"I first came to Beijing with a football team from Harrow in 2003 and on my first day I was honored to have breakfast with the Education Minister of China. I said that I represent 800 school boys and he said he represents 400 million children. Which I thought was remarkable.”
Professor Barnaby Lenon is the Dean of the School of Education at University of Buckingham in England. He taught at Eton for 12 years and served as Principal of Harrow for another 12 years. During the two alumni lecture & networking events organized by the Buckingham International School of Education (BISE), he shared his experiences from the past 14 years of being deeply involved in the formulation and implementation of education policies by the current British government.
The two events held in Beijing and Shanghai, attracted more than 200 education industry practitioners, including senior leaders at international and bilingual schools, officials from the British Embassy’s Education Department, as well as the University of Buckingham’s current students, alumni, and their colleagues from international schools. The attendees had a unique opportunity to engage in discussions about the similarities and differences between Chinese and British educational systems with Prof. Barnaby Lenon, amongst other talking points.
James Waldron, Student Leadership Coordinator of Wellington College International Shanghai was one of the event attendees in Shanghai.
"Coming from a background in educational leadership and neuroscience, I was thoroughly impressed by the University of Buckingham's presentation in Shanghai. The comprehensive analysis of how the UK has elevated its PISA scores and evolved its educational approaches over time was enlightening. What stood out to me most was the balanced view presented, highlighting successes in certain demographics while candidly addressing areas where more work is needed, particularly in supporting young men. This level of insight is crucial in our ongoing efforts to refine educational strategies and policies. The University of Buckingham's commitment to addressing these nuanced aspects of education is commendable and serves as an inspiration for educational leaders globally. "
Lucy Di, a head of teaching and research, at a private school in Beijing had the chance to talk to Prof. Barnaby after the lecture.
"Prof. Lenon gave us a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the current development and prospects of international education, and shared with us very specific solutions and valuable personal experience. As a middle-level administrator of an international school, I learned a lot. I believe that as international education continues to develop, it needs technical support and help from universities and academic organizations. This dialogue will empower teachers’ growth. I look forward to more high-quality training, such as the ones provided by the University of Buckingham, and exchange opportunities in the future. I believe international education in China will be even better in future with the technical support.”
The event also provided a chance for the dozens of the University of Buckingham students who began their studies during COVID to meet each other in person for the very first time. Ashley Thompson who attended the Shanghai event had just graduated with a PGCE.
"Networking is always great, but connecting with others who have shared similar experiences or who are interested in pursuing similar career opportunities is even greater. Having the chance to connect with my University of Buckingham lecturer Dr. Stephen Cook and Professor Barnaby Lennon was beyond awesome, as they shared some insights into the education system of the UK. They also created, for me, a new career outlook by filling in gaps in my own thinking about global education and the Chinese focus.”
The School of Education at the University of Buckingham was founded in 2002. With over 1,300 teachers and school leaders studying there in any one year, the School of Education has become one of Britain’s leading providers of teacher training and professional development. The school is led by Professor Barnaby Lenon CBE who, as headmaster of Harrow School, started two schools in China. He and his team have a wealth of experience globally and in China to offer schools and individual trainees.
BISE in collaboration with the University of Buckingham provides a range of options for China based teachers:
▪ The International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS)
▪ The PGCE for International Trainees
▪ A full series of MA degree courses and a professional doctorate course on Education
Applications for the 24/25 intake for all courses are now open. Please contact the admissions officer Tracy Yang at [email protected] for more information.