What sets one of the world’s top-ranked schools apart as it expands to Vietnam

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and career paths, many parents are looking for schools that can deliver strong academic outcomes while helping students develop resilience, adaptability, and character.

For nearly 200 years, the school has pursued a model that combines academic achievement with broader personal development.

The school is now preparing to bring that approach to Vietnam through King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, scheduled to open in August 2027 at Global City in partnership with Millennia Education, serving students aged two to 18.

The school is known for its academic results, which consistently exceed U.K. national averages. According to the school, around 98% of pupils achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE/IGCSE level, compared with a national average of about 20-25%. At A-level, approximately half of all grades awarded are A*, while about a quarter of graduates secure places at Oxford, Cambridge, or Ivy League universities. Overall, 97% of students progress to leading universities worldwide.

The school is regularly included in rankings such as The Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 and the HSBC Hurun Global High Schools Ranking, which assess factors including academic performance, teaching quality, student support, and co-curricular opportunities.

“We have always believed that academic achievement is a central pillar of education. However, we also recognize that in a world changing at unprecedented speed, academic success alone is not enough. Young people need more if they are truly to flourish in the future,” said Anne Cotton, Head of King’s College School Wimbledon.

Dr. Anne Cotton, Head of King’s College School Wimbledon. Photo coutest of the school

The school’s educational approach is built around three pillars: mind, spirit, and heart.

According to the school, mind focuses on intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong interest in learning; spirit emphasizes kindness, emotional intelligence, and resilience; while heart aims to develop confidence, leadership, and character through activities including sports, music, drama, and community engagement.

School leaders say the objective is to prepare students not only for university admission but also for life beyond graduation.

Pastoral care is another key element of the school’s model. Students are assigned to house communities designed to foster a sense of belonging while providing academic and personal support.

Form tutors, house leaders, and wellbeing specialists monitor students’ academic, emotional, and social development. Counseling services, wellbeing programs, and community activities are also available.

Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to participate in debating, music, drama, sports, entrepreneurship, community service, and international exchange programs, with the aim of developing communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

“King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City will be built upon the same values and standards of excellence,” Cotton said.

King’s College School Wimbledon’s campus in the U.K. Photo courtesy of the school

The U.K. school will remain involved in curriculum development, quality assurance, academic monitoring, and regular evaluations.

Representatives from Wimbledon will also participate in governance and academic leadership at the Ho Chi Minh City campus.

Teachers at the HCMC campus will be recruited and trained according to standards established by the U.K. school. Subject leaders from Wimbledon are expected to work closely with the local academic team to help ensure consistency across the network.

Dr. Anne Cotton (L), Head of King’s College School Wimbledon, and Kieran McLaughlin (R), Founding Head of School of its HCMC campus. Photo courtesy of the school

The HCMC campus will join a wider network of King’s schools across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Students will have opportunities to participate in exchange programs, collaborative projects, and cross-campus initiatives with peers at other campuses.

Kieran McLaughlin, founding head of the HCMC campus, said: “We aim to deliver the highest quality education to families in Ho Chi Minh City, with the ambition of establishing the school as one of the leading in the region.”

The school will follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE and A-level qualifications. Designed by Broadway Malyan, the nearly two-hectare campus will include a 500-seat auditorium, an indoor swimming pool, science laboratories, and flexible learning spaces for creative and collaborative activities.