The Ministry of Defence Pension Fund-sponsored Cheltenham Muscat, Oman’s first premium British international school which has 180 years of experience in the United Kingdom, was officially opened in Muscat on Monday.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education, alongside the presence of several top ranking officials including representatives of the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund, Lord Astor, the British Prime Minister’s trade envoy to the Sultanate of Oman, a member of the Qatari royal family, members of the school board, faculty and other guests.
“The official opening of the school is one of the cornerstones of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the National Strategy for Education 2040, which acts as a primary source for the development of policies for the reform of the local educational sector," said Dr Madeeha.
She further added that the government of Oman is committed to mould quality student population as it aims to enable education in its various forms to enhance the spread of knowledge, capitalise and utilise technology as well as encourage research and innovation to build enlightened generations capable of making a positive contribution to the country’s development and to engage effectively in the international sphere.
"Additionally, the presence of such a school of this standard based on formal appraisals reinforces the strong ties between Oman and the UK besides further strengthening the bilateral relationship between both countries," she added.
Founded by one of the UK’s finest schools, Cheltenham College UK, Cheltenham Muscat which opened its doors for admission in September 2021 provides a first-class, all-round education from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to iGCSEs and A-Levels. The school is run in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund and is situated in Al Bandar Muscat, a contemporary mixed-use development project.
Cheltenham College in the UK is consistently rated as ‘outstanding’ by the British Independent Schools Inspectorate and is part of the prestigious Eton Group of schools.
"The opening ceremony at Cheltenham Muscat has been a wonderful event showcasing the success of this first-class school," opined Lord Astor of Hever. "It is a testament to the strong relationship between the UK and Oman that Cheltenham have chosen to locate in the Sultanate, and demonstrates their keen commitment to having the traditionally strong bilateral relationships," he added.
Speaking at the opening, Claire Adby, Executive Principal at Cheltenham Muscat, said the team believe that the gift of education is vital for children, to enable them to learn more about themselves, the community and the world at large.
"The educational approach we embody at Cheltenham seeks to develop our students through a comprehensive curriculum with a modern and inspirational touch, aimed at catering to their overall requirements, both in-school and through virtual learning programmes alike. This way, we can fuse the concepts of culture, tradition and heritage with advancements, innovation and technology, allowing all children to develop self-confidence, express their ideas and opinions in every possible way," she added.
Cheltenham Muscat is the first key component of the Al Bandar mixed-use complex which is an upscale and exclusive destination, made up of modern residential and commercial neighbourhoods that bring together authentic Omani architectural design and sustainable smart urban modernity.
"As a prominent model for urban expansion, it supports the development of the nation by enhancing opportunities to attract local and foreign investments through the provision of potential and feasible prospects for investors," said Ahmed al Busaidi, General Manager, Ministry of Defense Pension Fund responsible for the development of Al Bandar Complex,
True to what he said, Cheltenham’s new state of the art campus strives to ensure that residents of the Al Bandar development will be able to access some of the finest education in the region realising the vision of one of the highest quality developments in Oman.
Built over an area of 22,000m2, with a capacity for 1,400 students, Cheltenham Muscat is designed by award-winning architects and includes a Sports Academy with a double-sized sports hall, two swimming pools, two full-size soccer pitches and a junior football pitch as well as basketball, netball and tennis courts. Complementing these facilities is a Performing Arts Centre, Science and Technology Centre and Art and Design Centre.
“Stemming from our long-standing legacy of education, passed down by Cheltenham College, UK, we place a key emphasis on the daily academic curriculum of our students. By placing high importance on the quality of education that will be extended, we strive to encourage and help every child realise and fulfil their fullest potential in their respective fields, whether it is academia, music, sport, or the arts.” Nicola Huggett, Principal at Cheltenham College UK.
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