10.10.25
The latest figures from the Department for Education show that just 32% of school applications to the Turing Scheme were approved in 2024 – down dramatically from 90% the previous year.
While the programme was designed to widen access to international experiences for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, schools received the least funding of all sectors, totalling only £7 million. Despite this, schools delivered the highest proportion of placements to disadvantaged pupils, with 82% of those sent abroad coming from underserved communities.
The Turing Scheme has enabled more than 2,000 students at GSA schools to take part in overseas visits that would not have otherwise been financially possible.
The Global School Alliance was contacted by Schools Week for comment following publication of the figures.
Thomas Camilleri, Founder & CEO at the Global School Alliance, said:
“Across our network of schools, the Turing Scheme funding has provided more than 2,000 students with life-changing opportunities that simply would not have been possible otherwise. These immersive visits to partner schools provide unique experiences that enable young people to develop invaluable life skills – such as empathy, resilience, and intercultural understanding – that extend far beyond the classroom.
“This year’s results have been disappointing for many of our schools, with success rates falling from 95% to just 32%. The lack of clarity around the scoring process and the absence of constructive feedback has caused understandable frustration, especially for schools that have consistently delivered strong, impactful projects.
“As the Turing Scheme was designed to widen access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, we are deeply concerned that reduced funding will limit opportunities for those very schools and communities where the impact has been the most transformative.”
Looking ahead, the Global School Alliance remains committed to supporting schools in accessing international experiences through the Turing Scheme. With a proven track record of helping over 70 schools secure more than £2.8 million in funding since 2021, we invite schools to join our waiting list for first access to our supported Turing Scheme programme.
Join the Turing Scheme waiting list to be the first to hear about the 2026 funding announcements.
