Strategic Partnership with Benenden School, Renowned British Boarding School founded in 1923, to Expand Development into Mainland China
CTF Education Group (“CTFEG”), a leading integrated education group based in Hong Kong, launched its pioneering “EduMaker” ethos and a visionary roadmap for education-related development in Mainland China.
“At CTF Education Group, we are EduMakers, who are committed to innovation, advancement, collaboration and making a positive education impact. Our vision is to build a unique synergistic education ecosystem that brings together different stakeholders and a myriad of resources to achieve greater synergy, efficiency and opportunities to drive K-12 schools and education forward with sustainable impact. Our goal is to empower the next generation to become future ready. The Group will invest over HK$3 billion for the next few years in upcoming education projects in Hong Kong and Mainland China”, said Dr. Adrian Cheng, Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of CTF Education Group.
Since late 2017, the Group has been steadily bringing together different stakeholders and a myriad of resources to advance K-12 education development. The Group’s initiated, for example, Victoria Educational Organisation’s (“VEO”) participation in a pioneering research initiative with Project Zero at Harvard Graduate School of Education (“HGSE”) to understand how maker-centered learning can provide a framework for young children to develop skills and knowledge within and beyond the STEAM disciplines. In 2019, the Group also organised the “Education Leaders Luncheon and Maker-Centered Learning Exhibition” for over 100 international and local education leaders to exchange world-class research and education-related insights, and to encourage collaboration and education development.
With the Group’s support, VEO has further strengthened the school’s leadership team and kindergarten curriculum, particularly during COVID-19 with blended learning. VEO reinvented traditional events including Graduation Ceremony and Sports Day for an innovative live streamed interactive online/on-site format, these special events drew a combined record of 8,500 online participants and overwhelmingly positive feedbacks from parents, staff and other members of the VEO community. The Group will continue to invest in technology innovation for learning and school activities, and collaborate with international organisations to further uplift VEO’s leading position in early childhood education.
In addition to the school management of VEO (Victoria Kindergartens and Victoria Playparks) and DSC International School (“DSC”), CTF Education Group has a strong network of partners including Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong and many of the world’s top academies and universities. The Group also provides comprehensive services and support for CTFEG education ecosystem, including academic and curriculum development, talent academy, advisory services, technology consultancy, institutional and corporate partnerships as well as investments.
Mrs. Jennifer Yu Cheng, Group President and Deputy Vice Chairwoman said, “We have been building a solid foundation to support rapid and diversified growth to extend our unique education ecosystem and footprint into Mainland China. We are delighted to announce CTF Education Group’s strategic partnership with Benenden School, a renowned British boarding school founded in 1923, to bring one of the best schools in the world to Mainland China. The partnership anchors our first step in our group’s expansion and sets the tone for our goal to deliver one of the best K-12 bilingual schools in Mainland China. Our first school of the series is expected to be unveiled in late 2023 in the Greater Bay Area”.
Benenden’s innovative mindset and integrated approach through its Complete Education are widely recognised. The School is known to be popular amongst royals with prominent alumni including Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Basma of Jordan and Princess Benedikte of Denmark, to name a few.
The Hon Mrs Anna Birkett, Chairman of Governing Council at Benenden, said, “As one of the leading independent schools in the UK, Benenden is committed to significantly widening access and the opportunities available for future generations to benefit from our educational offering. We are very excited to be working with CTFEG, who are vastly experienced and whose vision for educating young people matches our own. We are very clear that these new schools will not just have Benenden’s name over the door, we are working very closely with our partners at CTFEG to ensure that these new schools reflect Benenden’s educational ethos and feel wherever possible”.