BE Education has become a prominent player in bridging the gap between the British and Chinese education systems. What started as a simple favour for a friend has grown into a business that not only helps Chinese students enter prestigious British schools but also fosters cultural exchange and understanding between the two nations
BE Education’s story began when William Vanbergen, a British entrepreneur, came to China over 20 years ago. “Not long after I came to China, a friend asked if I could help a student apply for a British school,” says Vanbergen. “We succeeded, and from there, BE Education was born.”
Initially, the business was focused on helping Chinese students gain admission into top British boarding schools. This came at a time when the growing middle class in China was looking to send its children to study abroad – a new luxury they could now afford. And British schools, renowned for their holistic rather than exam-focused approach, were very much in demand.
As Vanbergen notes, “Chinese parents love the idea of British education. It has the best reputation globally, even compared to American schools. The way education is approached in the UK – challenging students to think critically – is different from the education system in China, which tends to emphasise knowledge through memorisation.” This cultural difference has driven many Chinese families to seek education abroad, especially for children whose future success they hope will come from a broader, more international perspective.
The allure of a British education
Over time, BE Education’s focus has expanded. It now operates schools in China that are modelled after British boarding schools. These schools – located in Changzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Hong Kong – serve over 2,500 students and have brought a new level of educational quality to China’s Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. “Over 30 percent of the graduates at Wycombe Abbey Changzhou have gone on to study at the world’s top 20 universities,” Vanbergen notes. The schools maintain a high student-to-teacher ratio of under 4:1, a hallmark of their commitment to delivering quality education.
While BE Education schools follow the British boarding model, they have adapted to local needs. For instance, China’s mandatory nine-year education system (from ages 6 to 15) requires adherence to national curricula. BE Education balances this by integrating British A-levels for students over 15s, while providing a rich extracurricular environment. “Our Changzhou school includes an exceptional boathouse and a boating lake, inspired by the holistic activities offered by a leading British boarding school,” says Vanbergen.
Many students in BE Education’s Chinese schools experience boarding commonly associated with British ones. “We operate a house system akin to UK boarding schools,” Vanbergen explains. “In China, many boarding school students must return home at weekends, whereas we offer a full boarding experience with weekend boarding, common in the UK, giving a deeper and more impactful, holistic education.”
Moving forward through challenges
BE Education has not been immune to challenges, particularly with the disruptions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the difficulties in recruitment and restrictions, the company successfully opened two new schools in Hangzhou and Nanjing in 2021. “The timing was unfortunate, but we overcame the challenge,” Vanbergen says. “We had to adapt, particularly with online learning, but we maintained our standards, and our business continues to grow.”
The geopolitical tensions between the UK and China have also created hurdles. However, BE Education remains committed to its mission of building bridges between the two nations. “We aren’t massively impacted by these tensions, and we offer a great opportunity for British teachers who want to come to China. The children in China behave well, and we provide accommodation, flights home, meals, and many other benefits for the teachers. This is a good way to bring together the best of both countries,” Vanbergen explains.
BE Education’s growth has been fuelled by the rising Chinese middle class, many of whom are willing and able to invest in their children’s education. While the Chinese state school system has improved significantly in recent years, there remains a strong demand for internationally-minded education, especially among families who value a mixture of academic excellence and the broader traditional British educational ethos.
Looking forward, BE Education plans to expand further across Asia. “Our headquarters may be in Shanghai, but we are evolving into an international group,” Vanbergen states. The company has already begun exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia and beyond, aiming to replicate its success in China across the region.
Fostering cross-cultural communication
One of the key elements of BE Education’s success has been its ability to foster cross-cultural communication. The company offers a range of programmes designed to build bridges between the UK and China. For instance, BE Education has a scholarship programme that brings deserving students from the UK to study A-levels in China. “Last year, we had ten students in the programme, and next year, we expect to have 60. These scholarships cover tuition for all of them and, for the most deserving, flights and uniforms too,” Vanbergen explains. “It’s a way to share British and Chinese culture with each other, creating a more interconnected world.”
The company also runs summer camps that bring students from countries like the UAE and Thailand to China, further broadening its mission of cross-cultural education. “We had 90 students from the UAE this year,” Vanbergen adds. “Building bridges between different cultures is a core part of what we do.”
As BE Education looks to the future, its mission remains clear: to provide world-class education and foster better cross-cultural understanding. “Education is a tool that enables young people to understand each other better,” says Vanbergen. “The more interconnected the world is, the less room there is for conflict. Our job is to help children – whether in China, the UK, or elsewhere – become the kind of global citizens who can navigate the complexities of the modern world.”
Despite the challenges posed by global economic conditions and political tensions, BE Education remains optimistic about its future. As Vanbergen aptly puts it, “China is growing fast, and while there are ups and downs, the emphasis on education in Chinese culture is huge. We are proud to be a part of that, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.”