Oppidan in Thailand
Oppidan is delighted to have launched in Thailand, starting two groundbreaking programmes with Rugby School, Thailand near Pattaya and Wellington College, Bangkok.
Three of our best mentors – Ali, Joe and Saul travelled to the country for a 10 day stay meeting nearly 100 students, in groups and 1:1.
Here’s what they said about the experience:
Joe
It was such an interesting trip. Bangkok was very busy with crazy traffic, but Pattaya was beautiful and very green.
Educational Reflection: I really found a need for the kind of character education we specialise in, and I found children who had a deep and emotional connection to their parents - more so than in the U.K. Thinking about the whole picture or ‘the whole child’ is supported by the schools and by parents. That said, some children are pushed in an academic direction that they aren’t comfortable with. We certainly need to do more to help celebrate their individuality!
Biggest challenge: The dodgy milk and sweetcorn rice ball I had in the market in Bangkok really didn't agree with me. That was the only downside to trying lots of street food!
Favourite meal: Pad Kra Pao
Favourite moment: Finishing a long hard day and knowing I could have a swim in the Rugby pool, bliss!
Ali
Challenge - I found it challenging talking to students about their goals – there is a real focus on the academic side rather than the personal fundamentals that sits beneath. Sounds like I’ve got a slightly different perspective than the others!
Cultural detail - there is so much noise even in the countryside, always buzzing and humming – that I find difficult. There was such a strong sense of over-stimulation – I was last there 7/8 years ago and there has been an incredible mushrooming of the buildings since I was last there.
Highlight - learning a new card game on long journeys: Estimation Whist.
Favourite dish - Greg from Rugby School, Thailand took us out for an amazing meal in Pong, that was a real highlight. We had amazing Thai cockles which tasted of the sea.
One word to describe Thailand? Cacophonous
Saul
Highlight - hysterically laughing in the car journey after a successful day of interviews, listening to “Radio Sassy Joe”.
Biggest challenge - trying to help every student make the most of their experience.
Educational reflection - There is a much greater range of students in terms of ability. The closure of some international schools in China has also led to an influx of Chinese students in Thailand.
Best cultural experience - REGGAE BAR, KOH SAN ROAD
Henry
Oppidan co-founder Henry Faber, who led the trip, meeting schools and families said the following:
I am delighted to have spent a whistle-stop 5 days in Bangkok. What an introduction to Thailand!
We started big new partnerships with Rugby School, Thailand and Wellington College International School Bangkok, Joseph Stanton, Alessandra McAllister, and Saul Blankstone have worked long days supporting 110x Y12 students across 6 days, with group mentor training and personalised 1:1 sessions for all of them.
A big thank you to Gregory Threlfall, Robert Groves, and Bruce Grindlay at Rugby, and to Jane Sharp, Scott Colton and Chris Nicholls, at Wellington. Thanks also to Robert Millar at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside and Andy Edmonds at Regent's International School Bangkok, for their time shared and enthusiasm for what we’re doing in the region.
Bangkok has an amazing density of high-quality international schools, and a base of hard-working, polite and ambitious students. Though grades and results are key ingredients of their success, I felt warmed by the interest in deepening a focus on character and having conversations that would stretch a student’s self-awareness, confidence, independence and ambition.
I feel certain that Oppidan Education will be back soon, and we’ll be working hard to prove our value in this specific context.
