The von Bülow-Steinbeis Family
A little story about us
A little story about us
It all begins with Alexandra von Bülow-Steinbeis.
When her eldest son, Alexander, was in danger of repeating a year in the 10th grade at a Bavarian grammar school, Alexandra von Bülow-Steinbeis began searching for alternatives. She found one in Sevenoaks School, a British boarding school. The move to Sevenoaks School proved to be a turning point for Alexander: better grades, greater self-confidence, and a new outlook on life.
Inspired by the opportunities and potential she discovered there, Alexandra soon sent her other three children — Ferdinand, Nikolaus, and Caroline — to England as well, and eventually founded von Bülow Education. Her vision was simple yet powerful: to open these same doors for other families.
She started out in a small garden house in the Oxfordshire countryside, guided by idealism and a clear belief in providing advice that was honest, personal, and truly expert. It didn’t take long for her approach to resonate — before long, she had become a trusted and sought-after advisor.
Her second-eldest son, Ferdinand Steinbeis, experienced first-hand at Sevenoaks just how life-changing a school transition can be. He arrived in England with average grades, a reserved manner, and limited English — but within weeks, the homesickness had faded, and his confidence had grown. His music teacher then gave him a decisive nudge out of his comfort zone: soon, Ferdinand was on stage with his saxophone, performing in front of hundreds of classmates. It was a formative moment that stayed with him.
With newfound confidence, drive, and a growing passion for learning, he went on to achieve an excellent International Baccalaureate, study at the London School of Economics, complete an MBA at INSEAD, and gain experience in management consulting.
Today, Ferdinand Steinbeis leads the agency with a deep understanding of the British school system, an intuitive feel for British culture, a clear eye for what truly matters, and a genuine desire to give other children the same opportunities for personal growth that shaped his own life.
Past & present
1990 - 1994 - with four children at Sevenoaks School, Alexandra von Bülow-Steinbeis becomes a popular go-to for all things British boarding schools for friends and family
1994 - Alexandra von Bülow-Steinbeis founds education consultancy von Bülow Education. For this she transforms the old shed in her garden in East Hendred near Oxford into an office. Initially the team consists of Alexandra, an assistant and the dogs Woodstock and Lisa
1996 - Alexandra places 30 pupils at 25 different British boarding schools
1998 - Alexandra works with 80 carefully selected schools and places her first pupil at the prestigious boys schools Winchester College
1999 - von Bülow Education advises Haileybury School on the introduction of the International Baccalaureate. This will the first of several consulting engagements for schools exploring the IB
2014 - Ferdinand Steinbeis takes over as Managing Director of the company
2016 - The Brexit referendum happens. The schools tell us: "Sorry! We still love our Europeans!"
2020 - We move our offices from Oxford to Richmond. By now, the team has grown to 10
2025 - von Bülow Education works with 110 hand-selected British boarding schools and holds semi-exclusive placement relationships with reknowned schools like Sevenoaks School, Winchester College, Radley College and the Cheltenham Ladies College