EPSOM College Malaysia - The Best British Education in Malaysia

EPSOM College Malaysia brought in to Bandar Enstek, Selangor Malaysia by Tony Fernandes.

What does it take to be the best education provider?
What gives one the right to claim to be the best?
Is EPSOM College Malaysia about elitism and exclusivity or something else all together or just another option of private education amidst the uncertain role and education quality offered by Malaysian Public Education?
These were the questions I had prior to attending EPSOM's warm and welcoming Parent's Info Day on last Tuesday, 18th Feb 2014 (7-9pm) in KLGCC. It was a fruitful experience and indeed a warm presentation by 3 speakers:

1. Martin George, Headmaster of EPSOM College, Malaysia - the leadership, vision & mission.
2. Mike Oliver, Head of Senior School - the infrastructures and facilities.
3. Jane Smith, Head of Prep School - the profiles of the 22 out of 30 planned academic staffing.

Martin George, Headmaster of EPSOM College Malaysia addressing parents in KLGCC on 18th Feb 2014.

History of EPSOM College
- 155 year-old brand from UK, founded by a Medical Practitioner who wanted to offer the best free education to the off-springs of deceased healers/ doctors of that generation.

In the 1840s, doctors were in the front line of change. The population of the United Kingdom had almost doubled between 1801 and 1841, but towns had grown so fast that demand for medicine often outstripped supply. There was a genuine need to provide preliminary education for youth destined for the medical or other professions - often an impossibility at ordinary schools without incurring an amount of expense beyond the means of many parents.Founded in 1855 with Royal patronage granted by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the founder of Epsom College, Dr John Propert, raised funds to build a foundation to help orphans and widows of members of the medical profession. The Royal Medical Benevolent College opened its doors in that year, at first providing for fewer than 100 boys... - EPSOM College

- Caters for 3 - 18 year old students, not Tertiary level.
- Sports and Music Scholarships open for applications.

Leadership, Vision and Mission
- Ambitious leadership to be the Best British Education in Malaysia and aims to be the Best Education Provider in SEA. And also in the planning to eventually be an advisor to its London counterpart in 5 years' time from inception (Sept. 2014 first Enrollment).
- Leadership ethos of delegating leadership throughout the whole institution rather than having all people looking back at the top.
- Values & Ethos: Education that parents entrust to develop their children into really good human being.
- 3 Main Values above all: Good-manners, Selflessness, Hardwork.
- Students are expected to aspire to contribute.
- Determine to find the spark in the raging inferno of every individual student despite all the differences.
- Absolute care: Care between the students  through house system, support and shared aspirations.

Infrastructure & Facilities
- NOT a 15-acre school in Kuala Lumpur aimed at maximizing its profits, BUT a 50-acre boarding school outside of KL in Bandar Enstek.
- Broad environment comprising the academics, sports & the arts.
- Cluster ICT Suites, not in rows, better than that of National Science University in Malaysia.
- Maximum class size: 24 for Senior School, 16 for Prep School.
- Overall Teacher: Pupil ratio - 1:5.
- RM1 milllion spent on books and resources for Library, managed by an expatriate teacher/ librarian with 20 years of library management experience.
- Thinking Board & Latest International Publications in Library.
- Challenging but rewarding Boarding Houses.
- Sports/ Music Arts and Design - complete with lighting and sound effect practice room for students.
- AutoCAD Design (MAC) facilities.
- Dining Hall instead of canteen.
- Pastoral Care.

Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional and spiritual support that can be found in many cultures and traditions. It has been described in our modern context as individual and corporate patience in which trained pastoral carers support people in their pain, loss and anxiety, and their triumphs, joys and victories. - Pastoral Care.

Academic Staffing
- Careful long-listing and short-listing of academic staffing with 500 applications for only 29 vacancies.
- Applicants from around the world.
- Selection criteria: Strict academic excellence and qualifications + other different talents/ hobbies/ outdoor sports engagements to help advise talented & gifted students on hobbies and co-curriculum.

Some snapshots of EPSOM Malaysia's academic staffs hired and plans ahead:

 

For other Private Education Provider Options, please see:
R.E.A.L. School Cahaya Shah Alam, R.E.A.L. School Suria Cheras, R.E.A.L. School Cahaya Johor Bahru.
R.E.A.L. Kids

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Teach for A Cause

>>> Are you someone who enjoy or take pride in helping others develop themselves better into the authentically best they could be?

>>> Deep down, do you care to teach and mentor juniors eager to learn from you?

If your answers to the above are solid YES'es, I would like to divert your attention to below 11 Education related organizations or societies (within Malaysia) I personally find worthy of your services.

1. Teach for Malaysia

- 2-year structured teaching program for high-need schools in Malaysia by enlisting only non-teacher grads who have secured or worked for high profile MNCs. It offers the Teacher Associates an opportunity to leave a legacy or impact students through their short term teaching career.

2. Dignity for Children

- Empower community to break the poverty cycle by quality holistic education from age 1-18.

3. SOLS 24/7 (Science of Life Studies)

- Youth development centers with teacher volunteers at centers 24/7 to guide youths on critical subjects such as English, maths and sciences. Non-profit, non-religious, non-political, non-governmental science of life studies.

4. Cosmotots iqd.

- Preparing kids for successful university career by early exposure to English literature and training of thinking faculty via sophisticated writing skills. Their teaching methodology is strictly through directed-questions aimed at the kids to draw out what they know rather than feeding them the knowledge.

5. Wynkids

- Supplementary holistic education program aimed at 7-18 year old's to raise high achievers via programs on communications and interpersonal skills, confidence building, ability to focus, discipline and sustain interest in studies, strong character development (moral and ethics), desire to learn, high EQ, creativity, perseverance and persistence, and courage to fail and make mistakes.

6. R.E.A.L. 

- Private integrated education service provider for age 6 months old up to Diploma via multiple intelligence learning and 49 character first traits as foundation of lifelong success.

7. Money Tree

- Financial literacy programs for kids all the way up to college youths via CashVille Kidz, Formative Internet Retail Store Training (FIRST) Steps, Financial Literacy Programs (FLiP), Young Entrepreneur Startup (YES), MoneyTree Idea eXchange (MIX) for business idea pitching.

8. Discovery House

- Fostering positive learning experiences during formative years of childhood starting 1.5 years up to 6.5 via exposure to languages, maths, practical life, creative arts, science, history, technology, geography, literature, music, gymnastics, dance studio, playground, child-friendly snack & lunch area, sand pit, water play area, children's personal cubby cabinets, reading corner.

9. MySkills

- Promoting skills training to youths-at-risks via transformational activities.

10. Endeavor

- The best anti-poverty program of all. The only non-profit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs around the world. Their mentor-capitalist model breaks down economic and cultural barriers to entrepreneurship through advising from their network of world-class business leaders. 850+ Endeavor Entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. created 225,000+ high-value jobs and generated $6 billion in 2012.

11. StART

- Charitable fine art academy giving free art lessons from reputable art teachers to 300 students from 14 shelter homes under UOB, SO+CO and Tang's Art with StART Society, where students are treated as their little teachers with pure and honest thinking reflected in their inspiring paintings and drawings. Life doesn't have to be perfect.