Major international venture will bring the ‘whole child’ education model to China

Reigate Grammar School has agreed to work with the Kaiyuan Education Fund (KEF), backed by the China Development Bank, to open up to five schools in China. The first school is scheduled to open in Nanjing in 2020 followed by a second in Shanghai in 2023. RGS will offer advice, guidance and quality assurance.

RGS Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, signed a memorandum of understanding with the KEF in Shanghai last week (2 February 2018). At the signing ceremony at the China UK Business Forum Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade spoke with Shaun Fenton and said:

“Good luck Shaun, it sounds like an exciting project”

This is a notable chapter in Reigate Grammar School’s history. By developing international connections we will open up cultural and learning links across continents and provide visit and exchange opportunities for students and staff which will further enrich the RGS community. The partnership will provide a financial contribution which will enable RGS to strengthen investment in staffing, facilities and bursaries.

The new Chinese schools will be co-educational all-through (Kindergarten to Sixth Form) boarding schools and will be for Chinese children in the main. They will teach China’s national curriculum followed by a three-year A Level and international programme. RGS will not own the schools nor have responsibility for running them. They will however license the RGS name, intellectual property and educational expertise.

Sean Davey, Head of Foundation and Business Development said the complex process of making the deal was facilitated by notable members of the Reigatian community. He said: ‘We are very grateful to former pupil Lawrence Webb and his wife Vivian Webb for their support as Hong Kong ambassadors in connecting us with our partners in China. Not only that but we also discovered an Old Reigatian, based in the British Embassy in Beijing, who was a key facilitator of the International Trade event held in Shanghai! It just goes to show how valuable our global Reigatian network has become!’

We are pleased to have been selected by the Kaiyuan Education Fund as their partner of choice and shows our record of success has been noticed by the international community. In addition to the Headmaster’s appointment to Chair HMC, RGS has been rated the Top Co-Educational Day School in Surrey for four years running by The Telegraph and Sunday Times. The school was also recently shortlisted by the Times Education Supplement (TES) for the Senior School of the Year award and in the most recent ISI Inspection, RGS was awarded ‘Exceptional’, the first co-ed day school in the UK to be awarded this outstanding recognition.

Shaun Fenton added: “Ultimately, KEF admires the RGS leadership and the ‘RGS way’ – a school based upon relationships prioritising pastoral care in an environment of rich extra-curricular opportunities that in turn delivers exceptional results and opens doors of opportunity. Our partnership will mean that RGS can help emulate this model for local children in China, thus strengthening the Chinese educational system.”

Reigate Grammar School is one amongst many other leading independent HMC schools Westminster, Dulwich College, RGS Guildford, Whitgift, Cranleigh, Harrow and King’s College Wimbledon that are expanding internationally.