How Wetherby School – made famous by Princess Diana – became part of one man’s global education empire
Upscale private schools in upscale neighborhoods attract the offspring of the rich and famous – even royal kids have somewhere to go.
One of these is the exclusive Wetherby Prep school in Notting Hill, London, which was attended by Princes William and Harry, as well as the Beckhams’ sons Romeo and Cruz.
The elite boys’ school – rumored to cost their well-to-do parents a minimum of £8,000 a school year – first came to prominence in the 1980s, when Princess Diana rose to fame during a school run with the boys all dressed in gray and red uniforms. felt blowers.
Wetherby was founded in 1951 and since then has also welcomed famous alumni such as Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark, Hugh Grant and Julian Lloyd Webber.
Places remain highly sought after, and the news that Nadim Nsouli, founder of premium school group Inspired, had taken over the school in June means it is now truly on the world map.
The elite boys’ school – rumored to cost parents with money a minimum of £8,000 per semester – rose to fame when Princess Diana rose to fame in a school run (Photo: Princess Diana takes Prince William and Prince Harry to London’s Wetherby School – 1989 )
Nadim has created a multi-billion dollar empire of global premium schools. He now monitors more than 100 schools where 80,000 students play around the world. (Pictured: A general view of Wetherby Prep School 11 Pembridge Square, London)
In an interview about his website, he spoke of Inspired’s reputation for acquiring the best. He said, “I know what my product is: premium education.
‘We charge high rates and we have many competitors. Therefore, teachers must be top notch, the best heads and state of the art facilities.
“I believe Inspired has the best school brands in the business. The results of our top schools around the world speak for themselves.”
David and Victoria Beckham’s sons also attended the exclusive pre-prep school, which was recently acquired by Inspired (photo: David Beckham (center) and children Romeo James Beckham (left) and Cruz David Beckham (right)
Nsouli, 54, has created an empire of multi-billion dollar premium schools, a telling journey that began a decade ago with four schools in South Africa, reports The times.
The proud father of four is now in charge of more than 100 schools with 80,000 students around the world.
One of New York’s Georgetown alumni, he began his career as a lawyer in 1994 before joining the media and telecommunications teams of London’s prestigious investment banks JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley.
He also founded venture capital firm Lago Ventures and later became managing director at Providence Equity Partners, before founding Inspired in 2013 – which has grown rapidly to acquire top schools in the US, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Though climactic, Nadim’s business victories were marked by painstaking tragedy.
Nadim Nsouli (pictured), 54, bought Wetherby Prep school in London in June. The private pre-prep school in west London was once attended by many members of the royal family, including Princes William and Harry and Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark
Married to his wife Simone, the couple share four children: Lyla, Zeyd, Aidan and Liv.
However, in 2011, the couple received the devastating news that their firstborn, Lyla, had brain cancer.
Lyla, just two and a half years old, was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an untreatable, aggressive brain cancer, and had just months to live, states the Lyla Nsouli Foundation – which was established in her honor.
Lyla died of her illness in her parents’ arms in January 2012.
“In reality, we had no indication that anything was wrong until the devastating diagnosis,” her parents said. “We miss her terribly. She was truly our pride and joy.”
The tragedy has inspired Nadim’s philanthropic efforts, and the foundation now funds several cancer research institutes.