Scotland's Glenalmond College Opens Its First International School in Phuket

Glenalmond College, the independent boarding school founded in Perthshire in 1847, has opened its first campus outside the United Kingdom at the Thanyapura Sports and Health Resort in northern Phuket. Operating as Glenalmond Phuket International School, the new campus welcomed its first cohort of Early Years and Primary pupils this month, according to Tes, which first reported the school's international expansion plans at the start of 2026.

The opening brings a brand with nearly two centuries of history to a market that has absorbed a remarkable volume of British independent school launches in a short time. In Thailand alone, Dulwich, Rugby, Wycombe Abbey, NLCS and Highgate have all opened or confirmed new campuses within the past twelve months. Glenalmond's decision to base its debut overseas school in Phuket rather than Bangkok reflects a calculated read of the landscape: the island hosts a substantial international resident community and has historically had fewer premium British-curriculum options than the capital.

What the school offers

The initial intake covers Early Years Foundation Stage and primary years under the English National Curriculum. Singapore Mathematics has been adopted from Years 1 to 9, a choice that speaks to the many families in Phuket who have passed through Singapore's school system before relocating to Thailand. Mandarin Chinese is a compulsory subject for all students, positioned as a practical differentiator in a market where language provision has become an increasingly important factor in school selection.

The school's setting inside Thanyapura's grounds gives students direct access to Olympic-standard swimming pools, a 450-seat auditorium and dedicated spaces for drama, arts and design technology, without the capital cost of a standalone campus build. Annual tuition runs from THB 270,000 to THB 950,000 for 2026 to 2027, placing the school toward the premium end of the Phuket international school market while remaining below the headline fees of some of the larger Bangkok operators.

What comes next

Secondary provision is not yet confirmed. The school has indicated it will assess demand for Key Stage 3 before committing to an expansion of its age range, and has said it intends to add year groups one at a time rather than launch a full through-school from the start. There is, it notes, already strong local interest in secondary places, suggesting the question is more a matter of timing than appetite.

Glenalmond College has built its reputation in part on its remote Highland setting, its pastoral boarding culture and an outdoor ethos rooted in the Scottish landscape. Whether a school sharing its name, located inside a wellness and sports resort on a tropical island, can translate that identity credibly will be one of the more interesting questions for the campus to answer as it matures. The infrastructure gives it a strong platform. How it uses it will take a few years to judge.