Month: September 2022

Typically set up by families to manage their wealth on a day-to-day basis, family offices are privately held companies, and give the owners more oversight than they’d have if they relied on banks. Over the past few years, the number of family offices around the world has grown exponentially – it’s risen from just 1,000 in 2008 to more than 10,000 today. Various industries and sectors have gained the attention of family businesses over the years – from real estate and hedge funds to stocks and, more recently, digital assets like NFTs and cryptocurrencies. Recently, however, more and more family offices have chosen to invest their money in education. According to the Global Impact investing Network’s 2020 Annual Impact Investor Survey, of the $221 billion assets involved in impact investing that year, 40% of investors surveyed were allocating their money towards improving education around the globe, investing their money in organisations like Aldenham Education Group.

In the past, many family businesses would simply choose to invest in whatever firm or organisation seemed the most profitable. However, family offices are increasingly looking into ‘impact investing’ instead – that is, investments that have been made intending to generate some kind of positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investments are more often than not made in emerging and developed markets, and can be used to address some of the most pressing challenges that the world’s facing today, from conservation to generating more sustainable or renewable energy sources, as well as giving more people access to services such as healthcare or education.

With more people looking to make a difference, it’s clear that one of the ways of having the greatest impact is by investing in education. Nowadays, more people have access to education than ever before, but there are still improvements that can be made. The global education market is constantly growing – in fact, Statista expects it to be worth around $10 billion (£8.9 billion) by 2026 – meaning that investing in education is a safe bet. Increasingly, studies have found that many family offices aren’t solely driven by making a financial profit. Blackrock’s Global Family Office Survey found that 80% of family offices are looking to make more sustainable investments – they’re looking to the future, for a chance to make an impact and secure their legacy. Investing in schools, like the ones organised and run by Aldenham Education Group, is a step in that direction.

One of the greatest British exports is its education system – Britain has a history of offering quality education around the world for centuries. At Aldenham, we have more than 425 years of experience in academics, and believe that any child, regardless of where in the world they might be, deserves the same quality education. We embody the timeless traditions and heritage of a British education, and our students are at the heart of what we do. We look to the future too – we’re actively engaged in acquiring and managing existing schools, as well as investing in edtech or education-related companies. We opened our latest school, Aldenham Prep Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia in September this year – and there are more on the way. The school is the region’s first owner-operated, truly integrated branch campus of a notable independent UK school. This ensures that all of our students, whether in Saudi Arabia, the UK, or elsewhere, receive the same education, values, and benefits. Not only is a British education – like the kind students receive at Aldenham – one of the most comprehensive, it can also help children to attend a British university. UK universities are regularly ranked among the world’s best – according to Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, the world’s best is Oxford University – and a British education can help set students up for later life, and prepare them for success.

It’s worth noting that investing in education in this way doesn’t just benefit the children and their future. By investing in education and keeping children in school, family offices would also be investing in communities and helping entire countries to prosper. Education gives people better prospects, meaning they’d earn more and have more chances of getting a better job. In fact, according to UNICEF, each additional year of education can help to boost a person’s income by 10%, which would in turn increase a country’s GDP by 18% – this is the difference that impact investing could make. Education is important to our global society, too – it can empower the next generation, teach them how to make the right decisions, as well as how to be good citizens. Children in school are still growing and developing, and going to school can help them to interact with others, to empathise, and respect other cultures and societies. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Family offices are increasingly looking to make an impact with their investments, and for some, education is the natural next step or them. Not only does investing in education reflect their values and benefit society as a whole, it’s also a safe bet – people will always need education, and we aim to offer the best education possible to every last one of our pupils. Family offices are uniquely positioned to act as agents of change and have positive impacts on students, communities, and countries around the world, so if they’re not already investing in education, they should be looking into it. If your family office is looking to take the next step and invest in education, get in touch with us today.

Research has shown that schools with high levels of community support will also have high levels of student attendance. A report by the National Education Association, in the US, stated that “when schools, parents, families, and communities work together to support learning, students tend to earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, stay in school longer, and enrol in higher level programs” – and that’s just as true then as it is today. By inviting parents and family members to be more involved with the school community, students and their families can begin to feel more involved in their education, and therefore more likely to attend classes and be more engaged with their day-to-day learning.

Increased community support, and connections with the wider community, can also help schools offer students more extracurricular support. This can give students a chance to learn new skills that otherwise they might have never encountered, and help us to offer them an all-round education. There are many ways that schools can engage with the community, from welcoming local professionals to the school for talks and workshops, to encouraging students to volunteer their time at nearby charities or organisations. This way, students have a chance to encounter people or experiences that would have typically been outside the curriculum, and it can help to prepare them for life after education – something integral to the way Aldenham Education Group operates. At AEG, we have more than four centuries of academic experience, and are always looking to the future. We’ve committed ourselves not only to helping our pupils become the best versions of themselves, but also to finding their individual purpose and unique talents, whatever they might be.

A more connected school community can give students and their families a chance to be a part of the school, and give students a sense of belonging. Having that will make them feel more welcome, and more accepted by their teachers and their classmates, which can have a positive impact on their mental health. Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for children who are still growing and developing. Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we want to inspire a love of learning in all of them, all while ensuring they have the flexibility to develop their own abilities and talents – and they can only do that by focusing on their mental wellbeing. According to a report by The Children’s Society, 70% of young people who experience mental health problems don’t receive any help at a sufficiently early age.

A school that’s truly part of the community, like one of our Aldenham schools, can give students a wide support network. With more people looking out for the students, any mental health issues are more likely to be picked up earlier, and we can make sure that students are offered the help they need. At Aldenham, we aim to respond and be sympathetic to the mental health needs of all our pupils. Maintaining positive mental health is important, and we want our students to flourish – students with better mental health are also more likely to be engaged with their lessons, and continue with their education later in life.

It’s not just students who can reap the benefits of giving back to the community – teachers can, as well. Getting families and others involved with students’ education can help to offer the students a more well-rounded education. After all, a student doesn’t stop learning when the school day ends. Children don’t live and learn in a vacuum – as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. With others supporting them and helping out in many ways, teachers can focus more on delivering the best academic experience possible. It also gives teachers a chance to learn more about their students and their educational needs, so they can better understand where they need help with their learning. Here at AEG, one of our key aims has long been to foster good relationships and partnerships between staff, pupils, parents and the wider community. Schools that have clear links to their community are also more likely to see an improvement in their reputation. As people begin to feel more connected with the school, they’re likely to endorse it to others and spread the word, which will also reflect well on the teachers.

Only between 10 and 20% of a child’s waking hours are spent in a school – the rest of their time is spent either at home or in the wider community. Therefore, it’s important that schools stay connected. Schools should be asking themselves questions like, ‘What resources in the school community could we tap into?’ or ‘What new partnerships can we build?’ Schools can organise events with local businesses or organisations, or even invite people to run extra-curricular programs. By building bridges, schools can help themselves, the local community – and more importantly, the students.

By engaging more with families and the community, we believe schools can give their students rich and stimulating experiences, as well as create a culture based around the values of empathy and belonging. Schools don’t exist in isolation, so building bridges is important, and can help to foster a lifelong love of learning in students. Our newest school, Aldenham Prep Riyadh, opened its doors in September, and is already deeply embedded in the local community. The first Aldenham school in the region, it has integrated the timeless traditions of a British education with local values and principles, to offer students a complete all-round education.

We believe connecting children – and schools – to their local communities can open up a wealth of opportunities, and enrich a child’s educational experience. From motivating children to improving their mental wellbeing, a connected community can ensure a school offers an all-round education. Our Aldenham schools are an integral part of the community, and can count on the loyal support of everyone from students and their parents to staff and former students, who all contribute to make sure that we can offer an outstanding experience. Head to the Aldenham UK website to find out more about the Aldenham community and some of our charitable endeavours.