One Of The UK’s Top School Brands Is Heading To Phuket
As Phuket continues to attract long-stay families, remote professionals and international investors, the island is now adding another drawcard: a British school brand consistently ranked among the UK’s best.
NLCS International has signed an agreement with VLC Group to develop NLCS Phuket, a new co-educational day and boarding school in Cherng Talay. The project brings the academic model of North London Collegiate School to Thailand at a time when demand for international education is growing well beyond Bangkok.
For families already based in Phuket, or considering a move, the launch reflects a wider shift happening on the island. International schools are increasingly becoming part of the conversation around lifestyle, relocation and long-term living, especially for parents looking for strong academic options without sending children overseas.
North London Collegiate School, founded in 1850 by Frances Mary Buss, was recently named Independent Secondary School of the Year and Independent International Baccalaureate School of the Year in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026. It also ranked as the top girls’ school in the UK.
NLCS Phuket will cater to students from Early Years through to Year 13 and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2028. The campus will combine day schooling with boarding, targeting families across Thailand and the wider region who want access to a British-style education closer to home.
The agreement was signed at Courtyard by Marriott Phuket, Patong Beach Resort by Mr Daniel Lewis, Managing Director of NLCS International, and Mr Naruj Chirayus, Managing Director of VLC Group and NLCS Phuket.
The school will open with a capacity for around 1,000 students, with plans to expand to approximately 1,500 over time. Facilities will include boarding accommodation, science and technology labs, a 50-metre swimming pool, sports facilities, football pitches and separate junior and senior school areas.
NLCS International already operates schools in Jeju, Dubai, Singapore, and Kobe, with Hong Kong set to open in 2027. The group works with partner schools using a shared approach focused on academics, student wellbeing and co-curricular activities.
The Phuket project also comes as Thailand’s international education market continues to expand outside the capital. Research from Kasikorn Research Centre has identified Phuket as one of the country’s key growth markets, driven by rising numbers of expatriate families and internationally mobile residents.
Mr Naruj Chirayus said the school addresses a clear demand in Phuket for a high-level academic institution with direct ties to a leading UK school. He added that schools often play a major role in shaping residential communities, pointing to destinations such as Dubai and Jeju as examples.
More details on admissions and campus development are expected to be released at a later stage.
