has announced the appointment of Ben Keeling as its founding head of school, after it unveiled plans to open in August 2026.
Ben Keeling will join Highgate International School Thailand from Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong after eight years as principal. He brings almost 20 years of school leadership experience to the role. He has also held a deputy headship at The Kellett School, Hong Kong and an assistant headship at The British School Jakarta, among other roles.
For its first international campus, Highgate is partnering with and the to establish the school near the Siam Country Club east of Pattaya City in Chonburi province, South of Bangkok.
The Highgate campus will join other big names in Thailand, including and .
Mr Keeling, who has a degree in graphic design from Arts University Bournemouth, said of his appointment: “I am enormously excited about the prospect of leading the foundation of Highgate International School Thailand. The strength of our host school and the commitment of our local team to the provision of transformative learning experiences, provide an excellent framework for success.
“I look forward to meeting with our founding families and to working in partnership to deliver a uniquely ambitious, enriching and affirming programme of study and a wide-reaching legacy for education in the Chonburi province and surrounding area.鈥
During his tenure at Shrewsbury, Ben played a key role in the development of an award-winning, purpose-built campus, and was instrumental in securing memberships with organisations such as the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA).
He will start the role of founding head at Highgate Thailand in August 2025.
The head of Highgate UK, Adam Pettitt, said: 鈥淚t is a pleasure to welcome Ben and entrust to him the founding of Highgate鈥檚 first international school. His impressive, transformational leadership record speaks for itself, and Highgate School International Thailand can look forward to dynamic, responsive and collaborative leadership in partnership with Highgate UK. I am very excited about working with Ben and can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥
Highgate International School, Thailand will be co-educational, with plans to accommodate up to 1,400 day and boarding pupils aged 2 to18 years. Mirroring Highgate鈥檚 three-school format, the school will open initially as a pre-prep and junior school, with the senior school opening the following year. Pupils will follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE and A-levels.
For further details about Highgate International School Thailand, please visit .
