History of Sedbergh School in 50 Objects #45: Sedbergh Fuzhou
Over a decade ago, Sedbergh School began exploring overseas representation. As rising costs challenged UK independent schools, many – including Brighton, Wellington, and Dulwich Colleges – opened international branches to generate revenue for their home campuses. With a shrinking domestic boarding market and running costs increasing due to wage and energy cost rises amongst other things, international partnerships became essential to sustaining growth and investment.
Through Richard Witt, Director of the Sedbergh School Foundation, Sedbergh was introduced to Mr. Teddy Djuhar, Chairman of the Rong Qiao Group. Mr. Djuhar and his son, Jared, visited Sedbergh in March 2017. It was a phenomenal first visit. Mr Djuhar was delighted by the location and scenery, and deeply impressed by the behaviour of the pupils. By happy coincidence, an opportunity arose for Mr Djuhar, a keen marksman, to take part in a shooting session in the school range. The delegation returned to China very impressed and keen to move forward with the arrangement. In August 2017 the foundation stone for the new School was laid and the rapid building process began. On 25 November 2017 Sedbergh’s new subsidiary, Sedbergh School International Limited, signed a legal contract with the Rong Qiao Group to support the development and operation of Rong Qiao Sedbergh School (RQSS) in Fuzhou, China.
Founded in 1989, the Rong Qiao Group operates across multiple industries and has been active in education since 1997. The new school in Fuzhou was built from the ground up, featuring extensive academic, sporting, and cultural facilities, including a Chinese Cultural Centre opened in 2020. An essential component of the relationship between the two Schools was to be the access that Rong Qiao would have to key Sedbergh School staff to provide insight into the culture, ethos and heritage of the School. In addition to visits by the Chairman of the Governors, Headmaster and Bursar, members of the Common Room Michele Emptage and John Sykes, visited Fuzhou to support the emerging School. The School emulated Sedbergh’s House structure with Houses named after trees including Willow, Magnolia and Banyan – the tree Fuzhou is associated with. Other key traditions of Sedbergh that have been reimagined at RQSS are a House Unison competition, a local version of the Wilson Run known as the Wilson Challenge and House sports competitions including football, basketball, tennis and badminton.
RQSS welcomed its first pupils in September 2018 and has since earned accreditation from the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), one of only two bilingual schools in China to do so.
Although growth was slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the school flourished. A planned second campus in Chongqing was cancelled due to government restrictions, and in 2022, the school was renamed Sedbergh School, Fuzhou in compliance with new national regulations. Despite these changes, ties with Sedbergh in Cumbria remain strong, with regular visits between pupils, staff, and alumni enriching both communities.
International expansion continues. In 2023, Sedbergh partnered with EQuest in Vietnam to establish Sedbergh Vietnam School in Ho Chi Minh City, which opened in September 2024 with another campus to follow. Both schools have embraced Sedbergh’s culture—Fuzhou hosts its own Wilson Challenge, while Sedbergh Vietnam has created art projects inspired by Sedbergh’s heritage.
During Sedbergh’s 500th anniversary gala weekend Sedbergh hosted a delegation of special guests associated with both schools, including Sedbergh Vietnam Managing Director, Ms Jannie, Sedbergh Vietnam Academic Operations Manager Ms Hong, and philanthropist Jared Djuhar from Sedbergh School, Fuzhou. The guests attended the gala dinner, had a private viewing of the historic exhibition, watched the theatrical performances and had a full emersion to Sedbergh for the weekend. Pupils from both partner schools regularly visit Sedbergh for summer and bespoke programmes, while overseas alumni studying in the UK maintain close links with their alma mater.
Today, over 1,300 pupils attend Sedbergh Vietnam and 700 attend Sedbergh Fuzhou. Looking ahead, Sedbergh continues to seek new partnerships and expand its educational group. Earlier this year, the Governors approved a strategic plan to develop new collaborations with nurseries, prep, and senior schools in the UK and abroad. To lead this next chapter, Headmaster Mr. Harrison has been appointed Executive Head of the Sedbergh Schools Group, focusing on strategic development globally. A new Head of Sedbergh Senior School will be appointed to continue fostering the full-boarding experience at home.
As Sedbergh moves beyond its 500th year, it remains committed to sharing the values of a Sedbergh education with a growing international community.
