Christ College Brecon’s first school outside the UK in Cyberjaya

Proud moment: Silk (left) exchanging collaboration agreement documents with Hoe. Witnessing the event are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (centre), Christ College Brecon head Emma Taylor and Axisjaya Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Chai Kim Sen (right).

PETALING JAYA: Brecon Synergy Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of DBH Holdings Sdn Bhd has signed a collaboration agreement with Christ College Brecon, one of the oldest and most successful independent schools in the UK, to set up its first international school outside of the UK.

The sister school to the 475-year-old Christ College Brecon will be known as King Henry VIII College.

“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.

“We will replicate the ethos, culture, academic rigour, and determination to challenge each child to explore their capabilities to the full,” said Christ College Brecon chair Sir Paul Silk.

The total investment to set up King Henry VIII College was RM120mil, which included land and construction costs.

The partnership is on a 50:50 basis.

Located in Cyberjaya, King Henry VIII College is to be a co-educational boarding and day school for students aged between seven and 18 years from across Asean.

Teachers for the school will be recruited from Brecon, while teachers recruited from Malaysia will undergo training in Brecon.

In addition, students will have the option to study in Christ College Brecon as the syallabus, textbooks and uniform are identical.

“The links between the two schools will be extensive, and we will explore the many opportunities for exchanges, visits, and collaborations.

“This will be a full-fledged sister school in every way.

“We are establishing the school here, not building a franchise,” said Brecon Synergy Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Benny Hoe.

There are 58,000 individuals studying for a UK qualification in Malaysia.

This underlines the value attached to UK education.

“Since February we have been rolling out our Education is GREAT campaign in Malaysia and we are getting increasing interest from UK institutions to find partnerships with local institutions or to establish themselves in Malaysia and Asean in their own right,” said British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell.

King Henry VIII College will accommodate 1,500 pupils in a modern, spacious campus with state-of-the-art facilities for learning, sports, drama, and many other activities.

The school is scheduled to be completed by June 2018, and its doors will open to pupils in September 2018.

Brecon Synergy is a subsidiary of DBH Holdings, a fast-growing diversified company with a particular interest in education.