Regent’s prospectus BANGKOK
4
guiding statEmemt Vision A journey of excellence in international education: at The Regent’s School, Bangkok, the Home of Well-rounded Leaders of the Future, we believe that all students can learn to their fullest potential because of the School’s commitment to holistic education. Student learning will be enhanced by national, international, and intercultural perspectives. Graduates will develop the academic knowledge and the technological skills, to enable them to communicate effectively, think critically and solve problems. They will become responsible and accountable citizens, lifelong learners and will be prepared for the challenges of university and their life beyond. Mission The Regent’s School aims to provide a secure and caring coeducational day and boarding environment in which students develop the skills and values necessary to realise their potential
and make a positive contribution to society. The School actively fosters academic excellence, respect for others’ opinions, international awareness, understanding of environmental issues, enjoyment of challenge, experience of leadership and commitment to the service of others. Learning Objectives The outcomes which our students will experience on their learning journey are: • a rich learning environment with outstanding holistic teaching • positive, enjoyable, stimulating, rigorous and differentiated learning • an enriching curriculum which has strong cross-curricular links and a sustained co-curricular programme • thorough assessment and tracking of overall progress in order to achieve true potential • an appropriate transition from
one Key Stage to the next in order to support emotional and academic needs • a positive and rewarding English Speaking Environment • the opportunity to become effective communicators, critical and innovative thinkers, good problem solvers and lifelong learners • strong intercultural, international and national understanding • a confidence in effectively using information technology skills at school and in future life Our students will: • achieve the external examination results and university offers of which they are capable • develop the appropriate morals and values, through the Round Square IDEALS, to become well rounded leaders for the future
5
6
welcome
W
elcome to The Regent’s School Bangkok. We have grown from a small primary school into a celebrated day boarding facility providing outstanding education for nearly six hundred young international minds ranging from 2 to 18 years old and 50 boarders who are mainly from overseas. The Regent’s School, Bangkok was established in 1999. The two Boarding Houses are accommodated at the Cultural Centre Campus, whilst Early Years, Primary and Secondary are accommodated at the recently opened Rama 9 Campus in brand new spacious facilities.
The Regent’s School aims to provide a secure and caring coeducational day and boarding environment in which students develop the skills and values necessary to realise their potential and make a positive contribution to society. The School actively fosters academic excellence, respect for others’ opinion, international awareness, understanding of environmental issues, enjoyment of challenge, experience of leadership and commitment to the service of others. We believe the key to our success lies in the quality of our teaching staff and their commitment to being excellent role models
for all students. All our main teachers possess Qualified Teacher Status (‘QTS’). We place top priority on the recruitment of such teachers. Apart from foreign language teachers, all our teaching staff are native English speakers and nearly 90% are British. Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics, Imperial College London, University College London, The Royal College of Music London, Stanford, MIT, Wharton (U of Penn), UC Berkeley, The National University of Singapore and Seoul National University are among the prestigious universities which have offered places to our recent graduates. 7
8
Lectuer at cambridge university
dr.virachai, chairman
I
t was at Joseph Upatham School in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand that 17- year-old Dr Virachai was introduced to the world of teaching as a Year 7 class teacher. After two short years he was asked to become the headmaster of the 1000-pupil school. At 21 Dr Virachai went to study in the US and obtained 3 degrees including a Ph.D. in Accountancy. He taught 6 years at 3 universities from Instructor to Associate Professor at University of Nevada Las Vegas. Before he returned to Thailand in 1985, he was appointed full time Lecturer at UCLA’s Graduate School of Management. In Thailand he has worked tirelessly to achieve many positions of responsibility to include the second in command of a medium size bank, Mass Rapid Transit Authority’s Chairman, adviser to a former prime minister as well as being appointed the Honorary Consul of Estonia in 1999. It is
this diplomatic status that has kept him away from politics and plunged him into educational reform for the past decade and a half. His story is inspirational and uplifting and it is the reason behind the great success of The Regent’s School. The start of something great Dr. Virachai and his wife started off in 1992 with 32 rental houses. The residents, who were executives of Exxon and Fluor Daniel, inspired them to set up an international school to attract foreign engineers to work in the eastern part of Thailand. A small international school already existed in Na-KluaPattaya which was not doing so well. Virachai took it over in May 1994 and opened it under new management in August. The school began with 20 students from the old school plus another 50 from a 2-month publicity effort, then by January 1995
Virachai attracted another 50 students. It was necessary to move to a larger plot of land, the current site, with initial acreage of 42 rais just outside Pattaya. His personal land holding now is about 450 Rais, plenty of room to provide more facilities to students and accommodations to the parents. Five years later in 2000, Virachai opened the first Bangkok campus near Thailand Cultural Centre. Then, in 2009 the second Bangkok site was opened near a Japanese School to welcome early years and primary classes. Investment in top quality teachers, mainly British, has been the key to his success resulting in top university destinations. This increased the school’s standard to be close to Britain’s and met his goals. He can’t help being proud of the fact that the school attracts the children of international royalty and ministers among the 80 overseas boarders.
9
10
PRINCIpal’s message
T
he very high standard of educational provision combined with our highly effective and dedicated staff create a vibrant, exciting and challenging environment for our students, from the time they arrive to the time they leave. The approach is one that is focused on developing the whole child, their gifts and talents, individuality, abilities and skills – social, scientific, artistic, sporting, musical, their leadership qualities and their awareness of their role as global citizens. Our Guiding Statements combined with our firm commitment to the Round Square philosophy, underlines
the strategic development of a relatively young school. A school’s success can be measured in many ways. My main criterion for success is that each student is enriched by the experiences they enjoy at The Regent’s School, that they move on to the next phase in their lives as fully developed individuals who will be able to make a positive difference to those with whom they come into contact; simply put, ‘to leave people and places better than they found them’. The Regent’s School, Bangkok is a community within which a number of stakeholders have a very positive impact upon The School’s overall success. From
the continued commitment of The Board, the loyalty of the staff, the support of the parents and the response of the students, the School will continue to develop and flourish. I hope you enjoy finding out more about us, and that you decide to arrange a visit, and that when you do, we have the opportunity to meet and discuss the way forward, whether you are a prospective parent or whether you wish to further your teaching career. Mr. Martin Kneath Principal Bangkok Campus Leave people and places better than you found them 11
12
ROUND SquARE The Regent’s School has been a member of the Round Square Organisation since 2010. As a Round Square School, we demonstrate how the six pillars of Round Square are delivered through different areas of educational practice in the school. The six pillars of Round Square are called IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmental awareness, Adventure, Leadership, Service to the community.
T
he...Regent ’s... school is a grobal member of The Round Square Organisation, a worldwide association of schools that share a commitment to an education that goes way beyond the classroom, to personal development and responsibility through its six (IDEALS) pillars. As such Internationalism, Democracy,. E n v i r o n m e n t , . . . A d v e n t u r e, Leaderships and Service permeate all levels of the school and
underpin much of what goes on. There is a high expectation that all staff and students are involved in and benefit from Round Square activities. The school has built up with the community over a period of several years. A member of community service partnerships which continue to flourish and opportunities abound for students to become involved in service activities as well as in other areas. 13
14
EARLY YEARS and PRIMARY
O
ur first objective is to ensure that each child settles into their new environment so that they come to know their teacher and socialise with their peers. It is equally important that they feel confident and happy, because once they do, it will not take them long to progress rapidly.
citizens.
published on a Friday, reports what has happened that week and advertises future events. Parents consult formally with teachers about attainment and progress at the end of each term, after they have received written reports and at the end of the year, a full colour hard cover Year Book is published, recounting the events of the year.
We firmly believe that for this success to happen, the parents must feature in the partnership; an important factor is the need to communicate. Parents of young children need to know, for example, what is happening from the homework which is set to weekly spelling tests and the Each child will find their days consistency of approaach of the The Primary Management filled with new experiences teaching staff, and much more. Group, comprising of the Head which will develop them Early Years and Primary parents of Primary, Deputy Head and Key academically, socially, spiritually, have daily direct access to the Stage Coordinators, oversee the and emotionally using their gifts teacher either for a quick chat educational provision and the and talents, their individuality, or to make an appointment for quality of teaching and learning. abilities and skills – social, a longer discussion. The Home/ They are also available to discuss scientific, artistic, sporting and School Book also provides for a matters of concern with parents. musical – to become leaders and written note from or to the parent. to be aware of their role as global A weekly primary Newsletter, 15
n Rohullah Mirzai
Phuntsho Chode
16
SECONDARY
W
e l c o m e . . . t o . . .T h e Regent ’s,...Bangkok, Secondar y...School. Since 2003 the Secondary section has grown from KS3 only, to offering IGCSE/GCSE, A levels and now The International Baccalaureate. We are proud of our examination results which have improved year on year and are well above national UK averages. However, The Regent’s School is more than academic lessons and external examination results. As a Round Square School we wish to develop well rounded citizens who strive to make a real difference to their own and others’ lives. Following the IDEALS philosophy
we firmly believe in helping others through fundraising and maintaining and fostering links with charities and organisations. We encourage democratic processes in school with a strong Student Guild deciding and leading many initiatives. We celebrate both our international links with our students who come from overseas as well as celebrating the culture of Thailand.
first experienced and increasingly mastered.
We firmly believe we are leading the way with our environmental programme and this has been recognised internationally already this year by PATA (Pacific Asian Tourist Association). Whether a prospective parent, an alumni or a current student, please enjoy going through this site, and I hope you get a flavour of this exciting We actively encourage our school! students to ‘step out of the comfort zone’ and be adventurous. Spending one week at the IDEALS International study Centre is an integral part of every Secondary student’s year and this is where many adventurous activities are 17
18
beyond the classroom
O
u r. . . C o . . . C u r r i c u l a Programme aims to provide all of our students with a diverse range of activities that are fun, challenging and rewarding. It gives them the opportunity to discover new learning experiences as well as develop valuable life skills. Our community based partnerships and projects, developed over many years through working together on service based learning experiences, are one of the school’s greatest strengths and encourage students to try new and varied activities throughout the academic year.
The International Award (known in the UK as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award) is a programme designed to encourage students to realise their greater potential in a range of non-academic areas beyond In the form of service learning, the formal curriculum. it can also become a strategy Students enter the programme for helping young people in Year 10 at Bronze level; they develop social and emotional plan and participate in service competencies and other valuable work, follow a sports or physical activity programme and develop qualities. The programme provides a creative skill with the chance to numerous clubs, awards, go on adventurous journeys and initiatives, projects and activities expeditions. When integrated across the curriculum, community partnerships and service related experiences can become a tool for developing an appreciation for responsible citizenship.
that offer each student the opportunity to experience a different aspect of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) in each term.
19
20
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAureate (IB)
T
he International Baccalaureate (IB) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a nonprofit educational foundation and since then has grown to provide quality educational...programmes delivered...by...over...20,000 schools to over 50,000 students worldwide each year. The IB write the syllabi for the subjects we teach, produce support material to help in the delivery of the classes and, most importantly, regulate and validate all of our assessment at the end of the two year programme. All coursework is moderated by IB examiners and all final exams are marked by IB examiners. In addition, all
IB teachers undertake training from the IBO. Regent’s has been an authorised IB Diploma school since 2010 and every 5 years the IB review our status to ensure we maintain the exacting standards required to teach this prestigious programme. IB is a dynamic learning programme for year 12 and 13 that offers a broad educational experience, and is the perfect preparation for University and further education. The subject groups are : Language, Humanities, Maths/ICT, The Arts, Science. The extended essay is an externally assessed document of
4000 words, written on one of the subject areas. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary component that explores the different concepts of knowledge found in the subject areas. Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) is where the participating student spends a minimum of 150 hours over the two year course on creative, physical and service activities in the local community. This allows the student to gain real life experience beyond the classroom, and fits in perfectly with the school’s Round Square philosophy, as we seek to prepare our students to be exemplary citizens. 21
22
THE CURRICULUM All our students at The Regent’s School, Bangkok are encouraged to reach their full potential and our well-qualified teachers have the ability to deliver the curriculum in an enjoyable and interesting manner. At The Regent’s, Bangkok we view the curriculum holistically – it is more than simply academic study – and, as such, we expect and encourage all our students to be involved in the wider life of the school through cultural, sporting and service commitments. This is most visible in opportunities provided through, Sport, Drama, Music, The International Award and Round Square activities.
The Early Years Innovative learning and development. We provide an environment where Curriculum over view. The children in the Early Years children feel safe and secure, and department are aged between each and every child feels valued 2 1/2 and 5 years old. Classes for his/her culture. We enjoy cover Pre-Nursery, Nursery and celebrating and learning about the Reception and are staffed by world around us, and some of our qualified teaches and supported multi-cultural activities include Loy Krathong, Chinese New Year, by bi-lingual TAs. Christmas and Songkran. The children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Our staff work closely with which is based on learning parents on a day to day basis, through play. We ensure that through verbal discussion and all children have varied learning home-school link books, we experiences in which to develop ensure that each and every child’s essential skills for the future. needs are fully met. We feel it is Child-initiated hands-on learning essential to ensure that all the and adult-led activities provide Early Years children enjoy being the basis for the young children’s at school and have fun through their learning, in order to form a 23
THE CURRICULUM good basis for their future school career following the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidelines
and experiment.
are able to draw upon these ideals learners and thus we implement and plan effective, relevant and a very robust Jolly Phonic Progamme. The children are exciting lessons. introduced to Phonics in the Our curriculum is divided into Nursery and continue a more six areas of learning, we have intensive approach in the a holistic approach and believe Reception year. We expose the that ‘every child matters and is children to vocabulary supported unique’. by the use of visual aids and The Journey of each child is practical learning experiences. recorded with in our pupil profiles. Problem Solving, Reasoning and We also use the CEM assessments, Numeracy - Our children are given ASPECTs and PIPS Baseline, which practical opportunities to develop is a British based assessment and explore their understanding and we have scored above the of number, measure, patterns, UK national average in all areas. shape and space. We encourage We also implement continued children to learn and recognise formative assessments to inform numbers 0 to 10, and beyond, to our planning. understand more/less, addition The six areas of our curriculum and subtraction. are: Knowledge and Understanding of Personal and Social Development the World – Being an international – within this area we provide school the children have a unique opportunities for each child to opportunity to learn about many become a valued member of the different cultures and beliefs, thus group and develop positive self discovering and learning about esteem. Children are encouraged different celebrations that occur to share, to learn how to take during the year. We encourage turns and co-operate with each children to ask questions about why things happen and how other. Communication,...Language things work so that they are and Literacy – It is our aim to provided with the opportunity to encourage children to love books, solve problems, make decisions
Creative Development - In this area children are provided with the opportunities to explore art, music, movement and role play activities. We have two concerts during the year, one at Christmas and one towards the end of the summer term.
to enjoy listening to stories and to retell using their own words. Children are provided with the opportunity to speak to a variety We are particularly aware that in of audiences; for example within this international setting and our class, during assemblies and end of term productions. Children are students enter school with encouraged to explore written many different life skills and text and to learn to recognise experiences. letters and sounds. The Q.C.A. Early Years Foundation We are aware that most of our curriculum realises this, and so we children are second language
Physical Development - Childen are provided with a range of gross motor activities. They have weekly swimming lessons with a ratio of two children to one adult, and PE lessons also with a specialist teacher. Children are encouraged to develop an awareness of their own bodies and to understand the need for a healthy diet and exercise.
Class sizes are kept of an appropriate level, and we are able to adapt the curriculum, ensuring that we meet the needs of the individual child. To help the Reception with the Transition to Year One we have begun to extend the school day gradually each term, in term One the Reception class finish at 1.30 in term two they finish at 2.00 and in the third term the children move into a more Key Stage 1 time table and finish at 2.30. We have also recognised the need that Parents wish the children to learn Mandarin and so we offer lessons in Nursery and Reception. We recognise the need to be flexible in order to fulfill the unique needs of our children. We believe in a ‘family’ oriented approach to encourage our children to feel happy safe and secure. 24
THE CURRICULUM The Primary School Curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum. We teach an integrated curriculum in which students learn subjects through an overarching topic. A topic based approach to teaching allows students to use and apply their knowledge and skills in a range of contexts and also makes learning more enjoyable and relevant to the students. We employ a range of teaching strategies to make sure that every child learns at the level and pace that best suits their needs. We assess student progress on an ongoing basis and use our assessments to inform our teaching programme. Our core subjects are English, Mathematics and Science and we offer a full and varied Humanities, Arts and Physical Education programme with specialist teachers for ICT (computers), Drama, Music and PE. We compliment our curriculum with an extensive cocurricular programme in which students can chose to attend classes in a range of subjects. Examples of this term’s activities include First Aid, Golf and Art. The Secondary Curriculum is a broad and balanced curriculum which provides various pathways of seamless study from Year 7 to Year 13.
all students study Thai, in line with the Ministry of Education guidelines, and Mandarin. There is an innovative and creative Arts and Humanities programme which allows for cross curricular, collaborative learning and there is provision for an instrumental music lesson each week for all. Information and Communication Technology features heavily in the modern world and at Regent’s this is integrated into lessons and taught through relevant tasks related to learning in all subjects. The Keystage 3 curriculum is flexible enough to allow adaptation to suit students’ particular learning needs. In Years 10 students begin a 2 year programme where they can choose options leading to IGCSE qualifications alongside a core curriculum of Mathematics, English and Science. There is a wide range of subjects on offer and also the flexibility to tailor a programme of study to allow extra support if necessary. Core subjects are available at various levels to ensure students are challenged throughout the course. Science is taught in the three disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics which will be examined separately or as a Double Award. English Language, Literature and as a second language is available to students based on their language profile, and Mathematics is available with an extended course for those who are particularly able in the subject.
At Keystage 3, years 7-9, the students study 13 subjects, based on an enhanced English National Curriculum model with additional time to learn and develop the thinking skills that are so important for young people in a modern world. In addition to Mathematics, English and Science, In addition to the range of
optional subjects, critical thinking skills are taught and learned through a course called ‘Global Perspectives’ which leads to an IGCSE qualification and continues the ‘thinking’ continuum which runs through the whole of the curriculum. Thai nationals will study Thai language, Literature and Culture in line with the Ministry of Education guidelines. In Senior Studies, Year 12 and 13, students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The IBDP is a highly valued and respected qualification which allows our students to gain access to all major universities around the world. This is a course which includes 6 academic subjects along with the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) and an independent study to produce an Extended Essay (EE). The IBDP really prepares student well for university and had the breadth of subjects to allow students to make choices about their future are of study as undergraduates. The addition of TOK, CAS and EE really help to produce well rounded students who have developed the personal qualities that make them true Global Citizens.
25
Primary TEACHERs
26
Secondary TEACHERs
Academic STAFF
I
t is a well-known fact that a school’s greatest resource is its teachers. We work hard to make sure that our recruitment process attracts the hard-working and successful professionals that our students deserve. When recruiting, we look for teachers who are passionate and highly knowledgeable about teaching their field of expertise. It is essential that this energy, excitement and enthusiasm is brought into our student’s classrooms every day. Our teachers are all native English speakers, well-qualified and experienced most are recruited from the UK but we also have
staff from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America on our team. As a school that highly values a holistic approach to education, we actively seek teachers who will enhance this very important aspect of the learning opportunities that we provide. All teachers come to us with a variety of personal achievements and interests that add greatly to the breadth and depth of our curriculum. Any parent who would like to meet a member of staff is welcome to take advantage of formal occasions such as the Parent-Teacher Evenings, or they can directly contact the relevant department of the school to make an individual appointment. 27
28
BOARDING
B
oarding at The Regent’s School, Bangkok offers a flexible boarding option. We offer full time and weekly boarding where we provide home comforts and a truly warm welcome. The Boarding staff here at The Regent’s School, Bangkok feel incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful range of boarders. Whilst every young person is different, our mix of nationalities, interests, talents and personalities make for a thriving community where we can all learn from each other. We are very aware of the camaraderie and humour which exists in our Boarding houses. Our boarders love to get together to share tales and stories from their home countries. After evening
prep our students love to spend their evening participating in activities followed by cooking, relaxing, and generally enjoying one another’s company. There are such a range of activities and opportunities during evenings and weekends for Boarders to look forward to. We believe that boarding at The Regent’s School helps children to develop confidence and independence. Our Boarders have the best of both worlds – a readymade circle of friends in their Boarding House and the chance to make friends with our day students who have the opportunity to visit boarding and stay overnight if they wish. We provide continuity of care
for children whose parents’ work involves frequent changes of location or where parents work long hours. At The Regent’s School, Bangkok we provide boarding for children from Yr 7 to Yr 13. We offer after school and evening activities as well as a range of weekend activities to include some cultural visits of Thailand. Experienced staff are on hand to assist new boarders to settle in and the great majority of boarders get used to their new surroundings very quickly, however, if any do experience problems we are always here to help and advise. Boarding in Years 12 & 13 is excellent preparation for university life or employment away from home. 29
30
facilities and School services
W
e are well equipped for sports and activities that enhance our students’ educational experience.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on campus in the school canteen. A variety of both Thai and Western food is available daily and All three phases of the school are is cooked freshly on site. Students now accommodated at the Rama are also free to bring their own 9 Campus, along with a full sized snacks or packed lunches. high grade artificial turf floodlight The school has a shop on campus football pitch, swimming pool, where students are able to basket ball court, large spacious purchase their uniform. Tuck shops indoor multi use auditorium, and a coffee shop are also available specialist teaching areas and WiFi on site that provide a variety of throughout. food, fresh fruit smoothies and Our boarding houses, equipped other beverages. with modern fingerprint security technology to ensure the safety and peace of mind of our boarders, are home to around 50 students. We welcome you to visit our campus to experience what we have to offer firsthand.
Students are expected to wear the approved school uniform and PE attire for sports, all of which can be purchased from the school shop. The Sixth Form dress code consists of work appropriate attire that is formal and conservative, in preparation for future careers.
The school provides a bus service for the safe transport of your child to and from school Alternatively parents may make their own arrangements to drop off and collect their children. 31
32
The Regent’s UK
STUDY OVERSEAS
A
s the world becomes increasingly interconnected our students are challenged to expand their knowledge and attitudes in order to successfully participate in the emerging global community. The ability to speak and use the english language fluently provides countless advantages in their professional as well as in everyday life. The Regent’s School UK was established through the Joint Venture Agreement between the Regent’s Schools Thailand and Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School UK in 2009. The Regent’s Schools offer the
them to meet the challenges of a changing world. The school offers ENC (Common Entrance & School Examinations to UK public and state schools) and LAMDA (London Art of Music and Dramatic Art) examinations. It is fully ISI, Ofsted UK and IAPS accredited. The Regent’s School UK enrolls British and international students up to Year 9 (girls 2-14, years of age The school aims to be a unique, boys 2-14 years of age). Boarding stimulating, secure and happy places are available for boys and environment rich in opportunity girls aged 7 and older. and expectation. Every child For more information, please is encouraged to aspire to the refer to the Regent’s website: highest possible educational www.regents.ac.th and moral standards preparing exciting, culturally enriching opportunity to study at this UK based campus, located in the breath taking countryside of Norfolk. The school, established in 1946 in a magnificent Georgian home, is set amidst 30 acres of private parkland, thus providing an inspiring environment for wellrounded student development. Its most celebrated alumnae was the Late Diana, Princess of Wales.
33
34
New FIfa artificial turf at Secondary Building
football field at Primary Building 35
The Regent’s School, BANGKOK, 601/99 Pracha-Uthit Road, Wangthonglang, Bangkok 10310, THAILAND Tel: +66 (0) 2 9575777, Fax: +66 (0) 2 9575778, enquiry@regents.ac.th, www.regents.ac.th