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A world leader in education and a place where academic excellence, empathy and integrity thrive.

An outstanding, holistic education

Our International Strategy

Wycombe Abbey International (WAI) was established in 2015 to promote and expand Wycombe Abbey’s educational offer internationally. We have successfully overseen the establishment of a number of international schools through a series of strategic partnerships with high-quality education providers.

Our international strategy is to build a global family of world-class schools, which will allow more pupils to access the kind of education envisaged by our founder, Dame Frances Dove. Our international schools provide an outstanding, holistic education with a particular focus on academic excellence, which Wycombe Abbey is renowned for, and enable our leavers to go on to the best universities in the world. Our pupils are also developed through a rich and varied co-curricular programme, which helps them become future-focused leaders who will make a positive difference in the world.

Within our global family of schools, there are opportunities for teachers and pupils to collaborate on international projects. This enables our staff to understand different educational settings and share best practices amongst their peers as part of their continuous professional development and pupils to develop their global perspectives through interaction with their fellow pupils in our international schools.

Existing Partnerships

Our partnership with the global education group British Education Limited (BE) has resulted in the development of four outstanding international schools in Greater China: Changzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Hong Kong. It has worked closely with the relevant authorities to implement local requirements in teaching and learning whilst also delivering Wycombe Abbey’s fundamental values. The WAI Board monitors our international schools’ quality standards and successes through regular engagement and visits.

WAI has also recently established a strategic partnership with the WMC Educational Foundation in Egypt, who have also partnered with ACUD, the corporation responsible for developing Egypt’s New Capital City, to establish schools across the Middle East and North Africa region. The first school, Wycombe Abbey International Cairo East, will open in 2024/2025.

Trust, Encouragement, Mutual Respect

A Wycombe Abbey Education

Superb academic outcomes are the hallmark of a Wycombe Abbey education and these afford our pupils the opportunity to progress to the best universities in the world. Equally, we understand the importance of looking beyond excellent examination results to define pupil success. Our rich co-curricular programme includes varied activities and opportunities, ensuring that every pupil develops their passions and explores new possibilities. These experiences, in turn, help to build the skills, discipline and character that will support pupils once they leave school.

Our values are the principles that guide the way we interact within our communities. They are:

Trust – we foster strong relationships built on trust through good communication, willingness to listen and honesty.

Encouragement – we promote a positive atmosphere where all members of the community are supported to develop and fulfil their potential.

Mutual respect – we seek to understand and embrace differences in people, ideas and experiences with tolerance and understanding.

Dynamism – we are a forward-thinking school that nurtures the leaders of tomorrow for a global workplace.

Excellence – we believe in the importance of striving to be exceptional in whatever we do through the setting of ambitious goals and taking ownership of our decisions and actions.

Balance – we understand the importance of supporting staff and pupils to thrive by maintaining a healthy mind and body.

Innovation – we are excited about creating the future through being open-minded, curious and embracing change.

Service – we recognise the great rewards that individuals reap in helping, supporting and giving to others both within the school community and beyond it.

 

Academic Qualities

We have identified the attributes that categorise successful learners, which we refer to as the five Academic Qualities. They are Risk Taking, Resourcefulness, Determination, Reflection and Development. The five Academic Qualities are embedded within teaching and learning at Wycombe Abbey International Schools, and we feel they are central to success inside and outside the classroom. Not only do they promote deep learning and higher-level academic thinking, but they also encompass lifelong learning skills. They support our vision of ensuring academic excellence and a future-focused approach. The learning environment of a Wycombe Abbey education is supportive yet challenging. Our teaching specialists communicate a genuine love of their subject, encouraging all our pupils to pursue an intellectual curiosity beyond the curriculum.

Learn more about Wycombe Abbey’s Academic Qualities

 

Pastoral Care

We are committed to the highest standards of pastoral care: safeguarding and the welfare of the children and young people in our care is paramount. We ensure that our international schools provide a secure and caring environment in which each child can flourish. Wellbeing at all Wycombe Abbey schools is centred on the needs of our pupils. We nurture pupils to be flexible and creative, to think critically and communicate ideas, to work alone and in a team and to respect themselves and others. Our experienced staff are there to help pupils achieve their best and fulfil their potential.

learn more about Pastoral Care and Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey

Experience and insight

Wycombe Abbey International Board

‘We have a successful track record of developing international schools since 2016, and we plan to build on our successes in Greater China where we have worked hard to transfer our values and educational philosophy from Wycombe Abbey in the UK. We plan to expand our networks and establish a global family of world-class schools, which are all absolutely committed to the provision of a holistic education with a particular focus on academic excellence. The strategic partnerships with our school operators are critical to this success, and they share our vision and values and ensure our schools support the communities they serve. Close collaboration exists between our partners and the WAI Board to monitor the quality and outcomes of our schools. We recognise that there is a significant demand for high-quality international education in a number of international markets and we are determined to serve this with a Wycombe Abbey education. We believe that what is special about a Wycombe Abbey education will appeal to parents and pupils alike in those markets.’

Mr Patrick Sherrington, Chairman of Wycombe Abbey International Limited

Patrick has a distinguished career in law and was Chair of the Wycombe Abbey Council for ten years until 2020. He sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in Hong Kong, arbitrator, and mediator. He was named as a leading individual in the commercial litigation field in Chambers and the Legal 500 directories before his retirement from practice with Hogan Lovells in 2018. He has been involved in the School's international business from the outset and has significantly contributed to developing partnerships, which have engineered the School's global expansion. Patrick has additional executive responsibilities of leading the relationship with BE and the international expansion strategy.

A King's College Cambridge graduate in History and Social & Political Sciences and a former Schoolteacher Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, Diana has had a successful career teaching and in Head roles for both Grammar and Independent Schools. She chairs the Education Committee at Wycombe Abbey and sits on the Boards of two leading London day schools—formerly an ISI Inspector and currently a Quality Assurance Officer for IStip.

Patrick holds a law degree from Oxford and an MBA from INSEAD. In his early career, he worked for Bain & Company and P&G before joining John Lewis Partnership, where he was Group Finance Director until 2020. Patrick is also a Mutual Ambassador for the Cabinet Office and Chair of the first local authority mutually spun out of the public sector – 3BM.

Richard studied Philosophy and Economics at UCL before joining PwC in 1985. He was admitted to the partnership in 1997 and is the firm's Assurance Executive. Richard's international experience includes leading projects in Europe, the USA, Brazil, Japan, India and Hong Kong. Outside of work, he has been a Chair of Merlin and a Trustee of Save the Children – in 2016, he received a CBE for voluntary services to international development in recognition of his charitable work.

A global family of schools

Locations

Wycombe Abbey International currently have four international schools in Greater China in the following locations and is establishing one in Egypt to open in 2024.

Wycombe Abbey International Changzhou opened in September 2016, and is a co-educational boarding school for pupils aged 3–18, in Changzhou, China. As a model of innovative education, the school combines the Chinese National Curriculum with the best of British education, using a resolutely holistic approach to teaching and learning. In addition to academic excellence, the school aims to develop the individual character of each child and focuses on their all-around development through sports, music, art, drama, and many other co-curricular activities which include domestic and international expedition opportunities. The school is located on the banks of the beautiful 164 square kilometres West Taihu Lake, enabling it to become the only school in China equipped with its own boat house, rowing boats, and an exclusive jetty within its campus. 

More information

Wycombe Abbey International Hangzhou opened in September 2021 and is a co-educational boarding school for pupils aged 3–18, in Hangzhou, China. Similar to Changzhou and Nanjing, the school combines the Chinese National Curriculum and the best of British education, with a resolutely holistic approach to teaching and learning. Surrounded by hills on three sides, with a gorgeous lake in the middle of its modern campus, and with a national forest trail behind, the school’s unique location creates opportunities for many outdoor sports and activities. The school is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as an 800-seat theatre, a large modern sports hall with two full-sized basketball courts and two climbing walls, a FINA standard swimming pool, and more.

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Wycombe Abbey International Hong Kong opened in September 2019 and is the premier British preparatory school in Hong Kong, offering a private UK curriculum to children aged 5–13 years old. At its beautiful, co-educational preparatory campus on Hong Kong Island, the school focuses on an English holistic educational model, using the National Curriculum for England and Wales as a foundation, complemented by an exciting co-curricular activity programme as part of its normal school day. The school also offers an exceptional Chinese language and culture curriculum.

More information

Wycombe Abbey International Nanjing opened in September 2021 and is a co-educational boarding school for pupils aged 3–18, in Nanjing, China. Similar to Changzhou and Hangzhou, the school combines the Chinese National Curriculum and the best of British education, with a resolutely holistic approach to teaching and learning. The school is located in the famous national resort of Tangshan Hot Springs. The school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a Broadway performance level 630-seat theatre, a large modern sports hall with four full-sized basketball courts and two climbing walls, a FINA standard swimming pool, and more. 

More information

WAI recently established a strategic partnership with the WMC Educational Foundation in Egypt, who have partnered with ACUD, the corporation responsible for developing Egypt’s New Capital City, to establish schools across the Middle East and North Africa region. The first school, Wycombe Abbey International Cairo East will open in 2024/2025.

More information

International Contacts

We provide a comprehensive range of services for our partners to ensure the Schools are established correctly and provide ongoing support to ensure the quality and values of Wycombe Abbey are maintained. If you are interested in establishing a school partnership with WAI, please get in touch with Jason Gregory, Director of International in the first instance by emailing gregoryj@wycombeabbey.com

Mark Mackenzie Crooks is responsible for managing the financial and operational functions of the School in the UK and developing its multi-million-pound estate masterplan. Before taking up his role at Wycombe Abbey, Mark spent seven years as the Business Director at St Helen's School in Northwood. He holds an MBA from Cranfield University and previously enjoyed a 19-year career in the Army.

Jason joined Wycombe Abbey in January 2023 and has over 20 years of experience in international education, working at Pearson for 14 years. He holds a Masters in Development Education and Global Learning. His role is to implement the Board’s international strategy and support the growth of our existing schools, establishing new schools in new jurisdictions and ensuring the quality of outcomes internationally meets Wycombe Abbey’s expectations.