3 highly academic international schools in SEA promoting holistic learning

Everyone jokes about the “iPad kid” who’s quietly watching a cartoon in their stroller, but the negative effects of overusing smartphones now draw far more than laughs.  A Pew Research Centre survey found that 38% of teenagers feel overwhelmed online due to all the drama. Having such close access to content that depicts the “perfection” of someone’s life spurs comparison, and as we know, comparison is the thief of joy. 

There is a simple fix to this: allowing them to explore the world in joyful learning environments. The best international schools are often known for this. They know best that kids aren’t going to grow into well-rounded individuals if they’re spoon-fed information all day, which is why they create dynamic opportunities to not only build knowledge in students, but confidence and real-world skills too. At their campuses – often purpose-built and well-equipped – you’ll find pupils immersed in and inspired by the real world. As graduates, they stand out for their holistic set of skills and knowledge, ready to navigate an increasingly complex world. 

In Southeast Asia, a handful of institutions are pioneering this well-rounded approach to education.

Chatsworth brings learning alive through practical learning opportunities in its inquiry play-based programmes. Source: Chatsworth International School

Chatsworth International School, Singapore

Founded in 1995 in Upper Serangoon, Singapore — Chatsworth International School is now located by a lush rainforest in Bukit Timah, with students of about 55 nationalities and a       diverse teaching staff walking the campus. Its academic strength isn’t one to gloss over. The International Baccalaureate (IB) World School delivers the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma programmes and produces excellent results every year.

Chatsworth is a school that inspires, educates, and enlightens students through a holistic vision that combines traditional teaching with a 21st-century approach to learning. That means nurturing each student and curating balanced experiences based outside the classroom as much as in. That means offering a curriculum that promotes the attributes of the IB Learner Profile, fostering well-rounded growth across intellectual, personal, emotional, and social contexts.

Lucky for students, Chatsworth has teachers who can create opportunities students are genuinely excited about. In the Early Years Programme, for example, when a teacher overheard a couple of three-year-olds sharing stories of their families cooking and their favourite foods, it sparked an idea for her to create “The Five Senses Mini Chef Kitchen.” It became a place where they could practise an essential life skill; receiving lessons on how to use their five senses in the kitchen, inventing their own recipes, and putting together a cookbook.

When students are heard, understood, and encouraged, that’s when they start building the agency and confidence to take charge of their learning. As they move into the Middle Years and Diploma programmes, these experiences equip them with the problem-solving skills to take initiative and become responsible global citizens.

At Chatsworth, service learning is a key aspect of the learning experience. Part of the Middle Years and Diploma programmes, this gets students visiting the Orange Valley Active Ageing Centre to celebrate Chinese New Year with the elderly and collecting food donations that’ll be sent to Food Bank Singapore, to name just two of many. In 2020, students even donated the funds from their Prom Night to the Courage Fund and Migrant Worker’s Assistance Fund.

Sounds perfect for your child? Check out Chatsworth International School here.

The Alice Smith School utilises a module modelled on the British National Curriculum. Source: The Alice Smith School

Alice Smith School, Malaysia

There’s never a dull day at Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As the oldest not-for-profit British International School in Malaysia, Alice Smith dedicates itself to bringing students on a journey of finding their “true north.” 

When nurturing courage and curiosity in its students, Alice Smith doesn’t confine them to the windows of a classroom. They’re given ample opportunities to explore the world, exercising their growth through collaboration and creativity.  

Recently, the students in Year 8 hosted a food fair of Hispanic-inspired dishes and ingredients as a part of their Spanish lessons, confidently using the language to communicate. Students in Year 3, on the other hand, visited the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre to explore the impact of in and pewter production on Malaysia’s economy, getting hands-on while crafting pewter with traditional tools. 

Such experiences define Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form education here. As students build skills in a broad range of subjects — mathematics, languages, even specialised options — their learning is further enhanced by the ACHIEVE programme: distinct timetabled lessons held once a week to develop the attributes that’ll set them up for life. 

Alongside that, students take part in Exploration Pathways, an extracurricular enrichment programme that engages them in four areas: Health & Wellbeing, Futures, Creativity, and a Better World. Primary students can get involved in the Nurture Nature club, tackling gardening and horticulture, or try out fashion, climbing, gymnastics, and more. In Secondary School, they might opt for intensive experiences like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or a leadership development course. 

Check out the Alice Smith School in Malaysia today. 

King’s Bangkok is located right in the heart of the city, on Ratchada-Rama 3 Road. Source: King’s College International School Bangkok/Facebook

King’s College International School Bangkok, Thailand

King’s College International School Bangkok is an independent day school that ranks amongst the top schools in national league tables for stellar IGCSE and A Levels results. Both in its 70,000 square metre state-of-the-art campus and beyond, King’s Bangkok is a master at nurturing well-rounded students who are confident, happy, and generous givers to the community. They do this by combining rigorous academics with an extensive co-curricular programme and pastoral care. 

In purpose-built facilities that feature an Olympic-size swimming pool, design technology studios, outdoor learning spaces, and more — students from the ages two to 18 build their skills within the UK National Curriculum, adapted from its sister school, King’s College School Wimbledon. Co-curricular activities have a dedicated time slot in the week, allowing them to build on their talents and interests. 

They might get involved in one of 10 different sports, with the opportunity to compete in football, badminton, and more, developing skills in leadership and teamwork through the process. They could perform in a rock band during festivals too or embody a new character in the black box theatre. 

The best part about King’s Bangkok is students often go on residential trips and participate in service projects that give back to the community. Recently, Year 12s painted, gardened, and donated to Wat Welu Wanaram School through the BloomsRise non-profit, run by them. In another case, students went to Benjakitti Park to conduct a field survey, exploring ways to repurpose disused land. 

Check out King’s College International School Bangkok today.