Rugby School Thailand’s new School Principal, Mr Bruce Grindlay, has gained approval for a pioneering ‘school sandbox’ scheme that allows students back on-site, amid country-wide school closures.
“A beautiful campus is little without the buzz of its students. Arriving into this situation, with no end in sight, I wanted to explore every possible way to bring children back on-site. The ‘Phuket sandbox’ scheme has brought tourists back to the island; could we emulate this success at RST?”
Mr Grindlay engaged the school’s leadership team to form a meticulous and detailed sandbox proposal, working closely with ISAT (International Schools Association of Thailand) to lobby the ministries of Education and Public Health. Assiduous requirements were set to push such a proposal through, but after several weeks of meetings, the school has been granted permission to open a sandbox boarding bubble from 12 September 2021.
There are 258 international schools in Thailand and Rugby School Thailand is one of only five that has been granted permission to open a boarding bubble. It is also one of the only schools to be able to offer face-to-face teaching within its boarding bubble. “The core principle of [the sandbox] has been to allow Covid-free people into a safe, monitored environment that affords freedom within,” says Mr Grindlay.
The School is well placed to do this, with an 80-acre campus that accommodates its international teaching staff. The campus will become a sealed community bubble including Year 7-13 students who have opted into the boarding scheme.
Rigorous safety measures have been implemented and the bubble community will be required to take regular antigen tests. However, “in essence, these students will be able to enjoy the full Rugby School Thailand boarding experience, with face-to-face teaching, sports and enriching activities. Our co-curricular leads have also devised a dynamic programme of activities for every evening and weekend. I’m excited to see the school as it should be; full of life”.
Rugby School Thailand sees this ambitious new school sandbox scheme as a positive step towards enabling children across Thailand to return to classrooms. “The approval of our sandbox scheme recognises that a fresh approach is needed towards an increasingly endemic virus. This is a stride in the right direction for education in Thailand.”