British International School, Phuket

British International School, Phuket (BISP), is an English medium, co-educational, day and boarding school that was established in 1996 in the heart of Phuket, Thailand. Its purpose-built 44 acre campus includes high quality boarding accommodation and provides world-class facilities that enable students to excel in sports and the expressive arts, as well as in their studies. The student population consists of some 1,150 day and boarding students with over 66 different nationalities represented. The majority of the student body (more than 75%) are foreign nationals. BISP provides an Early Years, Primary and Secondary school education of the highest international standard. External examinations are offered in the IB Diploma, IGCSE, Cambridge ESOL and BTEC. In addition, an externally assessed programme for spoken English is provided through the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), and the music department offers ‘Rock School’ examinations and qualifications. In the Early Years and Primary section of the school the UK National Curriculum has been enriched and adapted to meet the needs of our international student body. There is a particular focus on developing the skills of researching, collaborating, communicating, thinking and self-managing. Primary teachers work in collaboration with subject specialist staff from the Secondary school to develop and extend the curriculum and create a smooth transition as students progress through the school. A comprehensive Key Stage Three (KS3) programme leads on to the IGCSE, when students typically select between seven and 10 subjects from the 23 subject options on offer. The school has a wide choice of IB courses, these include such subjects as: Art and Design, Business and Management, Design Technology, Economics, Environmental Systems and Societies, Music, Psychology and Theatre Arts. Students also have the option to pursue the BTEC International Level 3 In Sport (Extended Diploma). BISP offers high-performance academies in Football, Golf, Swimming, Tennis and Aerial Arts. Through the Academy Programme BISP enables student-athletes to realise their full potential and prepare for lifelong success within a safe and supportive athletic structure. High-Performance Academy students receive coaching in the technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of their sport at the elite level. The sports facilities are exceptional, with two swimming pools (one of Olympic size) and a professionally coached swim team that regularly competes throughout Asia. The school also has excellent provision for football and field sports, and hosts the annual Soccer 7s football tournament that attracts over 1,000 players from international school teams throughout Asia. Interns from Bath and Loughborough University support the sporting life of the school through a GAP programme established between BISP and the Universities. The school is jointly accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). It is also a member of the International School’s Association of Thailand (ISAT), and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA).