The British schools selling out to Beijing

[mxin]

The British schools selling out to Beijing: Not only are private institutions being bought by Chinese firms but some are giving communist-approved lessons that are a threat to free speech

Hundreds of independent schools left in dire financial straits by the coronavirus pandemic are being targeted by Chinese investors, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Experts anticipate a 'feeding frenzy' as firms, including some run by high-ranking members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, seek to expand their influence over Britain's education system.

Seventeen schools are already owned by Chinese companies, but that number is set to rocket. Amid rising concern about Beijing's tentacles reaching into British classrooms, an investigation by this newspaper can reveal:

- Nine of the 17 schools under Chinese control are owned by firms whose founders or bosses are among China's most senior Communist Party members;
- Princess Diana's preparatory school is owned by a Chinese group that openly trades on her name;
- Schools are using educational tools for teaching children a 'whitewashed' view of China;
- One firm admitted its acquisition of British schools is aimed supporting China's controversial Belt And Road strategy, which aims to expand Beijing's global influence.

Many independent schools are facing a funding crisis because of the pandemic. Enrolments have plummeted and fees have been slashed because pupils are learning from home.

Boarding schools have reportedly seen fees fall by up to 35 per cent and day-pupil charges by 20 per cent. They and other independent schools have been unable to take full advantage of the Government's furlough or business loan schemes because they have to stay open to support the children of key workers or those studying online.


Boarding schools have reportedly seen fees fall by up to 35 per cent and day-pupil numbers by 20 per cent. Pictured, Riddlesworth Hall School

Last year, Chinese firms bought three schools, including Abbots Bromley School near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which had been forced to close its doors in 2019.

A key player in the market is Bright Scholar, which bought a number of schools and colleges in 2018 and 2019, including Bournemouth Collegiate School, St Michael's School in Llanelli, Carmarthanshire – where Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and singer Cerys Matthews were once pupils – and Bosworth Independent College in Northampton.

Bright Scholar is owned by Yang Huiyan, who is reportedly worth £20 billion, making her Asia's richest woman, and was founded by her father Yang Guoqiang, a member of the Communist Party's highest- ranking advisory council.



Ms Yang, 39, is the boss of Country Garden Group, Bright Scholar's parent company. Two independent schools – Bedstone College in Shropshire and Ipswich High School – are owned by a fund backed by the Chinese Wanda Group.

Former pupils of Ipswich High include author Enid Blyton and June Brown, who played Dot Cotton in EastEnders.

The Wanda Group, which invests in technology, real estate, hotels and the media, bought the schools in 2017 through City of Londonbased asset manager London & Oxford Group.

It was founded by Wang Jianlin, a former People's Liberation Army soldier who is worth an estimated £10 billion and is a member of China's senior Communist Party advisory council.

Two more schools – Kingsley School in Bideford, Devon, and Heathfield Knoll School in Worcestershire – are owned by China First Capital Group, which has senior Communist Party members on its board.

Others bought by Chinese firms include Thetford Grammar School in Norfolk, which was attended by Thomas Paine, Wisbech Grammar in Cambridgeshire and Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School in Norfolk, where Princess Diana was taught. Riddlesworth was bought by the Confucius International Education Group in 2015 and its website lauds its links with the late Princess.

The firm's owner, Kong Lingtao, who claims to be a direct descendant of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, also boasts of his visit to Buckingham Palace in 2014, when he met Prince Philip.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ter_mailonline