What if the school campus itself could become part of the learning?

In this episode of Education Vanguard, Justin Hardman speaks with Crispian Waterman, headmaster of Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi, winner of the Public Choice Award for Innovative Facilities at the ASEAN School Awards 2026.

At the center of the conversation is the idea of the campus as a “third teacher”: an environment that can communicate expectations, encourage particular behaviors, and create opportunities for students to explore, collaborate, and take risks.

But Crispian is clear that architecture alone does not create great education. The discussion explores why pedagogy and teacher development must come first, how spaces can support confidence, curiosity, relationships, and belonging, and why flexibility matters when schools are designing for an educational future that continues to change.

They also discuss Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi’s approach to combining a British educational identity with a genuine connection to Thai culture, history, language, and traditions.

Ultimately, the episode asks a bigger question: What should students remember about the places where they learned?

For Crispian, it comes back to relationships, laughter, pride and the feeling that “I belonged here.”

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Learn more about the ASEAN School Awards:
https://aseanschoolawards.org/