Written by Robert B Pick, Master of Marlborough College Malaysia

In this, my 35th year of association with Marlborough as a beak, Housemaster, Second Master, and now founding Master of Marlborough College Malaysia, I have experienced and been personally enriched by the challenges of the new school and remain proud to be part of Marlborough and all that it represents.

Living in Malaysia has challenged and altered my views and perceptions in a significant way. Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region have offered wonderful experiences and a diversity of perspective which have been enriching, both professionally and personally. It has proved to be an enhancement of my own education and a tremendous joy to ensure the ethos, culture, and atmosphere of Marlborough was inculcated in the new school.

It has been fascinating to see how the College has developed, bringing the traditions and quality of a British boarding school to a diverse international community in the vibrant setting of Southeast Asia. Three years after opening, I am pleased with the direction the College is moving in and, whilst a lot remains to be done, much has already been achieved. Our Common Room and pupils alike have had an enriching experience, drawing on the heritage ofMarlborough in England and adding to that in our tropical setting.

With around 200 boarding pupils, in addition to in excess of 500 day pupils, we have been delighted to welcome 36 different nationalities to the College, representing many of the Asian countries as well as expatriates from England, Europe, Australia and America. We opened a fifth boarding house at the start of this academic year and this is already close to capacity. Enthusiasm for boarding in the region has increased and, as a College, we believe that young people should have the opportunity to experience boarding prior to going up to university. Boarding provides the life skills necessary to survive and thrive beyond school.

We have a team of caring, trained professional Housemasters and Housemistresses, all of whom have an association with Marlborough in the UK, who give willingly of their time and expertise to increase the prospects of those in their care. Each House has up to six adults living on the premises and all beaks are assigned to a House to act as visiting tutors on at least one night each week. Boarding begins from Year 5 in our two junior Houses with graduation to a senior House at the completion of Year 8.

Boarders have the opportunity to utilise the College’s excellent facilities and gain maximum benefit from them. After school options, talks, debates, sports, art, music, outdoor activities and charity work are all on offer and these are complemented by a full and varied weekend programme.

Academically, it has been a most encouraging start for Marlborough. Many expatriates return to the UK when their eldest child reaches senior school age and, with our tailor-made Preparatory School curriculum, which incorporates the requirements of Common Entrance, we have achieved many impressive successes at UK senior schools as well as preparing pupils in a rigorous manner for our own Senior School.

IGSCE examinations yielded an impressive 61% A*-A grades which, from a non-selective entry in 2012 and further pupils joining in 2013, sets a good benchmark for the years ahead. Two pupils achieved 9A* grades and another scored the top mark in Malaysia in first language Chinese, which was a noteworthy achievement.

In the Sixth Form, we offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to facilitate a broadminded and enriching preparation for the wide range of universities for which our pupils are preparing, under the watchful eye of our specialist university guidance team. With the recent investment in the Sixth Form Centre, The Marlburian, we are excited by the potential to offer our pupils the very best education as they head on to the next stages of their lives.

However, education is about much more than just maximizing academic potential. The development of the whole person is equally important and Marlborough prides itself on a wide ranging cocurricular programme and excellent pastoral care for both boarders and day pupils.

Marlborough has, since 1843, been committed to both innovation and tradition and I am looking forward to continued development. Our mission is to become a beacon of educational excellence in Southeast Asia and we are ready to embark on the next part of the journey.

To learn more, please visit www.marlboroughcollege.my.

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Source: The Expat Magazine January 2015