King’s College School, Wimbledon brings nearly 200 years of educational excellence to a new school in Ho Chi Minh City

The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marked the opening of the School Gallery of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, witnessed by Mr Nguyen Manh Cuong - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; Mr Nguyen Van Hieu - Director of the Department of Education and Training of HCMC; Mr William Lawrenson - British Deputy Consul General in HCMC; Dr Anne Cotton - Head of King’s College School, Wimbledon; Dr Nguyen Huong Lien - Vice Chairwoman of Millennia Education and Vice Chairwoman of the Executive Board of King’s Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Kieran McLaughlin - Founding Head of School, King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Eric Van Den Berg - Chair of Governors, King's College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, and Mr Luke Rees - Managing Director, King's College School, Wimbledon International.

Mr Nguyễn Văn Hiếu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of HCMC, said the launch of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City carries particular significance. Beyond marking a new chapter in educational cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom, the event also reflects the city’s broader commitment to international integration, the enhancement of educational quality, and the diversification of its education models.

He noted that, in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has placed strong emphasis on international collaboration in education as an important pathway to improving the quality of human resources and supporting the city’s sustainable development. Educational cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom has continued to grow through joint training programmes, professional exchanges, and the introduction of advanced education models.

Mr William Lawrenson, British Deputy Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said at the press conference: “The launch of King’s in Vietnam reflects the growing partnership between the United Kingdom and Vietnam in education. It highlights the value of British education in Vietnam and a continued commitment to delivering the highest standards to the country.”

Founded by Royal Charter in 1829 as the junior department of the university King’s College London, King’s carries a heritage deeply rooted in British educational excellence. Widely recognised as one of the world’s leading schools, the school has been ranked among the global top five† and stands as one of the UK’s most successful independent schools. Academic outcomes are outstanding, with over 98% of GCSE and IGCSE grades at A*/A (9–7) and more than 96% of A Level results achieving A*/A/B or IB equivalent, including over half at A* or IB level 7. Each year, virtually all pupils progress to highly selective universities worldwide, with more than a quarter securing places at Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League institutions.

Dr Anne Cotton, Head of School, King’s College School, Wimbledon and Honorary Principal of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, shared her remarks at the official press conference announcing the launch of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City

Dr Anne Cotton, Head of King’s College School, Wimbledon and Honorary Principal of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City said: “I am delighted that King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City now enables us to offer a King’s education to young people in Vietnam. At King’s, we want our young people to have a brilliant educational experience, in Mind, Spirt and Heart, and the best possible preparation for their futures in the world beyond school. Rooted in tradition, our educational vision grounds academic excellence in curiosity and creativity, kindness and community. We encourage our young people to be outward looking and forward thinking, as we prepare them to forge their own path with character and purpose.

“As we launch King's College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, I am committed to working closely with the team here in Ho Chi Minh City to forge deep connections with our Wimbledon community, as we bring a true King’s education to Vietnam.”

The school in Ho Chi Minh City will be governed and quality assured directly by King’s College School, Wimbledon to ensure an authentic King’s education. This includes involvement in curriculum design, teacher recruitment and professional development, pastoral care, and enrichment initiatives.

Mr Kieran McLaughlin, Founding Head of School, King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City added: “I am honoured to be appointed as the Founding Head of King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, and to bring the ethos and educational philosophy of King’s to Vietnam. Our new school will bring the history and traditions of King’s College School, Wimbledon, together with world-class facilities to create a truly exceptional educational experience. At its heart, King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City will offer a challenging and stimulating curriculum leading to impressive outcomes, alongside an unrivalled Personal Enrichment Programme that equips pupils with the skills to be agile and flexible in an ever-changing world.”

King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City is located in The Global City, a world-class township with strong connectivity to key residential areas and international communities across Ho Chi Minh City. Spanning nearly two hectares, the campus is designed by the global design practice, Broadway Malyan, and will provide a learning environment built to the highest standards, with state of the art facilities supporting both academic and personal development. These include a 7-a-side football field, indoor sports halls, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool alongside a dedicated learner pool for kindergarten pupils, science laboratories, and a 500-seat theatre, as well as a range of outdoor learning spaces and specialist facilities for performing and creative arts.

King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City is set to open in August 2027, offering a full educational journey for boys and girls aged 2 to 18, from kindergarten through to secondary school. The School Gallery is now open, welcoming parents to learn more about King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, to explore the campus and its facilities, to engage with the academic team, and to discover the school’s educational approach.

Visit School Gallery at 179 Vo Nguyen Giap, An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

For further information about King’s College Wimbledon Ho Chi Minh City, please visit www.kingshcmc.edu.com

*Top 5 school in the world (HSBC Hurun Education Global High Schools 2025)

*Top co-educational day school in the United Kingdom (The Sunday Times Parent Power - 2026)

About King’s College School, Wimbledon

King’s College School, Wimbledon is one of the world’s leading schools. Founded by Royal Charter in 1829 as the junior department of the university King’s College London, it is renowned for offering a true education of mind, spirit, and heart, combining academic excellence with the development of the whole person and preparing pupils for the world beyond school and life at 25.

King’s educates around 1,500 pupils aged 7 to 18, delivering outstanding outcomes across GCSE, A level and the International Baccalaureate. It has a growing international family of partner schools, across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

https://www.kcs.org.uk/