Introduction to Rugby School Thailand
by Mr Ashley Deacon, Director of Admissions
Rugby School Thailand (RST) opened in Chonburi in September 2017 to fill a gap in the market by offering a genuine UK independent school education, based on the model of Rugby School in the UK, one of the original British public schools. From the outset, RST aimed to be a ‘proper’, academically-selective school. Offering a full academic curriculum, based on the English National Curriculum, culminating in the gold-standard IGCSE and A-level qualifications, RST also offers a full co-curriculum to ensure the all-round development of each student - mind, body and spirit. As they put it: the whole person; the whole point.
A co-educational, age 2-18, day and boarding school, RST offers an extended school day ensuring that every pupil can enjoy to the full its fabulous facilities set in its stunning 90-acre greenfield site 12 miles outside Pattaya. Already making waves in the local day market, RST is also attracting weekly boarders from Bangkok keen to substitute fresh air for pollution; games for gridlock.
Parents are buying into the School’s ethos in droves: opening with 110 pupils in September 2017, RST has 420 on its roll today - under half of whom are local - with waiting lists in certain year groups. Creativity and innovation are in the school’s DNA: from music, art, dance and drama to top-notch swimming coaching. Sailing, rowing and kayaking compliment the major teams sports.
Just-opened new buildings include two boarding houses, a sixth-form centre and a second classroom block including specialist rooms for science, computer science, design and technology, art and design, music, dance and a theatre - catering for all the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) subjects. Combined with swimming pools, a stunning dining room and a statement entrance, the campus of buildings is used a by combination of expatriate and local teaching staff all of whom are fully involved in the co-curricular programme and the students’ pastoral care.
RST makes a significant contribution to the Chonburi economy: with a professional staff complement of 120 the school is a major local employer with a small army of administrative, domestic and grounds staff and a payroll of several million Baht each month. The capital development costs of the entire project are estimated at between THB2-3 billion (GBP50-70m) with the build alone making a major direct contribution to the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor. RST will also help facilitate its growth through the ultimate provision of 1,200 international school places ensuring that when major multinationals want to set up shop in the EEC, their ability to do so won’t be constrained by the absence of school places for their employees’ children - and their children certainly won’t be constrained by the confines of a typical international school.
Rugby School Thailand is already a name to conjure with. Expect to hear a lot more from it.
