Perhaps we have all watched the movie “Oppenheimer,” which has received 13 Oscar nominations. The genius behind this movie is the director, Christopher Nolan. Have you ever wondered where someone like Nolan studied?
Christopher Nolan, ex-UK prime minister Clement Attlee, Nobel Prize-winning author Rudyard Kipling, English cricketer Sam Billings, one of the founders of the Commonwealth Lionel Curtis and economist Thomas Robert Malthus studied in Haileybury UK.
The institution has set up a branch in Bangladesh named Haileybury Bhaluka, which is set to start its operations in August.
Haileybury Bhaluka is affiliated with Haileybury UK and boasts an 850-acre campus in the beautiful rural setting of Bhaluka, 75km north of Dhaka, in Mymensingh.
It is a premier international boarding school, which aims to provide boys aged between 11 and 18 years with an exceptional English educational experience.
About 61% of Haileybury students received an opportunity to study at Ivy League and Russell Group universities, such as Harvard, MIT, LSE, Oxford and Cambridge.
Haileybury Bhaluka’s founding headmaster, Simon O'Grady, said: “This is a school with a great history. We are shaped by our past. We are shaped by the 160 years of legacy. It is a quite phenomenal length. It is not a legacy of buildings or institutions or indeed educational accreditations. It is a story about people. This is a story about how that school has produced people who have influenced the world. World leaders, people like former UK prime minister Clement Attlee, arguably one of the most successful British prime ministers right to the present day. Christopher Nolan is an alumnus of the school.”
“We are bringing the best of international education to Bangladesh. All our teachers are going to be Harvard-certified. They will focus on skills, not knowledge, such as critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.”
O'Grady continued: “We are very pleased to be able to establish an outstanding school in Bangladesh. Ironically, we are very pleased to open the most outstanding school in the country, even before it has opened its gates. The campus itself has been described as astounding. We have specialized facilities throughout the campus. We have science labs and computer labs that are AI- and VR-equipped. We have specialized sports facilities. Of course, these facilities are overseen and supervised by international specialist teachers.”
Academic Director Dr Sandeep Ananthanarayana said: “When you go to Wikipedia and you type list of Haileybury alumni, you will see pages of influential people who are from Haileybury and each one of them has a separate Wikipedia page… that is the 160-year history of the school’s legacy. This is going to be the only school in Bangladesh where all the teachers are Harvard-certified.”
Christopher Nolan, ex-UK prime minister Clement Attlee, Nobel Prize-winning author Rudyard Kipling, English cricketer Sam Billings, one of the founders of the Commonwealth Lionel Curtis and economist Thomas Robert Malthus studied in Haileybury UK
"The infrastructure here is among Asia's finest, and we are committed to building the best students. The annual expenses for students, including tuition fees and other costs, amount to $34,500. At the same time, we are introducing a $15 million scholarship fund,” Ananthanarayana added.
“Admission to the school is based upon a cognitive aptitude test that every child must take. If a child excels in these cognitive aptitude tests, they can join Haileybury. Our focus is on merit. We seek meritorious students. Those who are highly meritorious and achieve good marks in the cognitive aptitude test are eligible for a scholarship."
He added: "It is challenging to take a test, but it is the pathway to securing a scholarship. We aim to determine if a child can not only gain admission but also excel beyond that. After passing the test, they receive a certain level of scholarship.”
The Haileybury Bhaluka academic director said: “I recall an event involving a Bangla-medium student. This child participated in a cognitive aptitude test, achieving the highest score nationwide. Later, he was awarded a full scholarship, covering his entire schooling from grade 6 to 10. This scholarship includes tuition, food and lodging at the school.”
He continued: “During a meeting, the child's parents were present. The father was overwhelmed with emotion and began to cry. Handling such situations is not my speciality, but I approached and sat beside him. He expressed his amazement at his son's achievement and how it would transform his son's life. He thanked me, and in response I expressed my gratitude for having students like his child who aim to be world-toppers.”
“I thanked him for choosing our school, acknowledging the significant decision it was. I thanked all the parents and stakeholders present, recognizing their high expectations. We are here to meet those expectations, and I deeply appreciate the journey each family has undertaken to be part of our community," Ananthanarayana said.
The establishment of Haileybury Bhaluka in Bangladesh represents a significant milestone in the country's educational landscape. It follows in the footsteps of Haileybury UK, which has a history of producing influential figures, and aims to achieve the same level of success in Bangladesh.
The introduction of the $15 million scholarship fund shows a commitment to accessibility and meritocracy, ensuring that talented students from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to benefit from this high-quality education.
Haileybury Bhaluka is set to make a big impact in Bangladesh by training future leaders and changemakers.
Kaniz Fatema is a Sub-Editor, Dhaka Tribune.
