Executive Summary

Consolidation continued across the global K-12 education sector in the first half of 2026, but activity took different forms across markets. Novistra’s Education Radar, our deal-activity tracker across the education sector, recorded 38 confirmed transactions and integrations: 26 global K-12 M&A and platform transactions, and12 charitable mergers and group integrations in the UK independent school sector.

Global activity was led by established education groups making selective acquisitions to add scale, deepen regional presence and enter priority markets. International Schools Partnership, Inspired Education Group, Affinitas Education, Cognita, Dukes Education, Forfar Education, Globeducate and Nord Anglia were among the recurring strategic buyers captured in the transaction tracker.

The UK independent school sector followed a different path. Rather than conventional commercial M&A, independent schools continued to combine through charitable mergers and group integrations. Although the legal structures differ, the rationale is often similar: stronger governance, shared operating capability, improved financial resilience and a more sustainable institutional platform.