Highgate School is delighted to announce its partnership with Siam Motors Group (SMG) and the Phornprapha family to establish Highgate’s first international campus, in Thailand.
Located near the scenic landscapes of Siam Country Club in Chonburi province, the new school will provide a first-rate academic yet holistic education within world-class facilities. Construction of the site is underway and will be ready to welcome the inaugural cohort of pupils in August 2026.
Highgate International School, Thailand will be co-educational, with plans to accommodate up to 1,400 day and boarding pupils aged 2-18 years. Mirroring Highgate’s three-school format, the international school in Thailand will open initially as a Pre-Prep and Junior School, with the Senior School opening the following year. Pupils will follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE and A levels.
The school campus has been designed to provide facilities that enhance the pupil experience and foster community. The resources will support a comprehensive curriculum that promotes both academic and co-curricular development, 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.
Highgate’s long history of academic excellence, which dates to the school’s foundation in 1565, goes hand in hand with its commitment to pastoral care and personal development, enabling each child to flourish and fulfil their potential.
Siam Motors Group (SMG) is Thailand’s leading automotive powerhouse which has long been at the forefront of the country’s automotive engineering industry. Inspired by Founder Dr Thaworn Phornprapha’s vision to leverage the power of education to shape future generations, SMG welcomes this opportunity to build upon its contribution to Thailand’s social and educational development.
The blend of Highgate’s nearly 460 years of educational expertise with cutting-edge facilities and a forward-thinking curriculum, offers a partnership to cultivate lifelong learners who are intellectually curious, emotionally resilient, and prepared to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Adam Pettitt, the Head of Highgate School, said: “We look back with pride to our foundation in 1565 under the first Queen Elizabeth and are proud and 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, SMG President 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.”
A Highgate Thailand website will be launching soon
