It is the sense of space and possibility permeating every aspect of its 90-acre campus in Johor that sets Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM) apart from any school in Southeast Asia. “From the vast, open areas to the boundless potential of our students, there is a sense that anything is possible at Marlborough — what we call the ‘Marlborough Spirit’,” says Master of MCM Simon Burbury.

The British-style boarding school - an extension of Marlborough College in the UK, whose alumni include, among others, a Nobel Prize winner, poets, authors and entrepreneurs — is made up of a Preparatory School, which takes in pupils from age 3 to 13, and a Senior School (includes Sixth Form), which is made up of pupils from age 14 to18. Recently, the College celebrated winning International School of the Year 2024 in the Tes Awards for International Schools.

Of the 890 pupils enrolled in the school, whose ethos is holistic education and extraordinary experiences, one-quarter of them are boarders who live in the four boarding houses on campus, the number of which will increase to six this summer owing to popular demand.

“Boarding presents unparalleled opportunities for children to grow in independence and confidence, and to refine their emotional intelligence, academic, social and co-curricular skills. Boarders can learn and experience the extraordinary with their friends. Every day can be an adventure,” says Burbury, adding that boarders have near 24/7 access to pastoral and academic guidance.

“They enjoy a kind of guided or scaffolded route to independence, which really does offer the best possible preparation for life beyond school, whether that be at university or the working world.”

The school’s approach and its duty of care towards its pupils is also winning praise from parents. “Being a boarder at MCM has helped my son become a more independent and well-rounded individual. The holistic approach of pastoral care at MCM means that my son is challenged academically, sportingly and socially and he has been provided with experiences and opportunities that would otherwise not be available to him,” says a parent of a Year 11 boarder.

Burbury says families who live about one to three hours away from the college, for instance in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, or even in cities that are a short hop away via Senai Airport, are at a particular advantage. “These families really can have their cake and eat it. Children can enjoy the benefits of boarding during the week, avoiding potentially long commutes, and are still close enough for parents to visit for Parents’ Evenings, coffee mornings, sports matches and concerts. It really can be a win-win for these families,” he says, adding that many families recognise and are taking advantage of these plus points.

Over the years, the school has produced pupils who have excelled academically. In 2023, one of MCM’s pupils received a perfect score in the SATs, one of just 0.0002% globally. A founding pupil, she has already received an offer from Harvard University, exemplifying the kind of success nurtured at MCM. In addition, two other pupils were offered places at Ivy League universities in the US.

Instead of A-Levels, 16- to 19-year-olds have a choice of pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, which provides a gateway qualification recognised and increasingly valued by universities all over the world. Dr Kenton Tomlinson, IB coordinator and senior school assessment coordinator, says the diploma is underpinned by the Learner Profile, which comprises 10 desirable attributes — knowledgeable, thinkers, inquirers, communicators, courageous, open-minded, principled, balanced, caring and reflective.

“The philosophy of the IB Diploma emphasises academic excellence coupled with personal growth. It develops the ‘all-rounder’ and aims to ensure the educational experience balances knowledge and the acquisition of other attributes, encouraging both creative and critical thinking, and emphasises collaborative work and communication skills. It embeds university-style assessment, so pupils are thoroughly prepared for higher education,” he says.

Scholastic achievements aside, MCM’s students also excel in fields such as rugby, tennis and netball as well as art, drama and music, in keeping with the school’s focus on holistic education.

The school’s state-of-the-art facilities allow for excellent opportunities in sporting and outdoor pursuits as well as the arts. They include a golf driving range, Olympic and beginner swimming pools, multiple rugby and football pitches, an athletics track, an all-weather astro pitch, a high-performance fitness centre, sports halls, a climbing arena, squash and tennis courts, a gymnastics room, a theatre, recording studio and design and technology workshops. “We even have our own boating and fishing lake. It really is quite astonishing,” says Burbury.

The school also boasts its own farm — Barton Farm, which is designed to be used by pupils of all ages, offering hands-on experiential learning. The school’s outreach endeavours, encompassing mangrove conservation projects, beach cleaning projects, water purification projects and community projects, are also important. “It’s about getting involved, developing in our children that sense of leadership, responsibility and compassion, and that they can make society a much better place for others,” he adds.

At the heart of the school are the teachers, who model MCM’s culture and instil the school’s values in every pupil. Some 90% of the teachers — fondly known as beaks, in the tradition of some of the most established British boarding schools such as Eton, Harrow and Marlborough — are from the UK and have either been former pupils or teachers at Marlborough College in the UK, or one of the other high-ranked independent boarding schools.

The school’s average pupil-to-teacher ratio of about seven pupils to every one teacher is also outstanding by any standard.

When pupils leave MCM, they automatically become part of the Marlburian Club — exclusively for the alumni of Marlborough College in Malaysia and in the UK. “The Malburian Club is quite special because it offers a mentoring programme for our school leavers, who are just starting out on that professional journey in life. Through an exclusive online platform called MC Global Connect, a school leaver can have a consultant surgeon, CEO, CFO, a successful lawyer or entrepreneur as their mentor. So, the support, learning and nurturing doesn’t stop when our pupils leave the college. It continues and has a lifetime of benefits,” adds Burbury.

MCM is also the only school fully owned by a UK institution and operating on a not-for-profit basis. This commitment to education, rather than profit, means that any surplus generated is reinvested into enhancing the Marlborough experience for every student here, says Burbury. “From the stunning facilities to the abundance of resources available to our students, we can spare no expense in providing our students with the best possible opportunities to develop their minds, bodies and spirits in a vibrant, supportive community.”

Discover more about the benefits of a Marlborough education by arranging a personal tour by emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org.