Wakayama - A Japanese sister school of Britain's prestigious Gordonstoun School, whose alumni include King Charles III and his father Prince Philip, is scheduled to open in Wakayama city in September 2027 as a fully residential international school charging annual tuition of about 8 million to 10 million yen.
Founded in 1934, Gordonstoun is known for an educational philosophy that emphasizes developing abilities students may not realize they possess. The British school attracts students from more than 35 countries and places outdoor activities, practical experiences and community service at the center of its curriculum.
The new school, Gordonstoun School Japan West, will occupy a roughly 15-hectare site surrounded by trees in Wakayama city. The property was previously used as a corporate facility, and an existing former headquarters building is being renovated for use as part of the school.
Plans call for classrooms on the southern side of the building, multipurpose rooms on the northern side and shared spaces in the center designed to encourage students to meet and communicate. An indoor exercise area is also planned, including facilities for activities such as bouldering.
A sports ground and student dormitories will be constructed elsewhere on the site. Seven dormitory buildings are planned, each accommodating around 100 students.
The coeducational school will cover seven grade levels corresponding roughly to the final year of elementary school through the third year of high school in Japan. Each grade is expected to have about 100 students, giving the school a total enrollment of around 700.
Around 200 teachers and other staff are expected to work at the campus, with the school planning roughly one teacher for every five students.
The school aims to develop globally oriented students capable of taking active roles internationally, following an educational approach similar to that of Gordonstoun in Britain.
Outdoor education is a central part of the Gordonstoun model, and sailing is considered particularly important for teaching leadership, perseverance and other personal skills. All students are expected to study sailing.
School officials said Wakayama was selected largely because its location could support that approach.
"Our curriculum places importance not only on academic study but also on outdoor activities and learning through real experiences," a school representative said. "Wakayama was a place where we could make that possible."
The sailing facilities at Wakayama Marina City were cited as one of the area's major attractions. The school also viewed Wakayama's natural environment and relatively convenient access to Kansai International Airport as advantages.
King Charles III, who attended Gordonstoun, is currently a supporter of the school in a role described as similar to the head of a supporters' association. Prince Philip was also a graduate.
Tuition at the Wakayama school is expected to range from around 8 million to 10 million yen a year. A student attending for all seven years could therefore face tuition costs approaching 70 million yen.
School officials said, however, that admission would not be limited only to families able to afford the full fees. Scholarships and other forms of financial assistance are being prepared to provide educational opportunities to a broader range of students.
The school is not expected to be classified as an Article 1 school under Japan's School Education Act. Article 1 schools include ordinary elementary, junior high and high schools, universities and other institutions that follow education standards established under Japanese law.
Many international schools fall outside that category, meaning their graduation qualifications are not officially recognized in the same way as those of Article 1 schools in Japan.
The project grew from efforts to find a new use for the former corporate facility. Wakayama city, Nankai Electric Railway and other parties became involved in attracting the school to the site.
The campus is located about five minutes by car from Wakayama Daigaku-mae Station.
Local officials expect the project to bring economic and social benefits to the city. With around 700 students and about 200 staff, roughly 1,000 people could live in or around Wakayama as a result of the school.
City officials expect increased consumer spending and employment, as well as greater opportunities for international and cultural exchange because Wakayama University and commercial facilities are also located nearby.
Some local residents expressed surprise at Wakayama's selection, suggesting that the city's proximity to the sea, mountains and other natural surroundings may have helped attract the school.
Others focused on the cost. Residents described annual tuition of 8 million to 10 million yen as expensive and beyond the reach of many ordinary households, while also saying that the arrival of international students could create valuable opportunities for interaction.
The Wakayama campus is planned as Gordonstoun's western Japan school, with a separate Gordonstoun School Japan East campus also planned for eastern Japan in the future.
Source: ABCTVnews
