Brighton independent school signs giant deal with Arab emirate (From The Argus)

Brighton independent school signs giant deal with Arab emirate

9:00am Wednesday 18th March 2009 in

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Brighton College has become one of the wealthiest schools in Britain overnight after striking a multi-million pound deal with the oil-rich Abu Dhabi royal family.

Twelve new branches of the school will be opened across Eastern Europe and Asia as part of a £7.1 billion development project set up with the Arab Emirate.

The college will give its name to, and manage, schools which will be built as part of wider residential and commercial developments.

It was chosen ahead of several rival independent schools bidding to be part of the project.

The college will appoint the senior staff and install its educational and pastoral culture to each of the schools, which will be English speaking but aimed at both locals and British ex-pats.

The first two schools will be built in Abu Dhabi itself. They will be followed by further branches in Mauritius, Oman, Jordan, Romania, Vietnam and India.

There are expected to be opportunities for staff and pupils from the different Brighton Colleges to take part in exchanges between schools.

The deal will result in a significant cash boost for the main college in Brighton.

The exact figures have been kept private at this stage but they will provide funds which will enable the college to maximise its capacity on the Eastern Road campus through redevelopment and revamping of its buildings.

The college said the money would also increase the funds available for bursaries - meaning more local children will be able to get places at a discounted rate.

Brighton College's headmaster Richard Cairns and chairman of governors Lord Skidelsky will officially unveil the deal at a press conference in the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, on Monday, March 23.

Several high profile British public schools have established outposts in emerging wealthy countries in the world, where they have high reputations, but the college's deal is the biggest so far by a significant margin.

Mr Cairns said today: "We were determined to get involved in a country with sound fundamentals, providing us with a strong platform for international expansion.

"We have never been interested in just one school because we felt that a single satellite school would generate insufficient income for Brighton College to justify the additional focus and time that such a venture requires.

"That is why I am so delighted with this multi-site, multi-national deal. It has allowed us to set up our own company with its own directors and staff so that we can manage the relationship professionally and effectively without detracting in any way from the work at hand in Brighton College UK.”