The award-winning school group Principal Richard Cairns has joined forces with the leading educational provider Intellego Education led by Chairman and Director of Education Dr Stephen Spurr to open schools across multiple major European cities.
Brighton College is set to open its first schools in continental Europe, offering girls and boys aged 3 to 18 an education that blends proven academic excellence with a culture of kindness, curiosity and confidence.
In partnership with Intellego Education, Brighton College will launch new schools in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon. Each will combine world-class teaching, inspiring learning spaces and a warm, inclusive school community. Boarding will also be offered, ensuring families have flexible options that support both local and international pupils. Pupils will benefit from the same pioneering curriculum and opportunities that have seen Brighton College pupils progress to the world’s leading universities.
In partnership with Intellego Education, Brighton College will launch new schools in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon.
Flagship European Openings: Brighton College Madrid, Rome and Lisbon
Doors will open in September 2027 for the first Brighton College schools in continental Europe.
These launches mark a significant step in meeting the rising demand for premium British education across the continent. According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), nearly half a million UK citizens relocate abroad each year, with around 40% moving to Europe. Many families are drawn to Iberia and Italy for their vibrant international communities, lifestyle and pro-business tax regimes.
The ISC census of 2025 also revealed a very significant number of families from Italy and Spain leaving England. for tax reasons after recent changes in the UK. Overall, the number of pupils leaving UK schools from Spain fell by 12.6% and from Italy by 11.6%, the largest exodus from any European country. The main regret when leaving the UK has been saying goodbye to the UK’s world-beating private schools.
“There is undoubtedly an influx back into mainland Europe of parents who have learned to value UK private education highly, and we anticipate significant demand and excitement in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon for schools that replicate the ethos, traditions and ambitions of the very best private schools in the UK and, in particular those of Brighton College which this year was ranked highest in the country for its academic results.”
said Richard Cairns, Group CEO of Brighton College and the only head in the UK to win Tatler Head of the Year twice.
At the heart of every Brighton College school is the belief that outstanding teaching changes lives. Each school recruits only the most talented and dedicated educators, whose expertise and enthusiasm inspire pupils to achieve more than they imagined possible. This commitment to excellence has placed Brighton College consistently among the highest-performing schools in the UK.
The College’s approach is highly personalised: no two children are the same, and the teaching philosophy allows each pupil to develop as an individual while discovering their strengths and passions. In every classroom, pupils are encouraged to think critically, embrace creativity and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
In Madrid, Rome and Lisbon, families will join communities where academic achievement is matched by the development of values and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of each individual country. Pupils will be prepared not only for academic success, but for lives of purpose, leadership and contribution.
“This is a hugely exciting venture, bringing to Lisbon, Madrid and Rome an educational philosophy that has won Brighton College numerous global awards but, more importantly, one that has demonstrated that success is most readily found where kindness underpins everything. Children who are happy are children who thrive.”, said Richard Cairns.
“Through our partnership with Brighton College, pupils in Europe will benefit from an education provided by the UK’s most exceptional leaders and teachers, in world-class facilities designed to encourage discovery and academic achievement”, commented Dr Stephen Spurr, Chairman and Director of Education at Intellego Education, adding that “Brighton’s unrivalled reputation, both in the UK and abroad, combined with Intellego’s deep experience of education in Italy, Spain and Portugal will offer excellent opportunities for pupils and their families.”
Brighton College: An Award-Winning Educational Leader
Named “UK School of the Decade” by The Sunday Times, Brighton College is consistently ranked among the best schools in the country. Recent accolades include:
- UK Boarding School of the Year 2025
- Top School in the UK for A-Levels 2025
- Top Academic School in South East England 2025
In 2025, Brighton College achieved the highest academic results of any co-educational school in the UK, underlining its reputation for academic excellence. Yet life at Brighton extends far beyond the classroom. This year, our dramatists were awarded Best Play at the National School Theatre Awards, while our saxophone quartet won Overall Chamber Champions at the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Finals. On the sports field, both our rugby and netball teams were crowned National Champions, alongside major successes in hockey, tennis, athletics, cricket and swimming.
Pupils regularly progress to top global universities including 43 pupils to Oxford and Cambridge in 2025, and numerous more to LSE, St Andrews, Yale, Harvard, and other leading institutions across Europe.
The Brighton College family includes 12 schools across the UK and internationally. Notably, Brighton College Bangkok was named “International School of the Year” by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2024, affirming the success of Brighton’s educational model abroad.
About Brighton College
With more than 180 years of history, Brighton College is recognised as one of the leading independent schools for girls and boys aged 3–18, and the top school in the United Kingdom for A-level results. Its ethos blends exceptional academic achievement with a forward-thinking, pupil-centred approach, championing kindness, curiosity and confidence as the foundations for success.
Brighton College pupils progress to the world’s leading universities, supported by a lifelong global alumni network, Brighton College Connect, which offers guidance, opportunities and support long after graduation. All Brighton schools are designed to be more than functional, creating spaces that inspire both pupils and teachers – combining light, space and resources to foster creativity, collaboration and academic ambition.
After almost 20 years leading Brighton College, during which time the school rose from 147th in the Sunday Times UK rankings to 1st for A-level results, and from four Oxbridge places a year to 43, Richard Cairns has taken on the role of Principal of Brighton College. The only Head to have twice been named Tatler Head of the Year, he continues to have overall responsibility for Brighton College, while also overseeing the growing family of Brighton schools in the UK and internationally.
The Brighton College family includes schools in Brighton, London, Hove, Handcross, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi, Vibhavadi and Al Ain. Together, they educate more than 9,000 pupils and are guided by over 1,000 exceptional educators who share a commitment to innovative teaching, pastoral care and preparing young people to take a full, active and positive role in the international world.
About Intellego Education
Intellego Education’s mission is to build a network of high-quality European schools, combining acquisitions with new developments, and drawing on the very best elements of British pedagogy and wide international experience. Its Chairman and Director of Education, Dr Stephen Spurr, was successively Head of Classics and House Master at Eton College, Head of Clifton College in Bristol, and Head Master of Westminster School in London, the UK’s top-ranked UK school for the nine years of his tenure. Dr Spurr then became the Director of Education at Inspired, where he directed schools globally, focusing in particular on Italy, Spain and Portugal, thus combining depth and breadth of educational experience in both the UK and Europe.
Intellego has strong institutional backing, which brings extensive real estate development experience, along with the strategic focus and robust financial support necessary to invest in socially impactful enterprises.
Intellego currently operates schools in the UK and Italy and is actively developing new opportunities to acquire schools in Spain, Portugal, and the rest of Europe.
Press Contact for Intellego Group:
Morgane Agostini
morgane.agostini@intellego-education.co.uk
Tel: +33 (0)6 74 11 14 14
Press Contact in the UK:
Brighton College, Brighton
Rachel Robinson-Reid
rrobinsonreid@brightoncollege.net
Tel: +44 (0)1273 647822
Press Contact in Spain:
LF Channel
Marta Ramil
Tel: +34 91 521 5192
Press Contact in Italy:
BPRESS
Eleonora Bresesti
Tel: +39 335 784 1698
Press Contact in Portugal:
Young Network Group
Lucia Amaral
luciaamaral@youngnetworkgroup.com
Tel: + 351 926 534 485
