Rugby School will be the first independent UK school to open a sister school in Japan, with the new institution set to be opened in 2022.
The announcement follows the opening of Rugby School Thailand in 2017, which currently has 700 students on roll.
At a meeting in Tokyo today, Peter Green, head master at Rugby School, announced that he had signed a document of intent with a partner in Japan to start laying the foundations for the new school.
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The new school in Japan will have capacity for 750 pupils as both day pupils and boarders, and is due to be built in the Tokyo area. An additional campus is being considered for Kansai, as well as an enrichment campus in Hokkaido.
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At an event in Tokyo, attended by Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko, Mr Green said the school would be a legacy project for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Rugby School in England was the birthplace of the sport.
He commended Japan for how it had hosted the World Cup tournament successfully after suffering the effects of a major typhoon.
“Rugby School Japan will be an authentic interpretation of Rugby School England, sharing Rugby’s aims and ethos, but within - and mindful of - the cultural context of Japan,” he said.
“Everything we do at Rugby School is about encouraging the children in our care to develop into whole people, into well-rounded adults.
“While Rugby School is unashamedly academic, we believe that to help children to grow with confidence in themselves and curiosity about life, they need to have as many opportunities as possible.
“Not just in the classroom but in music and drama and sport; in community activities and charitable projects; in exploration and in reflection. So I am very proud that our partners in Japan have chosen the Rugby School model for this new English-speaking school in Japan.”
Last year, Tes reported that a record number of independent schools were set to open overseas following soaring demand from Chinese parents.
