ABOUT
Vision & Mission
Vision
Transforming Lives through Education
Mission
To become the most successful, most trusted, and most innovative K12 education group in South East Asia
NEXT UP
Mr Teoh Peng Hong
Chief Executive Officer
Thank you for choosing REAL Kids Preschool as your preferred Early Childhood & Care Education provider. Here, we believe in “Learning the Child’s Way” and that education is a journey, not a race.
Through the application of REAL Kids’ Multiple Intelligences Learning Journey as our core teaching and learning approach, we strive towards helping your child’s development in building trilingual skills including Mandarin medium; empowering them to be thinkers and problem solvers; supporting their physical, social, and emotional development; shaping them into leaders through civic education and character building; and promoting communication and life skills.
Choose a preschool programme that suits you and your child’s needs. For busy, working parents, you may opt for our Extended Care Programme that is specially tailored for you. Rest assured that your child will be thoroughly engaged with our fun learning activities and cared for throughout the day for your convenience and peace of mind.
We are excited to welcome you and your child to REAL Kids and hope to see you soon.
Anthony Partington
Chief Executive Officer
Anthony completed his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Christ Church, University of Oxford. After leaving Oxford, Anthony worked in the City of London in public, media and analyst relations. A passion for English Literature and life-long learning led him to being asked to work first as a teacher as part of the reforms at a school in Bolton and then to Trinity College, University of Cambridge to train as an English teacher in 2002.
He has worked at a number of schools in Cambridgeshire, England, including pastoral leadership and leading the internationally renowned English and media faculty across the Parkside Federation of academies in Cambridge. Anthony joined the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT) in 2010 to support the improvement of Nene Park Academy, where he worked as Assistant Principal leading on the development of the sixth form, literacy, English as an additional language, special needs and latterly as the Vice Principal with responsibility for the curriculum, timetable and student achievement throughout the academy. In July 2014, Anthony was appointed as Principal of Stamford Welland Academy with the brief to deliver the ‘Stamford Free School’ vision. During his time here, the school secured its best examination results and Ofsted inspection judgment in its history. In September 2017, he became CMAT’s Executive Director of Education responsible for the quality assurance of all the academies and teacher professional development from initial teacher training to leadership succession planning and development.
In February 2019, Anthony joined GEMS as the Principal of GEMS International School Tropicana Metropark, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Whilst completing a Masters with UCL Institute of Education, Anthony conducted research into and published on the teaching of literacy. He is a frequent conference speaker, presenting on school leadership and English teaching and editor of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Twelfth Night’ in the Cambridge University Press Cambridge School Shakespeare series. Anthony believes in a whole education striving for academic excellence and great examination results, whist providing the experiences and building the character skills that student need to thrive in learning, work and life. In his spare time, Anthony enjoys travel, film, theatre, music, singing, running, and exercise.
Jiro Takahashi
Governor
MBA – The University of Texas, Austin – Business Administration
Jiro Takahashi is the Group Chief Financial Officer at XCL Education, having joined in April 2024. He oversees the Group’s financial strategy, including the development of financial and tax strategies, directing strategic business plans, and enhancing financial and management reporting systems. He is also responsible for maintaining key relationships and leading the finance team to support business growth and operational excellence across all markets.
Jiro brings substantial financial leadership experience across the Asia Pacific region, specialising in corporate finance. Before joining XCL Education, he was the Chief Financial Officer for OCS Group UK, a global facilities services provider, where he led the finance function across Asia Pacific, initiating strategies that significantly enhanced the region’s profitability and strategic positioning. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Thailand and Corporate Development for Asia Pacific at Laureate International Universities, overseeing the company’s financial strategy and contributing to the financial success of Laureate and its institutions. Earlier in his career, Jiro held multiple finance roles of increasing responsibility with Yum! Brands in the US and Asia Pacific.
With over 20 years of experience in financial management, Jiro holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Texas at Austin. He has a proven track record of leading financial transformations, implementing robust financial controls, and aligning financial practices with organisational goals.
Gilles Mahe
Governor
Gilles has worked in leadership roles across a multitude of sectors in Asia since 2000 and has spent ~20 years leading organizations and managing operations in Asia Pacific. He brings with him deep experience managing large service-oriented organizations, where he had the privilege of building diverse teams, working with passionate people, and nurturing a culture of collaboration and excellence.
Gilles has ~7 years of extensive experience working in the education sector. Gilles was the Thailand & Myanmar CEO of Laureate International Universities, the world’s leading higher education provider, where he built and expanded Laureate’s activities in Southeast Asia. As the CEO, Gilles was instrumental in expanding Laureate’s presence in new geographies, launching innovative offline and online programs, turning around universities, scaling existing universities, and expanding the reputation and credibility of the overall group in Southeast Asia. As a father of three, he is a firm believer in the transformative power of education and the significant roles that schools play in shaping the lives of students and preparing them for what comes next.
Prior to XCL Education, Gilles was the Asia Pacific CEO for OCS Group, the world’s largest family-owned facilities management services company. At OCS, he played a pivotal role in building out the leadership team, executing the commercial transformation of the business, and acquiring & integrating other facilities management businesses. He has also served as the Managing Director for Asia and Vice President for APAC of Sodexo Group, a Fortune Global 500 company that is the leading provider of Food and Facilities Management services.
Gilles holds dual Post-graduate degrees in Business & Finance and Philosophy from the University of Paris-La Sorbonne in France.
Wan Hafiz Hamzah bin Wan Hussien
Governor
En. Wan Hafiz Hamzah Bin Wan Hussien is a Senior Advisor to TPG Capital. He started his career with CIMB Investment Bank in 2004 where he experienced roles in the Group CEO’s Office, Investment Banking and a stint in Indonesia with CIMB Niaga. He subsequently joined Khazanah Nasional’s strategy team in 2016 where he worked on projects involving Khazanah’s investment portfolio and overall corporate strategy.
En. Wan Hafiz Hamzah holds a degree in Economics from the University of Warwick.
Y.A.M. Tunku Ali Redhauddin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz
Chairman
Tunku Ali Redhauddin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz, a graduate of both the University of Cambridge and Harvard University, is Chairman of Marlborough College, Malaysia; founding trustee and Chairman of Teach for Malaysia; and Pro-Chancellor at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
In 2013, he was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Previously, he worked at both McKinsey & Company and Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and he currently holds other board and advisory roles at several corporations and non-profit entities including TPG Capital Asia.