Handbook Prep by Harrow International School Bangkok

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

PREP PHASE 1

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

THE UPPER SCHOOL In the Upper School we take our mission of ‘Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership’ seriously. In each of the three phases, students are guided in an ageappropriate way to develop our six leadership attributes. Our ultimate aim is to lay the foundations for our students to lead and succeed in whatever pathway they choose. For our students to become strong future leaders, we need to make sure that they have the academic currency required to assume positions of leadership, therefore, at Harrow Bangkok, academic excellence is a moral imperative if we wish to succeed in our mission. Our students leave the school with the very best academic results and year after year they take their place at top universities globally. In the Prep Phase students develop a breadth of knowledge which lays the foundations for further study. As they progress into Shell, Remove and Fifth Form, we introduce the element of choice and students begin to specialise, allowing them to develop a greater depth of knowledge. In the Sixth Form, they specialise further

THE HOUSE SYSTEM and are ready to apply to top universities in their chosen disciplines. A school is defined by its students. At our school in Bangkok, what does it mean to call yourself a Harrovian? Our students are confident without arrogance, highly knowledgeable and they use their knowledge compassionately to contribute to their community. Every year we celebrate their successes both within the school and beyond. Paul Johnson Head of Upper School

Year Group

Upper School Curriculum

6, 7, 8

Prep Accelerated Curriculum

Shell (9)

Shell Curriculum (Transition to IGCSE)

Remove (10)

IGCSE

Fifth Form (11)

IGCSE

Lower Sixth (12) A Level Upper Sixth (13) A Level Undergraduate

The House System is at the heart of the students’ lives at Harrow Bangkok and helps develop our students into becoming leaders. It encourages teamwork and friendly competition within a supportive environment and instils into the students resolve, determination, cooperation, creativity, collaboration and an awareness of the importance of community.

Role of the Form Tutor The first point of contact for a student is their Form Tutor. The Form Tutor registers students each morning and gets to know each student individually to help guide and support them. If you have a query or a minor concern you can direct this to your child’s Form Tutor.

House Competitions Students have a wide range of competitions that they can enter to represent their House, these generally take place after school or at lunchtime and include: Football Dodgeball Theatre Sports Basketball Table Tennis Dragonboat Racing Swimming Gala Music Film Chess Softball Baking

Cross Country Scrabble Volleyball Sports Day (Athletics)

Tennis Jenga House Shout

Prep House Leaders The Prep House Leader leads the House in the Prep Phase and provides pastoral oversight of all the students in their House. They will oversee academic monitoring and deal with any larger pastoral issues that may arise. If you have a larger concern then you should direct this to your child’s Prep House Leader. The House system is a key part of the students’ transition from Pre Prep to Prep. It welcomes the students into a family that they will be part of during the rest of their time at Harrow Bangkok. All students are allocated to a House, all of whose names reflect leaders with courage and determination. These include the Old Harrovians and statesman Winston Churchill and Pandit Nehru (India’s first Prime Minister) as well as the poet Lord Byron. Thailand is honoured through its brave Queen Suriyothai and the public service of the Sonakul family. Finally, to complete the group, we have Helen Keller, who overcame physical adversity to become a renowned author and human rights campaigner. Each of these individuals displayed qualities of leadership that we hope will inspire our young Harrovians to become the leaders of their generation.

University

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION At Harrow Bangkok, fostering leadership is central to our mission. We have defined six leadership attributes that students will develop through following our Leadership in Action Curriculum: Contributing positively to the community Applying knowledge with compassion Solving problems collaboratively Solving problems creatively Making just and responsible choices Facing challenges with determination

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

All students take part in an expedition every year and enrol in a minimum of two activities each week with numerous opportunities for service, charitable work, creativity and teamwork. Through the Leadership in Action Curriculum, both inside and outside of the classroom, students have opportunities to move out of their comfort zones and undertake new experiences. Whether it be attending a Harrow Bangkok Ocean Warrior beach clean up, trying to earn the minimum wage by cutting sugar cane, acquiring new skills such as first aid or lifeguarding, or conquering a 40 metre Tyrolean rope climb, pupils are increasingly able to develop and demonstrate the six leadership attributes.

THE PREP PHASE Welcome to the Prep Phase: the strong foundations upon which students’ Upper School experiences are built. In Prep, our mission is to ensure that all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Supported by world-class staff, Prep Harrovians feel happy and safe. Consequently, they are excited to explore the world around them, acquire a range of new skills and knowledge, and progress through school and beyond as lifelong learners and leaders. Academically rigorous, our curriculum is broad and offers students the chance to explore a range of fascinating subjects and the connections between them. Underpinned by our High Performance Learning philosophy, students are supported to reflect on the thinking and performing skills at their disposal. All Prep Harrovians can achieve highly and the HPL framework allows students to value mistake-making, risk-taking, deliberate practice and self-reflection as powerful tools to help them achieve their goals. Additionally, Prep prides itself on our strong reading culture where we read for pleasure and academic progress. The academic curriculum is further enhanced with Challenge Days and other enriching extra-curricular activities which extend the opportunity for enquiry based learning, whilst developing collaborative skills.

We promise Prep students and their families a holistic education that builds personal and leadership qualities. Leadership in Action is a driving force for this. Throughout Prep and the Upper School, students participate in a huge number of leadership, charity and service opportunities that not only benefit their own development, but allow them to make a positive contribution to our local and global communities. Our exciting extra-curricular offer activities, expeditions, House Camps to name but a few - enables students to push the boundaries of what they thought was possible. All Harrovians carry four key values in our hearts. In Prep, students are honourable and do the right thing; they are courageous and take risks with their learning; they are humble and seek ways to develop themselves as holistic learners; and importantly, the bonds of fellowship that develop in Prep are lifelong. On behalf of all the dedicated Prep staff, I look forward to welcoming all Harrovians to the Prep Phase and to the beginning of their Upper School journey. Emma Rickard Head of Prep Phase

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

HIGH PERFORMANCE LEARNING

High Performance Learning in the Upper School The High Performance Learning ‘Formula for Success’ shown below, demonstrates how high achievement is achieved in the Upper School.

With students not to them

Engagement of Parents

Feedback

Practice and Training

Expertise development

Enquiry based learning

Mindset shift

Global Citizens Advanced Performers Enterprising Learners

time than others and more practice than others to reach the top, but nearly all can get there. Practice, perseverance, resilience are essential characteristics for success in life. The HPL philosophy helps students to take risks and to accept making mistakes, crucial characteristics in the learning process, supporting character development.

HPL is well-suited to our mission to develop leadership. The Harrow Way blends academic success with character development in a Values, Attitudes and Attributes Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics supportive yet challenging environment. Academic In June 2019, Harrow Bangkok adopted the High rigour and intellectual curiosity lead to success in Performance Learning (HPL) philosophy and joined a examinations, which is life-enhancing since great results community of world-class schools at the forefront of open the doors to leading universities. We know that educational thinking and pedagogy. Seven pillars support success in life is not determined by examination grades the HPL framework which are fundamental to world-class alone, personal qualities ultimately determine whether student outcomes and they, in turn, are supported by a academic potential is translated into meaningful careers series of Advanced Cognitive Performance characteristics and a happy fulfilled life. Combined with our emphasis on (Thinking skills) and Values, Attitudes and Attributes pastoral care, building positive and effective relationships (Performing skills) which are systematically taught and and the belief that a happy child will be a successful practised in order to develop mastery. At the summit of child, our environment supports the development the framework are the desired outcomes for our students. of emotionally intelligent young men and women, determined to make a difference to the world. High Performance Learning is based on the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, which proves Harrow Bangkok is the leading international school the brain is exquisitely plastic, mouldable by experience in Thailand focussing on both academic success and throughout life. It is more malleable than we thought, character development. A Harrow Bangkok education is and we can make ourselves more intelligent. Neural synonymous with outstanding academic outcomes and pathways can be reprogrammed, inherited talent and alongside this, our holistic education philosophy supports intelligence are not fixed traits. Academically, therefore, the development of life ready, highly motivated leaders, there is more ‘room at the top’ in schools than previously equipped with the soft skills essential for the 21st century thought. At Harrow Bangkok, we believe that all students workplace. It is fitting that Harrow Bangkok is the first can be higher achievers regardless of their academic school to adopt the HPL philosophy, the first school starting points, as a result of engaging in world-class in Thailand to fully engage with the latest research in lessons, which are delivered by world-class teachers who neuroscience and psychology. systematically and consciously use current pedagogy and HPL strategies. HPL also centres around values, attitudes and attributes. The 21st century skills in demand by employers, identified by the World Economic Forum, are central to the HPL philosophy. Talent is grotesquely overrated, deliberate practice with a growth mindset is the key to success, the secret to excellence. Some need more

Opportunities Potential

Motivation Support

High Achievement Student potential is identified on entry to and progress through the school using benchmark data (CAT4 in Year 6, 8 and 9, YELLIS in Year 10 and ALIS in Year 12) alongside historic and current teacher assessment data. Students are provided with opportunities to systematically develop the Thinking and Performing Skills required for success. With high expectations of all students coupled with modelling, scaffolding and support, students make significant, rapid and positive progress. The final element is motivation which many of our students have in excess. That said, our inclusive and supportive pastoral and academic systems combine to create a world-class motivational learning environment, built on mutual respect and the expectation of high achievement.

Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics HOW TO THINK

Values Attitudes and Attributes HOW TO BEHAVE

In our pursuit of producing lifelong learners equipped with the skills for the next stage of their educational journey, throughout the Upper School students are systematically taught HPL Thinking and Performing skills as well as being provided with opportunities to deliberately practise them both in and outside the classroom. These key competencies are intrinsically linked and crucial to success. As a result of placing students at the centre of the learning process and engaging them in meta-thinking techniques from a young age, it is possible to inspire them to aim high and dream big. Attractive icons and student-friendly terminology are used in lessons and during the extracurricular and enrichment activities and to encourage students to learn to think and behave as high performers.

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

The tables below show the High Performance Thinking and Performing characteristics that we value, teach and deliberately practise at Harrow Bangkok.

Thinking Skills Meta-Thinking

Linking

Meta-cognition

Connection finding

Self-regulation

Generalisation

Strategy planning Intellectual confidence

Analysing

Creating

Critical or logical thinking

Intellectual playfulness

Precision

Flexible thinking

Complex and multistep problem-solving

Fluent thinking

Mastery

Automaticity Speed and accuracy By systematically and consistently focusing on the Performing skills alongside the Thinking Skills, HPL enables us to create and nurture Harrow Bangkok students to become more reflective, resilient and resourceful.

Imagination ‘Big picture’ thinking

Opportunities to systematically practice the Performing skills outside the classroom in sport, LiA, Music, Drama, the Arts and so forth, coupled with our Leadership and Service Curriculum which drives the Harrow Bangkok Leadership Attributes, facilitate the expansion of a toolkit of skills for the future, together with enhancing their characters.

Originality Seeing alternative perspectives

Evolutionary and revolutionary thinking

Abstraction

Harrow Bangkok students become well-rounded human beings, with interconnected academic and soft skills, and the personal confidence to truly achieve our mission statement.

Performing Skills

Collaborative

Enquiring Creative & Enterprising

Concerned for society

Practice

Community

Perseverance

Compassion

Resilience

Collaborative

Open-minded Confident

ADVANCED PERFORMERS who win places in world-class universities and make a leading contribution

GLOBAL LEADERS who are responsible and confident improving thing locally and globally

ENTERPRISING LEARNERS who are creative, innovative and well placed to enjoy future success

Risk-taking Creative Choices Challenges

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

THE TIMETABLE

INDEPENDENT LEARNING

Although the Upper School works on a two week timetable, in Prep we are largely unaffected by this. The day starts with morning registration at 07:45 where students meet their tutor in the their tutor room. There are five lessons in the school day. Two between registration and break; two between break and lunch; and one following lunch. 5 minutes of transition time is built in between lessons to allow students to visit their lockers and travel between buildings.

As students move through the Upper School, independent learning becomes a greater part of the student experience.

Example Year 6 timetable

Monday

English

Maths

Humanities

Thai Language

Tutor Period/ Gymnastics Assembly

Gymnastics

Tuesday

Science

English

Mandarin

History

Computing

Rugby

Wednesday

Activity 2

English

Maths

Thai Language

Geography

Thursday

Lesson 4

Activity 1

Lesson 2

Music

Maths

Mandarin

Science

English

Cooking Club

Friday

Break Lesson 3

Lunch Lesson 5

Lesson 1

Art and Design

Science

Games

Maths

English

MUN

Ceramics

At Harrow Bangkok we aim to foster an environment where students are taught to the highest standards in lessons, and are inspired to use what they have learnt to further extend themselves by developing a greater understanding of the topics explored independently. As such, homework is provided to encourage students to deepen, extend, or initiate learning.

Example Year 7 or 8 timetable

Monday

Japanese

English

Maths

Tutor Period/ Orchestra Assembly

Tuesday

English

Art and Design

Humanities

Science

Football Academy

Wednesday

Humanities

Japanese

French

Maths

Music

Sailing

Humanities

Games

Children’s Home Community Service

Science

Robotics, Programming and Electronics Club

Friday

Thursday

Drama

English

Science

Maths

Computing

Design Technology

Lesson 4

Activity 1

Lesson 2

English

Break Lesson 3

Lunch Lesson 5

Lesson 1

French

Activity 2

Tennis

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

THE PREP ACCELERATED CURRICULUM Harrow Bangkok Prep Phase promises: ‘In our Prep Phase, students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. They are happy and safe. The stimulating learning environment provides the freedom to explore and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to accelerate progress in the school and the world beyond.’

The Prep Accelerated Curriculum The academic journey that students experience through Year 6, into Year 7, and complete in Year 8 is called the ‘Prep Accelerated Curriculum’. This means that our Year 6-8 students make progress at a greater rate than the majority of British students in their year groups. Our Prep curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum. The English National Curriculum is a British government framework that guides schools to teach what is considered a broad and balanced curriculum. Here at Harrow

International School Bangkok, we use this framework to ensure our Prep students experience the richest knowledge across a broad range of subject areas to enjoy a holistic academic profile before going on to make iGCSE selections in Shell. As an international school, we are proud to be in a unique position to teach the best of British National Curriculum, whilst paying homage to our Thai heritage and exciting internationalism.

Where does the Prep Accelerated Curriculum sit within a child’s learning journey at Harrow International School Bangkok? Shell Challenge Curriculum

The Prep Accelerated Curriculum is underpinned by upstream academics. This means that a strong foundation of learning in the Prep phase will ensure that students reach even higher heights in their examination phases of SR5, and Sixth Form.

Prep Accelerated Curriculum

Shell (Year 9)

Challenging Pre-iGCSE Enriching

Year 8

Advancing Secure in Key Stage 3 British National Curriculum skills Secure in a wide range of knowledge areas and interdisciplinary links Secure in skills for learning

Year 7

Building Traditional British Upper School start Build accelerated progress begun in Pre-Prep

Year 6

Exploring Increased academic expectations and independence Greater ownership over their knowledge Wider curriculum offer Exploring learning in the US

Year 5

Completion of the British Key Stage 2 Curriculum one year in advance

What are the Non-Negotiables of the Prep Accelerated Curriculum?

•

Students study a spiral curriculum built upon the British National Curriculum framework - meaning that students revisit and build upon knowledge from previous study

•

Students make accelerated progress in an age-appropriate manner

•

Staff take a research-driven approach to language development for all students

•

We provide a cohesive curriculum for each cohort, taking advantage of cross curricular opportunities

•

Teachers use a consistent and standardised approach to assessment and grading, drawing upon the National Curriculum and iGCSE assessment objectives

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

Where does the Prep Accelerated Curriculum sit within a child’s learning journey at Harrow International School Bangkok? Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

EXPLORING

BUILDING

ADVANCING

CHALLENGING

Students experience varied learning opportunities which allow them to EXPLORE new knowledge and further develop skills and independence.

Students BUILD upon strong subject knowledge and specific learning skills, whilst becoming increasingly independent and interdisciplinary in their approach.

Students ADVANCE their learning to demonstrate secure in English National Curriculum KS3 skills, working a year ahead of expectations. They have proficient study and online skills and are confident speakers.

Students are CHALLENGED in their learning, developing the ability to effectively combine and apply subject specific knowledge and skills, and digital expertise to solve problems, innovate and evaluate. Shell learners are independent and IGCSE-ready.

Underpinned by Prep & Shell Learning Skills Active listening

Self-motivation & awareness

Study/Organisation

Independence

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Fluency and retrieval

Verbal confidence

Resilience

Ability to link & identify patterns

Creativity

Literacy, numeracy, digital and online literacy

Subject

Hours on Timetable

Groups

Thai

• • •

Thai Home - for native speakers and Thai passport holders Thai B - for non-native Thai passport holders Thai Foreign - for non-native and non-Thai passport holders

Japanese/Mandarin/ French/Additional English

• •

Additional language alongside Thai Some students may take additional English in place of a third language

Design Technology

•

Mixed ability

Music

Art & Design

Drama

1 for Year 7 and 8

•

Mixed ability

Pastoral Curriculum (PSHE)

•

Tutor Groups

What subjects do Prep students study? Subject

Hours on Timetable

Groups

English

4 for Year 6 3 for Year 7 and 8

• •

Library

History

Geography

Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy

Maths

Computing

Science

• •

• • • • •

Mainly mixed ability groups Some groups have a greater emphasis on supporting new English speakers Students are in the same group for these subjects Decided in conjunction with Year 5 teachers and data

Mainly mixed ability Accelerated groups stretch most able mathematicians Some groups have a greater emphasis on supporting new English speakers Students are in the same group for these subjects Decided in conjunction with Year 5 teachers and data

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

What topics are studied in each subject?

Reading in the Prep Phase Reading is a fundamental skill in Prep. Not only does the research suggest that 10 minutes of reading a day can improve wellbeing (National Literacy Trust), it is proven to also support students’ academic progress. We focus on developing language, boosting imagination, and support students to use reading to make links between different subject areas. All Prep students are enrolled in Accelerated Reader. This platform allows staff to gain important information about students’ reading habits and skills. Students are carefully matched to texts that will push them outside of their comfort zones and develop their language levels. We also run fun competitions using Accelerated Reader to celebrate individuals and tutor groups who engage with their reading regularly.

In Term 1 of each academic year, we will release Programmes of Study documents to families. These will detail what each subject teaches in each term.

How does Homework and Reading consolidate the Prep Accelerated Curriculum? Homework can add great benefit to student learning, but only when targeted to support learning and fluency in core skills. If staff and parents are to nurture academic wellbeing and student motivation, then homework must have a clearly defined purpose and be accessible to all students.

Purpose of Homework

Extra and Super-Curriculum in the Prep Phase Prep students are well-rounded individuals who strike a careful balance between their academics, pursuing their hobbies, and experiencing enriching opportunities. In Prep, students enjoy: • Prep House events • Student leadership • Charity and service commitments • National school trips • International school trips • Sports academies, fixtures, and competitions • Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) ranging across a huge breadth of interests • Upper School and Prep Phase productions, performances, and concerts • Challenge Days • Speakers and guests • Lunchtime activities • Inter-school academic competitions • Assemblies and awards ceremonies

Prep To Increase Independence and Ownership of Learning Language Development Consolidation of Knowledge

Homework Types To ensure the above purposes are met, the following homework types are set:

Prep

• • • • • • •

Reading (in English, home language, or additional foreign language) Spellings Learning topic vocabulary Knowledge questions Comprehension tasks Sparx Maths Reviewing and revising

Recording of Homework Prep

• • • • •

Homework diaries Checked by tutors once a week Signed by parents once a week Reviewed by Head of Phase Checked by boarding staff to support students during prep time

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PSHE) PSHE is delivered weekly to all Prep students during Lesson 5 on Monday’s and supported through Phase and House Assemblies. The material covered is bespoke to Harrow Bangkok, yet it is written and created in consultation with the PHSE education in the United Kingdom. Our programme is updated yearly and is created to incorporate changing trends and challenges to make it impactful for our students living and studying in Thailand. The Prep PSHE programme is built upon concept-based learning. Throughout the academic year, Prep students will immerse themselves in five concepts. The concepts are based on self-care, people-care and Earth-care. Prep students will study one concept for 4-5 weeks before showcasing their understanding of the concept through creating and showcasing an impact task in week 5 or 6. For each concept, the lessons and materials are created by the Prep House Leader team to be specific and appropriate for the Harrow Bangkok Prep phase and will be delivered in an age-specific manner by the tutor team; the lessons are focused on engaging our students to have courageous conversations.

Name

Position

Paul Johnson

Head of Upper School

paul_jo@harrowschool.ac.th

Emma Rickard

Head of Prep Phase

emma_ri@harrowschool.ac.th

Jake Connor

Director of Houses

jake_co@harrowschool.ac.th

Paul Shufflebotham

Head of Boarding

paul_sh@harrowschool.ac.th

version 11.08.2023 The Harrow International Schools, Harrow LiDe Schools and Harrow Little Lions (Early Years Centres) use Harrow School’s Name and Badge under a sub-licence granted by Harrow International Schools Limited (HISL), a trading subsidiary of the charity registered in England and Wales with charity number 310033 which owns Harrow School and its trademark, in return for a fee. The educational, administrative, financial and other operational responsibilities of the Harrow International Schools, Harrow LiDe Schools and Harrow Little Lions (Early Years Centres) are separate from those of Harrow School and rest with their owners and operators. The schools’ fees are paid to their owners and operators and not to Harrow School or HISL. Under the sub-licence, these schools are required to reflect Harrow School’s educational purpose, practice, strategy and philosophy and each is regularly evaluated by representatives of HISL. The schools’ Governing Boards include two representatives of HISL. 18

HARROW BANGKOK PREP PHASE

Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership

HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BANGKOK 45 Soi Kosumruamchai 14, Kosumruamchai Road Don Mueang Subdistrict, Don Mueang District Bangkok 10210 Thailand 20

+66 (0) 2 503 7222 harrowschool.ac.th harrowbangkok