World-Class Education in Nigeria: Charterhouse Lagos

It would be disingenuous to suggest that I have not encountered a few raised eyebrows, over the last 12 months, when I have said that I am the Director of International Education at Charterhouse.

Now, assumnig that I am moderately well-qualified for the role, and so do not take these expressions of surprise too personally, a polite enquiry usually elicits the response, ‘Lagos’!

When you dig a little deeper, people’s curisoity arises from three main questions:

a) Why Nigeria, given the highly-publicised geo-political and related risks?
b) Will you get ex-pat teachers to come and work there?
c) How on earth will you get the school built in such a short time?

… the DREAM … artist’s impression

The answers to b) and c) of these questions are relatively straight-forward.

The world of international education is full of people with a pioneering, we might even say, adventurous, spirit. If they are well looked after, can join a committed, creative and genuinely collaborative team and work for an organisation that takes their personal development seriously, then teachers, and senior leaders, will want to be part of something new, bold and exciting.

And, so it has proved. The ex-pat and local staff on both the academic and support side of Charterhouse Lagos are well-qualified, experienced and ready for the wonderful challenge ahead.

Earlier this year I spent a week with the team in Lagos and could not have been more impressed, or welcomed with more kindness and generosity. What was especially inspiring, was the enthusiasm with which the organisation-wide approach to learning has been embraced and I applaud John Todd, Founding Head and Director of Education, for appointing a Director of Teacher Training and Personal Development whose role is for the benefit of all staff: embedding a culture of learning into every aspect of school life, long before any pupils have crossed the threshold.

…the TEAM …

The logistical challenges in Nigeria are real, and so the complexity of constructing Phase 1 of the Lagos campus between March 2023 and August 2024 should not be under-estimated. It is, however, running ahead of schedule, enabling the opening of boarding for Years 5 and 6 to open this September, a year ahead of plan. Having John Todd and Angela Hencher, Chief Operating Officer, in country and closely involved in the project plans and development, from a very early stage, has enabled incisive, and hence timely and effective, project management. The support of Pam Mundy Associates also helped lay the very solid foundation on which the planning for the project was based.

… the REALITY … on a recent visit from The Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP, His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, along with Helen Grant MP, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Special Envoy on Girls’ accompanied by Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, and Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commission to Nigeria in Lagos, plus their staff accompanied by John Todd, Founding Head and Director of Education as well as Angela Hencher, Chief Operating Officer of Charterhouse Lagos.

The answer to question a) is less straight-forward, but let’s be honest, there are few territories where growth in the international school market has happened, or is happening, that do not carry risk of many kinds: who would have thought, even two years ago, that British schools would be playing such an important part in the rapidly developing education sector in Saudi Arabia? We must surely be at the table, to change the nature of the discussion?

Charterhouse has a strong and proud tradition of welcoming pupils from Nigeria, and indeed from other countries in West Africa. Our wonderful partners in Nigeria have been strongly rooted in the consumer goods market in Nigeria for more than 30 years. Our Founding Head has extensive experience of working in a very successful British school in Lagos: Charterhouse may be the first British independent school in Nigeria, but it joins an already successful and vibrant British education tradition in the country and indeed, region.

On a recent visit to the Charterhouse Lagos site, The Rt.Hon. Kemi Badenoch, UK Secretary of State for Business & Trade emphasised the UK Government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s desire to offer high-quality education. We certainly believe that Charterhouse Lagos will offer the best of contemporary educational thinking with the finest traditions of British independent schooling to many families who might not otherwise choose to send their children to the UK.

At Charterhouse, we are passionate about developing young people who are ready for the future global economy but also Kind, Open-minded and Responsible and who show tolerance and respect towards people from different backgrounds, cultures and faiths.

This feels like an excellent basis for Charterhouse Lagos to thrive, and we look forward to welcoming other British independent schools to the region very soon!

April 2024

Source

Karen Davies MA (Cantab), MBA (Warwick)

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