International schools in Kazakhstan swap Haileybury for major rival

Two international schools in Kazakhstan are set to end their partnership with British private school brand Haileybury in favour of a new deal with rival British heritage brand Wellington College.

The partnership with Wellington International will formally begin from the 2027-28 academic year when the schools - currently called Haileybury Almaty and Haileybury Astana (pictured above) - will be rebranded Wellington Almaty and Wellington Astana.

Both schools have been partnered with Haileybury since they opened - Almaty in 2008 and Astana in 2011.

Haileybury Almaty in Kazakhstan

However, the move is being touted as “an upgrade” and “a bold step forward ” in an update posted on the schools’ website.

The update said that, while the staff and leaders will remain the same at the two schools and there are “no plans to change curriculum pathways”, the new partnership “is not simply a change of name”.

It said Wellington International is “one of the world’s most innovative and inspiring educational groups”, and joining it would give “students and staff access to an extensive international network and additional opportunities for collaboration and development”.

It also referenced Wellington College’s Artificial Intelligence Institute. This is being seen as significant in Kazakhstan, where there is a push for all schools to teach their pupils about AI - a change referenced by Haileybury Astana head John Coles in a Tes article about teaching in Kazakhstan.

The update on the schools’ website continued: “This partnership builds on the strong foundations created with our current partner, Haileybury, over many successful years in Kazakhstan and marks the next stage in the growth and development of our schools.”

Wellington currently has five international schools, with six in the pipeline (including the Kazakhstan schools) and three further schools in China under the name Hiba Academy.

Haileybury, meanwhile, has four international schools - including Haileybury Malta, which is due to open in time for the new academic year, following a huge restoration project recently featured in Tes.

However, that figure will drop to just two international schools when the Kazakhstan schools leave the fold officially next year - although the Haileybury website says it is “actively exploring several promising new school projects in the UK and overseas”.

In a joint statement from the two groups, the role of Haileybury in developing the schools was acknowledged as ensuring they are “thriving, with strong leadership, talented staff, excellent pupils and a clear sense of purpose”.

Wellington International, the statement continued, said it “recognises both the achievements of the schools and the important role Haileybury has played in their development over nearly two decades” and would “build on the strong foundations already in place” as it looked to grow the schools’ success.

Ian Hunt, chair of Haileybury Kazakhstan, added: ”We are proud of what has been achieved together, and grateful for the role Haileybury has played in helping to establish two of Kazakhstan’s leading international schools.”

Increased competition

Despite the polite words, one reason for the switch to the Wellington brand may be that it is seen as stronger, and will help the schools fend off increased competition from new entrants in the country, such as Charterhouse, which will open the doors of its new campus in Almaty in September.

Posting on Instagram yesterday, Charterhouse Almaty founding head Michael Seaton was keen to emphasise his school’s “stability in an era of change”.

He added: “Our focus is not on changing who we are - it is on bringing the authentic traditions of one of the world’s original seven British public schools in Kazakhstan.”

Coincidence? Perhaps, but it appears that competition between the country’s international schools may continue to ramp up.

As ISC Research’s Tony Atkinson commented on LinkedIn after news of the Wellington College deal broke, Central Asia has “historically sat outside the main focus areas for many global operators”, but “Kazakhstan increasingly sits at the intersection of economic development, regional connectivity and growing demand for internationally recognised education pathways”.