Karl Gross, Director of Overseas Schools
King’s College School, Wimbledon, one of the academically most successful schools in the world, is partnering with investors for new school projects internationally. King’s first two international sister schools in Wuxi and Hangzhou, China, opened in 2018. King’s College International School, Bangkok, the latest addition to the King’s family of schools, opened in August 2020. More international partnerships are planned. Karl Gross, Director of Overseas Schools, explains how King’s College School, Wimbledon, has made the move into the international arena:
Aboutfiveyears agowe wereapproachedbyChinese education providerDipontEducationtopartner forschoolprojectsin China.King’shasalways beenan outward-looking school andour governing bodyfeltaninternationalschoolpartnershipwouldbenefitthe entireKing’scommunity,providingopportunitiesforour students and staffto engage and collaboratewith their peers atsisterschools overseas.In addition,and importantly,income generated from these partnershipswouldsupporttheambition of significantly wideningtheprovision forbursariesatKing’s.
What stood out to us aboutDipont’sproposalwas its visionary proposition of partnering with, and delivering,the bestofeducation from the east and west.To achieve this,Dipontwas looking to bring togetheraleadingBritish school (King’s CollegeSchool,Wimbledon), andChinese schools of the highest calibre for each school project. In Hangzhou,ourChinese partnerschoolisthe High School Affiliated to Renmin University (RDFZ)and in Wuxiwe partnerwithNanjing Foreign Language School (Nanwai).
Theseuniquepartnershipsenable RDFZ King’sCollege School, HangzhouandNanwaiKing’sCollege School, Wuxitofollow a bold approach: expatriateand Chinese students study together in the Kindergarten, and it has been amazing to see the pace of language acquisition ofboth Chinese and Englishin the Early Years programme. From grades 1 to 9,Chinese nationals attendthebilingual schoolsection on the campus,andexpatriatestudents attendtheinternationalsection.All students come back togetherin thesenior high schoolwhere theystudy for A levels;we are alsoplanning tooffer theIB Diploma in thenearfuture.
The whole campussharesthe samephilosophy,based on theethos ofKing’s in Wimbledon. The emphasis is on developing a love of learning, an inquisitive mindset and stimulating teaching. The curriculum is balanced, with a real focus on holistic education.Over 100 different co-curricular activities are on offer, and the pastoral care is central to the educationaloffering. Each school hasalsoadopted ourhouse system – even down to the names.
This unique school structure allowsfor wonderfulinter-cultural linkson one campus.Chinese and international studentshavenumerous opportunitiesto connectandconstantly learn from each other,bringingtogether both worlds. We know this is important; most of our students will go on to study internationallyand theexperiencesat both schoolsoffer great preparation for a globalised worldandfosterunderstanding ofdifferentcultures and interaction. Many of them will return as skilled leaders andentrepreneursto their home country.
Admissions appeal
Thisground-breaking educational concepthasattractedparents in hugenumbers –NanwaiKing’s College School, Wuxi andRDFZ King’s College School, Hangzhoureceived around 3,000 applications eachandboth schools opened in September 2018with around 800 students.The demand for placesat both schoolshas remainedincredibly strongandnow, in their second year,eachschoolhasaround1,350 students.
Partnership
We are alsoseeing the firstof manyexcitingopportunitiesfor student and staffcollaboration take shape:students inone houseat King’sproduced a video for their counterpartsin the same house in Wuxi and Hangzhou, Chinese students have contributed to student-ledmagazinesatKing’s in Wimbledon, our alumni havenew gap year opportunities andinauguralstudentexchangesaretaking placethis year.In addition, top scholars in the senior high school of our sister schools overseas will spend time at King’s, attending lessons and working with our UCAS teamanduniversity counsellors. Further forms of collaboration such as sports, music and drama tours and Olympiads are planned.
Staff
Staff also have the opportunity to spend time at the different schools,enabling them to sharebest practice andlearnfrom each other.As thenumberof schools grows,there will also bean increase in thenumber ofopportunities for professional development and career progression within the family of King’s schools.Staff at King’s in Wimbledon are also benefiting fromour overseas partnerships.For instance, weofferteachersthe opportunityto spendup to two yearsat one of ouroverseassister schools,with theoption toresume their roles atKing’supon their return.This isvery exciting for our staffand offers themfantasticnew experiences. It alsodeepensthe linksbetween the schoolsandsupportsthetransfer of the King’s ethos.
Developing the King’s CollegeSchool,Wimbledon,brand
King’s reputationas one of thehighest performing schoolsin theworldand our experience in international partnershipsisgenerating interest froma growing number of investorsglobally.They are impressed by our academic credentials,such as ourIB averageof41.5 pointsover the last five yearsorthe fact thatalmost300of ourstudentshavegone to Oxford and Cambridge universities in the last six years.However, theyalso quicklyrealisethatacademic excellence is achievedin anenvironment that isbasedon a holistic educationandanoutstanding pastoral care system,designedfor ourstudents to become collaborative, confident, creative and independent young people.
Finding the right partner
The selection processto finda suitablepartneris very important and requires significant time and due diligence; understanding the potential investor as well as the market they areoperating inis crucial. Wehave beenworking closelywith 鶹ýto supportus in this process.鶹ý’s international network has beenincrediblyvaluable andit wasinstrumental infinding the right partner forthe third overseas schools projectofKing’s:Thai-based company XET.
King’s CollegeInternationalSchool, Bangkok
Everyone at King’s wasimmediately impressed bythe people behindXET, their valuesandtheirvisionto bring the best possible educationto Thailand.We wereextremelyattracted by XET’s ambition to replicate King’s very closelyandsignedan agreementin September 2018toopena school in Bangkok.
King’s College International School Bangkokhas anenviable, centrallocationandwill openits doors tolocal and expatriatestudentsinAugust 2020;at capacitythe schoolwill have 1,500 studentsaged 2 to 18.Parents appear to be genuinely excited aboutthisnew school,and admissions numbers have been incredibly strong,withKing’s Bangkokon course to haveoneofthe highest student numbersof any international school opening in Thailand in the last few years.
Looking ahead
Ourambitionisto grow theKing’sfamily of schools furtherandthe interest from new potential investors and, increasingly from existing schools,has been verystrong.Weare also constantlylooking for newinnovativeways of working with oursister schools.Offering opportunitiestoourstudents and staffto engagewithand learn from each otherbuildsbridges between different cultures and fostersempathy, tolerance and friendship;something that is much needed in today’s world.
Karl Gross is Director of Overseas Schools at King’s College School Wimbledon.You can findoutmore about the schools at
