British independent schools face fresh pressures on expanding their links with China as the authorities tighten restrictions on foreign influence in the education system and seek to more than halve the number of children educated privately.

Restrictions on visas for foreign teachers are also contributing to a slowdown in the establishment and expansion of private schools for Chinese nationals, dozens of which have links to well-known British institutions — including Harrow, Wellington, Dulwich College and Charterhouse.

The changes are part of a government attempt to equalise education opportunity following the rapid growth in private schools, including those offering international exams and teaching in English as more students seek to apply to foreign universities. The reforms follow recent draconian curbs on private tutoring services.