Concerns have been raised by security experts and politicians over Chinese ownership of British private schools located near sensitive national infrastructure. Over the past decade, dozens of independent schools in the UK have been acquired by Chinese investors and firms, driven largely by demand from Chinese families seeking a British education. However, recent closures of some of these schools have intensified scrutiny regarding the future use of the sites, particularly those in proximity to critical government or defence facilities.

One prominent case is Malvern St James School in Worcestershire, which announced its closure amid financial pressures attributed in part to changes in tax policy under the previous Labour government. The school sits approximately half a mile from a British defence technology company and about 20 miles from the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham. The institution, once attended by author Dame Barbara Cartland, is owned by China-founded Galaxy Global Education Group. Despite receiving multiple offers to purchase the site, the Chinese owners have declined to sell and have not disclosed their plans for the property’s future use.

Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, warned that allowing British institutions in sensitive locations to be acquired by entities from China risks permanent loss of strategic assets. He noted the lack of truly private enterprise under China’s political system and pointed to past patterns of Chinese acquisition of property in strategic areas. Similarly, former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith expressed concerns about the growing presence of Chinese institutions in UK establishments and signaled his intention to submit a formal parliamentary question regarding Malvern St James.

These worries echo broader fears about Chinese espionage activities, particularly in relation to property ownership near key UK infrastructure. The issue also extends to other sites, including a planned large Chinese embassy in London. Since 2014, more than 30 independent schools have reportedly been purchased by Chinese investors, according to Beijing-based Venture Education. A senior UK government source suggested last year that the Chinese Communist Party might be orchestrating some of these acquisitions.

Malvern St James was taken over by Galaxy Global Education in February 2025. The group also operates Ruthin School in North Wales, Durham High School in the northeast of England, and Plymouth College, which is located close to HMNB Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe. Officials emphasizing national security have maintained they will continue to provide law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the necessary resources to address the range of security risks the country faces.

Galaxy Global Education has declined to comment on the concerns and questions regarding its holdings and intentions with the properties. The UK government has not indicated any immediate regulatory changes but remains attentive to the matter given its potential implications for national security.