A Prestigious British School Is Opening Its First International Branch In Malaysia

Brecon Synergy Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of DBH Holdings Sdn Bhd), is a Cyberjaya based company that operates and manages schools. They signed a collaboration agreement with 1541 Ltd (a subsidiary of Christ College, Brecon) on 7 April.

This newly-formed collaboration will see the establishment of the prestigious British school's international sister school, Henry VIII College, that will be completed in June 2018.

"This is a thrilling chapter in Christ College's long and proud history. Malaysia is an excellent location for our internationally-minded school to develop a similar institution to the one in Brecon," said the Chair of Christ College's Governors, Sir Paul Silk KCB, who is also the former Principal Adviser to the British House of Commons.

As for the Managing Director of BDH Holdings, Datuk Hoe Tze Fook, he is thrilled at the prospect of this new establishment.

"My company is delighted to join with Christ College Brecon to establish this new school in Malaysia. The links between the two schools will be extensive, and we will explore the many opportunities for exchanges, visits, and mutual collaboration. This will be a fully-fledged sister school in every way," said Datuk Hoe.

Christ College is a boarding and day independent school that is located in the market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. Financial Times ranked the institution as one of the top three of all UK independent schools in terms of 'Value-for-Money'.

Seven years ago, in February 2011, Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education & Training in Wales declared Christ College's academic performance to be 'excellent', which is said to to be the highest grade that can be bestowed to any educational institution in the UK. It was said that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a Royal Visitor to Christ College.

On top of that, the college has been recognised as a top 100 UK Co-Educational Boarding School by A Levels for the year 2016 by BEST-SCHOOLS.CO.UK.

Christ College has a long list of alumni, including Sir Simon Henry Ward Hughes, a British politician who was the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and was also the Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice.

Christ College was founded by the Tudor King, Henry the 8th, which is why the name of its first sister college will bear the name of its Royal founder, King Henry VIII.

Simon A Spencer, the project coordinator of King Henry VIII College said that the sister school will replicate Christ College's structure, ethos, and achievements in an urban setting that is Cyberjaya.

"We provide an outstanding education based on traditional values of tolerance and mutual respect, supported by sector-leading boarding and pastoral care, outstanding teaching, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities."

King Henry VIII College will offer a vast and modern subject selection and pupils will sit for the Cambridge International IGCSE's and AS/A levels, which sets them on the path of applying and studying at top universities in the world.

The educators at King Henry VIII will be a mix of both teachers recruited from Brecon and local teachers who have undergone training at Brecon.

King Henry VIII College will be similar to Christ College as it will function as a day and boarding school for students between the ages of seven and 18 from across ASEAN. It can accommodate 1,500 students and will offer state-of-the-art facilities for learning, sports, drama, and other extracurricular activities.

The sister school's building will be completed in June 2018 and they will start accepting students by September 2018.

According to School Advisor, there are more than 58,000 people studying for a UK qualification in Malaysia right now.

The UK is a popular destination for Malaysians looking to further their studies, with an average of 14,000 Malaysian students studying in the tertiary level there in the year 2013 alone.