Siam Motors Group (SMG) and the Phornprapha family are delighted to announce their partnership with Highgate School UK to establish their first international school in Thailand. Highgate International School Thailand will welcome its first students in August 2026, set in the beautiful surroundings near Siam Country Club, Chonburi. The school will offer a first-rate academic yet holistic education for students aged 2 to 18, starting with Pre-Prep and Junior School (ages 2 to 11), with plans to expand to Senior School and boarding facilities, ultimately accommodating up to 1,400 students. With world-class facilities, students will follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE and A Levels.
Highgate School, founded in 1565, is one of the UK's oldest and most prestigious schools, consistently ranking among the top Independent schools in the UK and featured in the top 10 list of independent schools for academic performance in London by the Sunday Times 2024. Through this collaboration, SMG is excited to bring Highgate's established educational values to Thailand, offering a learning experience grounded in excellence provided in a nurturing, forward-thinking environment.
Building on Highgate's nearly 460 years legacy of educational excellence, the Thailand campus will adhere to the core principles of ambitious education, personalised pastoral care, and a rich extracurricular program. The school aims to cultivate a lifelong love of learning, ensuring each student reaches their full potential in a supportive and inclusive environment.
To ensure the highest standards of teaching, Highgate International School Thailand will recruit a diverse and highly qualified staff, predominantly from the UK. Teachers will be carefully selected by the Highgate UK campus, ensuring they fully understand and adhere to Highgate's ethos and standards of excellence. This rigorous process guarantees that students receive instruction from educators who are not only experts in their fields but also committed to upholding the high standards of academic and pastoral care for which Highgate is renowned.
The Thailand campus will feature cutting-edge facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a FIFA-standard football pitch, a Golf Academy, a Library and Media Centre as well as purpose-built areas for STEM, Music and the Arts including a state-of-the-art auditorium. The campus has been designed to provide facilities
that will support a comprehensive curriculum that promotes both academic and co-curricular development delivering an exceptional student experience.
This partnership reflects SMG's commitment to advancing educational excellence and fostering well-rounded development of future generations. By introducing Highgate's prestigious educational heritage to Thailand, SMG aims to transform the region's academic landscape and create a lasting positive impact. This collaboration will provide students and families with an exceptional and enriching experience, setting a new standard for quality education in the region.
Adam Pettitt, the Head of Highgate School, said: "We look back with pride to our foundation in 1565 under the first Queen Elizabeth and we are honoured to be founding our very first international school in Thailand, a nation so rich with tradition and values and excitement about education. Highgate's striving after excellence for children and young people is rooted in the transformational power of partnership: creating new opportunities born of centuries of expertise in conjunction with the strength, dynamism and ambition of the Siam Motors Group is an enormous privilege."
Prakasit Phornprapha, President of Siam Motors Co., Ltd. commented: "Our partnership with Highgate School marks a significant milestone in Siam Motors Group's journey. We are proud to bring Highgate's rich heritage and educational excellence to Thailand, and we are committed to creating a school that exceeds the highest standards of academic and personal development for our students."
Tanyaporn Phornprapha Tangcravakoon, Chair of the School Board, added: "Highgate International School Thailand combines centuries of tradition with a modern educational approach. We are excited to bring Highgate's distinguished educational framework to Chonburi, with a focus on creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where students from Thailand and beyond can excel academically and personally. This project is not just about establishing a school; it's about shaping the future of education in the region."