As Vietnamese parents gradually look beyond academic results and pay more attention to students’ broader development, the British boarding school model offers another approach: one that combines academics with arts, sports, independence and community, while allowing students to remain closer to home.
In this episode of Vietnam Innovators, host Hao Tran speaks with Tony Ngo - Board Member of Uppingham School Hung Yen and Chairman and Co-founder of Everest Education - and Kirsty Lowery, Headmistress of Uppingham School Hung Yen. They discuss Uppingham’s move into Vietnam, its approach to pastoral care, and how the school is thinking about education in a changing world.
Why Vietnam?
Uppingham has more than 440 years of history in the UK, but has taken a cautious approach to international expansion. Before Vietnam, it had opened only one international school, in Egypt. For Tony and his partners, the process began with a trip to London in 2019. Seven years later, the partnership brought together Ecopark, Viet Capital Asset Management, alongside 20in20 Partners and Uppingham School (United Kingdom).
Tony describes the thinking behind the partnership with one word: stewardship. For a school with more than four centuries of history, a difficult financial year can be managed. A partnership that does not align with its values, however, could affect a reputation built over generations.
Located in Ecopark, Hung Yen, the campus provides the space needed for the school’s long-term development. As its boarding facilities will soon be introduced, Uppingham School Hung Yen hopes to welcome students not only from Hanoi, but also from other parts of Vietnam and, eventually, Southeast Asia.
Academic Results Are Only Part Of The Picture
Uppingham approaches education through three areas: Academics, Arts and Sports. Rather than seeing them as separate priorities, the school considers all three part of a student’s development.
Kirsty Lowery, who has more than 30 years of experience in education across the UK and Asia, notes that strong academic results remain important. But for students applying to selective universities, grades alone may not be enough to distinguish one applicant from another.
Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge receive applications from many students with strong academic records. Kirsty believes qualities such as leadership, service, independence and resilience can therefore become important parts of a student’s profile.
Tony sees this approach as particularly relevant as AI becomes more common in education and work.
You actually have to be more human than ever before.
Students will still need strong academic and STEM foundations. At the same time, they will need to communicate clearly, work with others, manage disagreements and express their ideas. At Uppingham School Hung Yen, skills such as public speaking, debating and presenting are intended to form part of everyday school life rather than sit only within extracurricular clubs. From an early age, students may take part in assemblies, performances and debates, or learn to lead and communicate through team sports.
A School Where Making Mistakes Is Part Of Learning
One of the ideas discussed throughout the conversation is pastoral care - an approach that focuses on understanding and supporting students as individuals. For Kirsty, this means teachers getting to know not only how a student performs academically, but also their personality, interests, family and any difficulties they may be experiencing.
It also means creating an environment where students feel comfortable trying something even when they are unsure of the answer. Children can sometimes avoid speaking up because they are worried about being wrong or being judged by their classmates.
This approach also shapes Uppingham’s future boarding model. Kirsty describes boarding as a “home from home”. Students do not simply attend classes and return to a boarding room at the end of the day. They eat together, study together, take part in activities and spend time with teachers and house staff outside the classroom.
The school’s House System is designed around a similar idea. Uppingham School Hung Yen plans to begin with four Houses, bringing together students and staff across different age groups. Activities such as sports, music, drama and service give students opportunities to work with people outside their immediate class or year group.
Older students can support younger ones, while also taking on more responsibility and leadership. For students who may later study overseas, these experiences can also help them gradually develop the independence needed to manage life away from home.
Uppingham also has a historical connection with football. An early book called the Simplest Games on the rules of football was written at the school by the brother of Edward Thring, an influential former Headmaster of Uppingham. Uppingham School Hung Yen is also considering future connections with football clubs in the UK.
Investing In Teachers And Growing Towards 2031
To support its approach to Academics, Arts and Sports, Uppingham School Hung Yen is recruiting specialist teachers from its first year. Instead of asking classroom teachers to cover specialist areas, the school has chosen to bring in educators with specific expertise, including a Head of Creative Arts.
Majority of our international teachers are British with more than 80% have experience connected to British education, whether through teaching the British curriculum, working at British international schools or training in the UK. The campus has been developed with the same approach.
Facilities discussed in the podcast include a FIFA-size football pitch, science facilities and a Performing Arts Centre with an orchestra pit beneath the stage. According to Kirsty, specialist teachers have also been involved in reviewing these spaces so they are practical for everyday teaching and activities, rather than being designed only for appearance.
The school is also taking a gradual approach to growth. In its first year, Uppingham School Hung Yen will open its Junior School, from Foundation Stage to Year 6, with one class in each year group.
The smaller intake is intentional. Kirsty explains that the first stage is about establishing the school’s culture and community before increasing student numbers. Secondary School will then be introduced gradually, followed by GCSEs and A-Levels. By 2031, the plan is for Uppingham School Hung Yen to offer all year groups from Foundation Stage to Year 13, with its boarding system developing alongside the academic programme.
Tony describes the process as a series of small decisions that will shape the school over time. For the team, this means putting the right teachers, facilities and systems in place before expanding further.
Preparing Students For A Changing World
Towards the end of the conversation, Kirsty is asked what topic she would like to learn more about from a future guest on the podcast. Her answer is AI.
As an educator, her concern is how schools can help students use AI appropriately while also protecting them from misinformation, scams and other online risks.
Students growing up today may become comfortable with AI much earlier than the adults teaching them. For Kirsty, this makes it important for schools to understand the technology while helping students learn how to use it safely and responsibly.
Tony, meanwhile, is interested in Vietnamese entrepreneurs building businesses around sustainability and ESG, particularly examples where responsible practices are integrated into how a company operates rather than treated as a separate initiative.
Technology will continue to change how students learn and perhaps the kinds of jobs they will have in the future. But throughout the conversation, Tony and Kirsty return to a relatively simple set of qualities: independence, resilience, communication and a sense of belonging.
These ideas have been part of Uppingham’s approach to education for generations. The context may be changing, but the school believes they remain relevant to how young people prepare for what comes next.