Harrow, one of Britain's most iconic boarding schools, has made headlines this week with its grand plans to expand into the US. The prestige-laden institution is set to open a 170-acre campus on Long Island this fall, offering an elite education to American students at a staggering $75,000 per year.
The school will be owned and operated by Amity Education Group, which also runs a Harrow school in Bengaluru, India. Critics have raised concerns that the company is prioritising profit over preserving the school's British traditions and history.
Founded in 1572 as a school for 'poor boys' from the Harrow parish, the institution has since expanded to become one of the most sought-after educational establishments in the world. Its reputation for exclusivity precedes it, with tuition fees in the UK topping £61,584 per year.
The decision to launch in the US coincides with a renewed interest among American elites in all things British, particularly the aristocracy. The school's website showcases an idyllic vision of life at Harrow New York, complete with students strolling across lush green lawns and sporting the trademark straw hats.
But not everyone is convinced that Harrow's values will translate seamlessly to the American market. Former students have voiced concerns that the school's British imperial heritage may be out of touch with modern US values. 'The way we were taught to appreciate our history was often tied up with the idea of a bygone era,' one former pupil recalled.