Top Marks

Malvern College Tokyo helps young learners prepare for bright futures.

Malvern College has set exceedingly high educational standards since its founding in 1865 in Malvern, England.

As the school now has campuses in China, Hong Kong, Egypt and Switzerland, students around the world can benefit from this venerable tradition. And in September 2023, the newest campus—Malvern College Tokyo (MCT)—will open its doors and share the Malvern experience with learners in Japan.

The school’s founding headmaster will be Mike Spencer, an educator with more than 20 years at schools in Hong Kong, India, Shanghai and Mozambique. He is a trained school evaluator and Team Chair for the Council of International Schools and also serves as Head of University Relations and Teacher Development at Malvern College International.

INNOVATIVE APPROACH
As Dr. Robin Lister, the regional executive advisor of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific), explains, one key to a Malvern education is its strong link to the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum—which MCT plans to offer at the primary and secondary year levels—coupled with the school’s dedication to comprehensive education: “It is true to say that Malvern’s philosophy goes hand in hand with the philosophy of the IB. What Malvern brings in addition to shared values is a passion for pastoral care and educating the whole child.”

Image: Mike Spencer

This is accompanied with a focus on technology that is an integral part of the school’s curriculum. During their coursework, students will have the chance to learn everything from digital media and AI to robotics and design software.

Another key element at MCT will be education in entrepreneurship. Lister points out that these entrepreneurial skills go beyond just business acumen: “They are rooted in instilling in children the ability to analyze issues, to ‘think out of the box’ when looking at problems, to be critical and self-reflective and even to challenge their teachers or what a textbook says. I would go further to suggest that the skills that underlie an entrepreneurial approach to education are absolutely essential if we are to prepare our pupils for what will undoubtedly be demanded of them in the world of work when they leave school.”

THINKING GREEN
MCT will also encourage its graduates to be deeply concerned with the future of the planet. And this begins at an early age with the Forest School, designed for young learners aged three to six. The program allows children to spend time outdoors and take part in activities that include gathering and counting pebbles, learning how to build a fire with adult help and creating abstract designs from twigs. As Lister explained, these activities not only encourage a love of nature in young learners, but also teach lessons of collaboration and problem solving.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Finally, recognizing Malvern’s British heritage while honoring the values and traditions of Japan will be central to the MCT experience. All students will take Japanese language classes, which will be grouped according to students’ abilities. Students will also be exposed to Japanese culture through everyday activities that range from celebrating local festivals and eating national dishes in the dining room to taking part in Japanese sports and crafts. At the same time, students will be introduced to the etiquette for which Britain’s top public schools are well known. This uniting of British and Japanese culture provides students with an array of social skills that enable them to be aware of those around them and put them at ease in a variety of situations.

Thanks to a comprehensive curriculum and innovative approaches that educate the whole child, Malvern College Tokyo will prepare its students to not only succeed at university but take on leadership roles in whatever paths they choose in life.

www.malverncollegetokyo.jp