Expanding Horizons: Strengthening Wycombe Abbey’s Global Connections
11 June 2025 - All
Our vision is to be at the forefront of girls’ boarding education and to be recognised globally as a world class school. Over the past five years, we have spent time in some of the best schools across the world. In September, we welcome Claire Leong to the new role of Director of Global Links. She will drive forward a programme that will open our girls’ minds and eyes to the increasingly globally connected world they will join after Wycombe Abbey. Part of Claire’s remit will be to explore global collaborations that our pupils and staff can benefit from, building on the current partnerships we have with schools in the US and Australia.
With this in mind, I have had the privilege of spending time overseas recently, visiting leading boarding schools in India and our own family of international schools in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Following a visit from the Principal of Mussoorie International School (MIS), during the Easter break, I travelled to Uttarakhand province to see for myself what makes the school so distinctive and transformative for the girls who are fortunate enough to call it their home. I was welcomed to MIS for two days, where I was invited to teach pupils, learn from them and their inspiring teachers, take part in traditional cultural celebrations and understand how they educate their girls in the importance of ‘service to others before self’, an ethos that runs through every activity and every member of the school’s community. From there, I travelled to Dehradun to spend time at Welham Girls’ School, an all girls’ boarding school founded in 1957 by Miss Oliphant, an English lady from Nottinghamshire. Her mission reminded me of that of our founder Dame Frances Dove and the vision she had for Wycombe Abbey. I couldn’t help but think we had come across our sister school in India! My trip finished with a visit to The Doon School, arguably the leading boarding school in India, albeit one for boys. Despite this obvious difference, I was struck by how much we had in common and was excited to learn that the school is home to around 20 girls who have access to the same opportunities as the boys.
Across four days, I was blessed to meet inspirational teachers and pupils. We discussed everything from the joys and challenges of living with and educating children, to staff professional development, school leadership and of course, teaching and learning. The pupils I met were polite, articulate, fiercely independent, but above all, kind and committed to living lives of service. MIS, Welham Girls School and The Doon are enthusiastic to explore ways in which we can collaborate for the benefit of all our pupils and staff. I look forward to sharing further news with you as this project develops in the months ahead.
Just four weeks after returning from India, I travelled to our international schools in Hong Kong and mainland China, accompanied by Mrs Fawkes (Deputy Head, Pastoral) and Mrs Wood (Deputy Head of Upper School). Our 12-night visit saw us spend two days in each of our schools in Hong Kong, Changzhou, Nanjing and Hangzhou. This trip was especially valuable as we seek to strengthen the relationships we have with our sister schools in Asia, identifying ways in which we can collaborate more meaningfully and deeply. Once again, I was struck more by the similarities than differences between our schools. During our time in Asia, we were also fortunate to connect with some families of our international boarders. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who travelled to join us at the events in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Our visit to China coincided with five pupils from LVI spending one week in Wycombe Abbey School Hangzhou on an independently organised cultural immersion and work experience tour. This proved a useful trial for similar visits that we hope to offer more Wycombe Abbey pupils soon. We will share more details about these exciting visits with your daughter in September, when I shall also introduce them to our new Director of Global Links, Mrs Leong.
The path ahead looks very exciting! I am looking forward to building on our existing partnerships with schools in the US and Australia, and offering opportunities for your daughters to collaborate with leading schools in India, Hong Kong and China.
Nick Woods
Deputy Head (Strategy and Operations)
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