Around 80 guests gathered at London’s Oriental Club on 22 February to celebrate the launch of international school Malvern College Hong Kong.Due to open in September 2018, the new school will be Malvern College’s fifth international campus. The others are in Qingdao, in Eastern China, Chengdu, in southwestern China, and Cairo, in Egypt.The Hong Kong school, which is already accepting applications, will open with 380 students and ultimately cater for 960 students aged from five to 18. It will follow the International Baccalaureate curriculum at both primary and secondary levels.Around 10 per cent of students will be from Hong Kong; the others will come from the expatriate community. Annual fees will start at around £15,000.

Outward-facing ethos

The special guest speaker at the launch was Dominic Sandbrook, one of Britain’s best-known freelance writers and historians, a regular contributor to the Daily Mail and the Sunday Times, and a former Malvern College student.Mr Sandbrook spoke of the college’s outward-looking approach and espousal of the values of openness and cultural exchange.Other guests included Harriett Baldwin, MP for Worcestershire West, and representatives of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the Independent Schools Council (ISC), the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), and the Independent Schools Bursars’ Association (ISBA). Leaders from business, education and the media also attended. Among the latter was Fiona Murchie, managing editor of Relocate Global, which is soon to publish the 2017 edition of its acclaimed Guide to International Education & Schools.Speaking after the launch, Ms Murchie said, “With more people working overseas than ever before, the demand for high-quality British international schools has never been greater. And, with the commitment from world-class UK independent schools to continue expanding into popular relocation destinations, globally mobile families are in a strong position to take advantage of a British international education wherever their relocation or international assignment may take them.” Fiona Murchie added that access to international higher education was becoming increasingly important for families across the globe. Many were looking to a UK-curriculum-based education to help their children acquire the qualifications necessary for entry into the world’s top higher-education institutions, she said.Priscilla To, director general of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, said, “I am honoured to celebrate the launch of Malvern College Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government has attached great importance to education, and our education system is now among the best in the world. Our students fared well in international assessments, particularly in mathematics, science and technology.“We are delighted that Malvern College is bringing its 150 years of experience in providing a quality and well-rounded education for local and expatriate families.”

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Embracing local values

Malvern College Hong Kong is 20 minutes from the central business district, near the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.The school will offer a broad academic curriculum through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes, which are respected worldwide for their breadth and focus on the holistic development of internationally minded young people.There will be a strong emphasis on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), and all pupils will learn Mandarin Chinese.Among the school’s impressive facilities will be a concert-hall-quality auditorium, a black-box studio theatre, state-of-the-art teaching facilities, and a floodlit all-weather sports pitch.In September 2017, Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, providing an early years education for 160 children aged between two and five, will open on a separate site in the West Kowloon area of Hong Kong.

A balanced education

Antony Clark, headmaster of Malvern College UK, said, “Our success overseas is built on adherence to a strong set of common Malvern values, but also a willingness to adapt to local cultural and educational expectations and, above all else, a strong collaborative approach with key staff at Malvern College UK.“Integration of expertise from the headmaster downwards is key to ensuring an authentic approach.”Dr Robin Lister, headmaster designate of Malvern College Hong Kong, added, “In our new school, we will adapt the traditions of a British boarding school to an international day-school setting to emphasise a holistic education. This will balance academic excellence, achievement beyond the classroom, outstanding pastoral care, and a strong community ethos.”For more information on schools in Asia, see our new International Guide to Education & Schools, coming soon!Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit