Bearwood chosen to launch flagship UK venture
This September sees the launch of Reddam House Bearwood – leading the way as the flagship school in the UK and Europe for the internationally-renowned Reddam House Group
Located in parkland on the edge of Wokingham, the co-educational independent day and boarding school will cater for children from as young as three months through to 18 years old.
A definitive statement of excellence in private education, Reddam House is a co-educational, non-denominational, independent schools group, designed to inspire students to achieve their maximum potential in a nurturing, progressive academic environment. The Group is currently comprised of premium schools in London, Berkshire, Sydney, Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg, and educates over 8,000 pupils.
Reddam House offers a fresh and contemporary approach to education by re-evaluating traditional teaching methods and curriculums, and by creating a more dynamic, relevant and powerful model that reflects current attitudes. The focus is on nurturing the unique individuality, talent and self-assurance of each student, equipping them to take on the world with the skills and confidence to ensure success. It was founded by Graeme Crawford, a renowned educator, who began his career as a science teacher and believed that much more could be done to improve educational standards.
Driven by his own negative schooling experiences, he began conceiving a school that could provide a rounded education through a dynamic new approach. This was aimed at maximising not just the academic standard, but also the confidence, potential and individuality of each child.
Crawford opened his first school in 1993 and in the following five years, the Crawford Schools grew to 15 in total. In 2000, he founded Reddam House and his impressive track record now spans more than two decades, educating more than 32,000 students since 1993.
The Group acquired the former Bearwood College in September 2014, an investment that marked its first foray into the UK education sector. More recently, it has bought Fulham Prep School in Central London. Over the past few months, a major refurbishment programme has been under way at Bearwood to transform the facilities and ensure that future students have access to the latest
technology and innovation to drive educational excellence.
Leading the project as managing director of Reddam House Europe is Dr Stephen Spurr, formerly headmaster of Westminster School. He calls it an “amazing opportunity“ and says with Reddam House’s combination of the best aspects of premium UK education with the group’s global educational philosophy will ensure success in this new venture.
“The Reddam House model has been extremely successful and, given the UK is such an important centre for education, the group has been keen to cement its credibility firmly in the northern hemisphere by expanding its network here“ he said. “One of the things that really excited me about joining the group is its very creative and dynamic approach to education, ensuring it is very competitive, both in each country where it operates and globally.“
Although in most cases Reddam House prefers to build completely new schools, Spurr says the opportunity to buy into Bearwood’s and the nation’s heritage surrounded by 120 acres of sports fields, lake and woodland could not be let slip.
“It would be difficult to find a more important building than this one built by the early proprietors of the Times newspaper, arguably the greatest Victorian country house in the UK. With its location in the heart of the Thames Valley, while also being close to London and all the major transport links, it offered an unparalleled opportunity to build a dynamic centre of educational excellence“ he continued. “There is a real sense of growing a school which will be as good as any around the world in helping its young people to prepare to become the global citizens of tomorrow, and that’s an excellent proposition.“
Once at full capacity the school will be able to cater for 1,000 pupils, following the group’s highly- successful through-school model, comprising an early learning school, a junior school and a senior school.
Spurr says the through-school approach sets Reddam House apart, ensuring that parents don’t have to worry about competing for sought after places at the best schools as their children progress from one education stage to another. In addition, the fact it is co-educational ensures siblings can continue to be taught in the same school.
Adopting the Reggio Emilia educational approach in its early years, the school focuses right from the start on developing pupils as individual thinkers, celebrating their strengths and encouraging self- confidence and self-reliance, while also developing team spirit and community support through a variety of activities.
Barclays is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No 122702). Registered in England. Registered number is 1026167 with registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. April 2015.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2015
business success
Mindful of Bearwood’s Grade II star listing, the new owners are working alongside English Heritage to restore the buildings to their former glory, and at the same time investing in improved facilities for drama, dance, theatre and sport.
In preparation for next September’s launch, Spurr says the team has assembled a group of “outstanding“ teachers and, ensuring pupils stay ahead in the digital world, Bearwood’s historic classrooms are now fully wireless, allowing pupils and teachers alike to take advantage of the latest technology.
Educas is the long-term education focused investment group that is funding the expansion of the Reddam House Group in different parts of the world.
Among the other investors is Barclays, who Spurr describes as “excellent partners“, saying: “We know in an uncertain world that education qualifications are going to be increasingly important, so if you get the model right, as with Reddam House, investing in education is going to be very successful in the future.“
Gill Cook, relationship director, Barclays, said: “This is a really exciting time for Educas and the Reddam House Group and we were delighted to be able to support them with financing facilities for their first two acquisitions, Bearwood College and Fulham Prep School, and look forward to working with them on future acquisitions.“
Details:
Dr Stephen Spurr 0118-9748300
stephens@bearwoodcollege.co.uk www.bearwoodcollege.co.uk
Gill Cook
07917-503716
gill.cook@
barclays.com www.barclays.com
The views expressed in this article are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Barclays Bank PLC Group nor should they be taken as statements of policy or intent of the Barclays Bank PLC Group. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no responsibility for the veracity of information contained in the third part guides or articles and no warranties or undertakings of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information given. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no liability for the impact of any decisions made based on information contained and views expressed.
www.businessmag.co.uk
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