PHNOM PENH: Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh celebrated the start of construction of its main campus in Jovan City, located to the north of Phnom Penh, on 9 December 2022.
According to a press release issued by Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh on Tuesday, 20 November, the ground-breaking ceremony was something special, as “schools are more than just physical constructions of bricks and stone; they are living communities that develop their own traditions, values, spirit and culture.”
Numerous dignitaries, “dragons,” and diggers gathered for the ground-breaking ceremony of the new campus, marking a new milestone of the construction project. This includes the agreements and partnerships forged between the Jovan Group, Shrewsbury School in the UK, investors, business leaders, and the creative architecture firm FUTURE.
There was excitement in the air as the concept design for the school was unveiled, revealing plans for superb facilities such as a Performing Arts Centre and a range of studios for dance, drama, and theater. The specialist teaching spaces revealed for the sciences, design and technology, and computing were equally impressive. Everyone present could feel the future of the school and the community being brought to life.
“We are very excited to be breaking ground on this new school, which is set to transform the surrounding community,” said Toby Waterson, the Founding Principal of the new school. “We look forward to seeing the main campus open in 2024, providing outstanding educational opportunities to pupils in the country.”
Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh has stated that it will bring a level of life and energy never seen before in schools in Cambodia. The school assures that its facilities and campus architecture will be exceptional, the British curriculum robust, and the international faculty experienced and well-qualified. Boarding will also be available with world-class facilities, and the school’s influence will spill out to the nearby Jovan City community, enriching it with life beyond the school day.
It is no surprise that the Shrewsbury School in the UK wished to incorporate boarding into the new school in Phnom Penh. For centuries, boarding students at Shrewsbury UK have gained many invaluable skills, such as in leadership and independence, and formed life-long relationships. The concept design for the new school was directly inspired by the 'DNA' of the British school, with the addition of a clock tower on top of its central library to signify the bond between the two institutions.
The Asian Games Stadium, Garden Centre Water Park and nearby safari have already been established near the school grounds, providing a glimpse of what life will be like in this new part of Phnom Penh. At the centre of it all will be the school, striving to provide the best education in the country. It is the school's ambition to make a positive difference not only for its students, but also for the community and nation as a whole. The school aspires to become the ‘heartbeat’ of the new community that will spring up around it.
Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh will open its main campus in September 2024, welcoming Early Years and Primary Year groups (ages 2 to 11). The Early Years campus, located at Phnom Penh City Centre, is already open for children aged 2 to 5.
