“I am deeply grateful to have encountered NLCS—the model of a school I have long envisioned—and to see a powerful team come together under Principal Matt, with the support and dedication of so many of you, enabling us to open today. In the weeks, months and year ahead, we will strive to be the kind of school that students and parents can genuinely say, ‘This is a truly good school.’ New environments can bring uncertainty, but together with you, we as staff will continue to value challenge and keep growing.”

“Thank you for joining us on this historic day. I’m profoundly grateful for our students’ curiosity and courage, for parents’ trust, and for the support of colleagues and guests. 

“Today isn’t just an opening—it’s the beginning of a new story. We will bring together NLCS’s proud traditions with Japan’s commitment to lifelong learning and the spirit of improvement—continuous improvement—to develop not only scholarship but young people who speak thoughtfully, lead kindly, and think internationally. 

“To our students: I ask you to be both bold and kind. True success is not measured by marks but by how you treat others. To parents: we promise to walk alongside you, placing your children’s safety and growth first. And to our students once more—be brave, live purposefully, and never stop learning. Let’s make NLCS Kobe not simply a ‘good’ school, but an exceptional one. Thank you, and welcome.”

“At NLCS, students imagine their aspirations and develop the power to realise them. We share a commitment to thinking broadly and critically, questioning the status quo, and learning actively with purpose. I’m delighted that we can bring this vision to life within Japanese education and share it with you. I’m truly excited to see how our journey begins.”

“It affords me immense pleasure to extend my sincerest felicitations on the occasion of the inauguration of North London Collegiate School Kobe today. It is particularly laudable that NLCS Kobe intends to integrate elements of Japanese traditional culture, such as the tea ceremony, into its curriculum. Furthermore, the planned establishment of a boarding house on Mount Rokko within three years is a most welcome development. I anticipate that this verdant and stimulating environment will prove highly conducive to the intellectual and personal development of its students. This April also saw the opening of the new terminal at Kobe Airport, along with the commencement of international charter flights. As Kobe continues to strengthen its position as a prominent international hub, it is my fervent hope that NLCS Kobe will play a pivotal role in cultivating future generations of globally minded individuals who will excel on the world stage.”​

(via video message)

“Please accept my most cordial congratulations on the opening of North London Collegiate School Kobe. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with you to establish a truly pioneering institution—one that, as yet, finds no parallel globally—to serve as a nexus for the NLCS think tank. This school represents global education in its most refined form: harmonising the strengths of British and European pedagogical traditions, the proven success of the International Baccalaureate, and the most distinguished aspects of Japanese education. It is precisely in this era of artificial intelligence that education must champion those qualities that are uniquely human – the comprehension of life, the potency of artistic expression, and the impact of profound experiences. Thus, from Kobe, we may forge a new educational legacy for the 21st and 22nd centuries. I am deeply grateful to be involved in this endeavour in my hometown.”

“For many years, Japan and the United Kingdom have cultivated a close and mutually beneficial partnership, marked by increasingly robust ties within our respective economies and societies. To ensure the continued advancement of this relationship, we must invest in the development of the next generation. It is my sincere hope that this new international school, situated here in the Kansai region, will play a pivotal role in nurturing young individuals – future researchers, business leaders, and diplomats – who possess the skills and acumen to excel on the international stage. Young people who embrace challenges and confidently engage with the wider world will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of both Kansai and Japan as a whole.”