VLC Group signs deal to open NLCS Phuket international school in Cherng Talay

VLC Group has signed an agreement with UK school network NLCS International to open North London Collegiate School Phuket in Cherng Talay, marking the family-owned hospitality group's expansion into education.

According to the announcement, the new campus will target rising demand outside Bangkok from families in Thailand and across Asia for international education. VLC Group said the project forms part of a longer-term plan to support Phuket's growth as a destination for families, education and community development.

VLC Group, owned by the Jirayus family, is known for its hotel and resort portfolio in Phuket and Khao Lak under Merlin Phuket Hotels and Resorts. Its hospitality assets include Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, Courtyard by Marriott Phuket, Patong Beach Resort, Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, Khaolak Merlin Resort and Phuket Merlin Hotel.

Naruch Jirayus, managing director of VLC Group and NLCS Phuket, said Phuket already stands out for quality of life but still has a gap in the market for a school with strong academic credentials and a direct link to one of the United Kingdom's leading educational institutions. He said the family business sees education as part of the island's next stage of growth.

The school will be developed as a premium co-educational campus in Cherng Talay, one of Phuket's fastest-growing residential districts. It is planned to offer classes from early years through Year 13, serving both day students and boarders.

The campus is designed to accommodate about 1,000 to 1,500 students, with facilities including science and technology buildings, a 50-metre swimming pool, indoor tennis courts and student accommodation for boarders. VLC Group said the boarding model is a central part of the project because it would allow families in the region to access a British-style education in Phuket without sending children overseas.

North London Collegiate School was founded in 1850 by education pioneer Frances Mary Buss. The source said NLCS is one of the United Kingdom's most recognised and successful independent schools and cited its performance in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, along with awards including Independent Secondary School of the Year and Independent International Baccalaureate School of the Year.

The announcement said the Phuket launch aligns with Kasikorn Research Center forecasts that Thailand's international school business would grow 9.7% in 2025. It added that a new top-tier school could help attract professionals, investors and long-stay residents, with follow-on benefits for property, retail and local employment.

NLCS International said its global network includes NLCS Jeju, NLCS Dubai, NLCS Singapore, NLCS Kobe and NLCS Hong Kong, which is scheduled to open in 2027. Daniel Lewis, managing director of NLCS International, said each school in the network shares the same educational vision, values and commitment to fostering a lasting love of learning.

North London Collegiate School Phuket is scheduled to open officially in the third quarter of 2028.