Despite delays and disruption wrought by Covid, a top independent school has succeeded in establishing a new educational partnership in Vietnam. It is the first of its type between a British school and Vietnam.
Reigate Grammar School (RGS), crowned Tatler School of the Year for 2020-2021, signed contracts in London on 15 September at an official ceremony hosted by the Vietnamese ambassador to the UK, Nguyen Hoang Long. They were joined via live video link from Vietnam by their new educational partners and British Consul General for Vietnam Emily Hamblin.
The International School of Vietnam (ISV), in Hanoi, is a not-for-profit institution which caters for children from pre-kindergarten to sixth form and serves both the international and local communities. It was founded nine years ago. Under the terms of the agreement, ISV will be renamed Reigate Grammar School Vietnam. A strong IGCSE and A-level programme will accompany the current International Baccalaureate.
RGS is also planning to open an International Sixth Form College in the city in 2023 and, potentially, a third school in the near future.
Consul General Hamblin stressed: “This is a milestone moment for our UK-Vietnam education partnership. We are celebrating the first independent UK school to have a franchise and trademark in Vietnam. High-quality education is needed now more than ever.’
The new partnership has received support from both the UK and Vietnamese governments. At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Long said: “This is a flagship project and an example for others to follow.”
Speaking after the event, RGS Headmaster Shaun Fenton said: “This is a great opportunity for us, and a privilege, to be able to take the outstanding education that RGS provides into a fascinating and vibrant part of Asia.
“In Vietnam, British education has a strong reputation, and the partnership will provide wonderful opportunities for our pupils and staff in Britain to visit the new school on exchange programmes. At RGS, we relish the fact that all of us, our students and the whole Reigatian community are all part of a global community.”
RGS already has three school projects in China and an agreement to open another in Morocco.
Mr Fenton added: “This is an opportunity to create a new paradigm, blending the best of two cultures and two education traditions to create a unique school environment focused on personal development, high achievement and supporting children into world-class universities.”