-curriculum K-12 schools operating across 11 campuses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering education from early years to secondary levels with Cambridge curriculum integration. First and only institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve BSO accreditation. Targeted at families seeking internationally accredited British education in the Balkans.
• Thames British School Madrid British international school in Madrid, Spain, offering education from Early Years to A-Level following the British curriculum. Targeted at expatriate and local families in Spain seeking British-style education.
• International Hope School Bangladesh (IHSB) British-curriculum international school operating campuses in Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh, offering A-Level and O-Level programmes. Targeted at families in Bangladesh seeking internationally recognised British education.
• Salahaldin International School International school in Cairo, Egypt, offering British-based education programmes. Targeted at families in Egypt seeking international-standard schooling.
• Perrott Hill Independent boarding and day preparatory school in Somerset, United Kingdom, providing education from early years through to secondary level. Targeted at UK and international families seeking independent school education.
• United Science International School (USIS) Flagship international school in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, part of the Stirling Schools network. Targeted at families in Sulaymaniyah seeking British-style international education.
• International Burch University (IBU) Entrepreneurial university in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering undergraduate, master's and PhD programmes across faculties in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences, Education and Humanities. Targeted at students seeking internationally oriented higher education in the Balkans.
• Tishk International University (TIU) International university based in Erbil, Iraq, operating across two campuses, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in education, business, engineering, health sciences including dentistry and pharmacy. Targeted at students in Iraq and the Kurdistan region seeking English-language higher education.
• Global MBA Programme Two-year online Master of Business Administration programme offered through International Burch University, with a one-year fast-track option available to economics graduates. Delivered globally online and targeted at working professionals seeking a graduate management degree.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 students ranked in top 10 nationally in Iraq's 2021 Wezary exams; 11 students in top 10 in 2021-2022 exams; 4 students ranked top in Iraq in 2025 Wezary exams
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Al-Naji UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2025Stirling Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al-Naji University in Baghdad, Iraq. The partnership is designed to foster cooperation in academic development, student progression, and shared educational initiatives between Stirling Education schools and the university. The MoU was signed during Timothy Fisher's visit to Baghdad, hosted by Professor Dr. Munir Hamid Al-Saadi, President of Al-Naji University.
• Tishk International University (TIU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025TIU's Faculty of Education signed an MoU with Stirling Schools-Erbil Branch to foster collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence. The partnership includes joint projects, research initiatives, professional development programs, exchange opportunities for students and academic staff, joint seminars and workshops, and collaborative curriculum development.
• IKEAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2025International Burch University (IBU) partnered with IKEA to redesign campus interiors including student lounges, study zones, and common spaces. The project was led architecturally by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Novalić, using IKEA's contemporary and practical solutions and Scandinavian design principles. The collaboration is featured on IKEA's global platform as a benchmark for innovative design in higher education.
• British CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2024A Stirling Education delegation led by CEO Timothy Fisher met with former British Council General James Goldman in Iraq to discuss enhancing educational standards and fostering scientific cooperation. The British Council expressed strong support for aligning Stirling Kirkuk Cag Schools' educational standards with global levels.
• Cambridge University PressminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2023Cambridge University Press co-organized the ICET 2023 conference alongside Stirling Education, Stirling Schools, City & Guilds, GEMS Education, and UK Teachers Academy. The event was held at the Dilly Hotel in London.
• City & GuildsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2023City & Guilds co-organized the ICET 2023 conference alongside Stirling Education and other partners.
• GEMS EducationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2023GEMS Education co-organized the ICET 2023 conference alongside Stirling Education and other partners.
• UK Teachers AcademyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 March 2023UK Teachers Academy co-organized the ICET 2023 conference alongside Stirling Education and other partners.
• Thames British InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2023Stirling Education, in partnership with Thames British International, acquired Thames British School in Madrid in 2020. The school offers education from Early Years to A-level following the British curriculum.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GEMS Education: Largest UAE-based K-12 international school operator offering British and other curricula globally. Direct peer given overlapping British-curriculum schools in the Middle East and co-organization of Stirling's ICET conference.
• Cognita Schools: Global K-12 school group operating premium international schools across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Highly comparable given shared British-curriculum model and acquisition-driven growth.
• Nord Anglia Education: Premium international K-12 school group with 80+ schools worldwide. Closely comparable business model focused on international curricula and academic excellence.
• Inspired Education Group: Multi-campus premium K-12 operator with strong presence in Europe, MENA, and Asia. Direct peer given shared premium British/international curriculum positioning and roll-up strategy.
• Dulwich College International: Premium British-curriculum international school network with campuses across Asia and Europe. Comparable on curriculum (British/IGCSE/A-Level) and premium positioning.
• Repton International Schools: International branch of historic Repton School operating premium British-curriculum schools in the Middle East and Asia. Highly comparable for premium British curriculum delivery in MENA.
• ACS International Schools: Network of international schools offering British and IB curricula, founded in the UAE. Comparable premium international school operator with similar MENA concentration.
• British Schools Foundation: Non-profit network of British international schools across Europe, Middle East, and South America. Comparable on British-curriculum delivery and international accreditation.

Regional players

• Maple Bear Global Schools: Global K-12 network focused on Canadian bilingual curriculum, with heavy Latin America and South Asia presence. Comparable as international school roll-up operator with presence in Bangladesh-adjacent markets.

Others

• Cambridge University Press: Curriculum and assessment partner that co-organized Stirling's ICET conference. Listed as ecosystem/partner rather than competitor given its supplier role in Cambridge curriculum materials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stirling-education
• Xx.com/stirlingedu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stirling Education