4 dynamic schools growing a globalised generation in an international environment

North London Collegiate School Jeju

An international well-rounded curriculum. An enriched co-curricular programme. A diverse student body. An English-speaking faculty. These are the main factors that make an international school truly international. 

Little wonder they’re massively popular these days. They offer a holistic student experience, nurturing children to become college-ready individuals with strong characters. But with many international schools across the globe with a seemingly endless list of factors to look into, finding the right international school can seem tough and daunting. 

It’s not impossible, though. The best international schools can fulfill all the factors, from good location to world-class facilities, a well-rounded curriculum, and a multinational student body — the list is endless. If an international school with all these factors is what you seek for your child to become part of a globalised generation, here are four worth exploring: 

North London Collegiate School Jeju

North London Collegiate School Jeju

Students start here to go anywhere. Source: North London Collegiate School Jeju

Jeju Island in South Korea is an amazing location for students, staff, and families. With a beautiful countryside, a stunning coastline, a towering dormant volcano, 360 satellite volcanic hills — and more — it is a privilege to live and study within one of the world’s new Seven Wonders of Nature. 

Enter North London Collegiate School Jeju (NLCS Jeju), a day and boarding international school for girls and boys aged four to 18. NLCS Jeju students come from Korea, China, Japan, and the rest of Asia. Here, they follow the world-renowned British curriculum without having to go to the UK — saving money and enjoying a closer distance to home. They really can start here to go anywhere. 

Starting this exceptional beginning at NLCS Jeju, many graduates go on to enjoy happy lives as global citizens and future world leaders. Its Junior School is a friendly and warm place for children aged four to 11. They pursue an ambitious education programme in small classes that ensure quality interaction with their teachers. Its Senior School is just as prolific. Through key stages of their education, they work towards sitting for the IGCSE course and then follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme, both of which boast outstanding results by past students, thanks to NLCS Jeju’s academic excellence. 

Pair good grades with a wealth of co-curricular opportunities, and NLCS Jeju students evolve into exceptional individuals who believe that anything is possible. From sports to music, drama, art and leadership, students have almost 150 different activities and academic societies to choose from every week. That’s how they get to try something new and take opportunities to discover new passions. Click here to discover how NLCS Jeju can be the ideal school for your child to build an exceptional life after school.

The British International School Kuala Lumpur

North London Collegiate School Jeju

Students are regularly invited to reflect on how their behaviour affects the world around them, show initiative and understand how they can positively contribute to those living and working in the community. Source: The British International School Kuala Lumpur/Facebook

Student success. World-class facilities. Learning on a global scale. Small-sized classrooms. Creative breakout spaces. Extensive music programme. Excellent sports and enrichment programmes. These are some reasons why parents choose a Nord Anglia education at the British International School of Kuala Lumpur (BISKL), one of the best international schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

“Here we found the school to have a great school spirit and atmosphere, motivated and engaged teachers, committed, friendly and welcoming staff, and the facilities are excellent. We do believe that BSKL is a wonderful caring and nurturing learning environment,” says the parent of student Fabiola Cestini

Indeed, BISKL encourages its teachers to nurture independence of mind and resilience within students. Students are regularly invited to reflect on how their behaviour affects the world around them, show initiative and understand how they can positively contribute to those living and working in the community. BISKL ensures its students are well-prepared for the next stage of their education with the strength of character to match. 

Confident individuals committed to academic excellence are what your child will become at BISKL. Here, students from early years to sixth form experience a premier British education for academic, social and personal success.  As no two students are the same, each student receives a tailored education, allowing them to create a unique and positive journey of their own. They reach their full potential in all areas of school life. 

On top of charting a journey towards excellence, BISKL helps students invent their future too. Its science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) programme will equip your child with the skills needed to succeed in the future years to come. Students will go through hands-on problem-solving learning in a handful of interdisciplinary subjects of STEAM. They turn ideas into reality through experiential learning and an annual visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. 

Concordia International School Shanghai

North London Collegiate School Jeju

At Concordia International School Shanghai, it’s not just about studying. Source: Concordia International School Shanghai

Situated in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, Concordia International School Shanghai is known for its strong community feel, which creates a caring atmosphere of connection and concern for others. The Concordia experience powerfully impacts both students and families. Its embracing community, a culture of familial partnership, and robust academics all lend themselves to an environment in which students can flourish and grow. 

Concordia provides a holistic education that focuses on more than rigorous academics. Here, the focus is on educating the whole child. Physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development are equally important. 

At Concordia, this whole child philosophy comes to life through its Applied Learning courses. These courses encourage 11th and 12th grade students to think and delve deeper into their passion for a subject beyond the depths of their curriculum, helping them discover unique connections between their studies and real-world endeavours. 

On top of sparking academic vitality, Concordia encourages students to contribute to society. This is done through their Service Learning projects, such as the Youth Empowering Progress (YEP) which provides education and human care services in impoverished communities while fostering social responsibility within the Concordia student body. In a recent project, students learned how recycled plastic bottles were used to create fashionable swimwear. 

The result of such authentic opportunities? Test scores that are higher than the US national average, matriculations to top universities, and graduates with their own unique balance of Global Citizen, Servant Leader, Spirited Athlete, Confident Artist, and Passionate Scholar.

St. Joseph’s Institution International Singapore

North London Collegiate School Jeju

Let your children find their footing at St. Joseph’s Institution International. Source: St. Joseph’s Institution International

Established in 2007, St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International) is a Lasallian Catholic school in Singapore that offers a holistic, values-driven and international education for students aged four to 18. 

Recently marking their 15th anniversary, SJI International is today home to a diverse student body of 40 nationalities, where families of all cultural backgrounds and faiths are welcomed. Only 35% of SJI International students are Catholics. 

SJI International has over 2,000 students across two schools — an elementary school for Prep 1 to Grade 6 (ages four to 12) and a high school for Grades 7 to 12 (ages 12 to 18). This means your children can find their footing at SJI International from the very start. 

What sets the school apart is its holistic education. Through the school’s four distinct pillars — academic, service, outdoor education and co-curricular — children can access a trove of experiential opportunities. Its Academic (IPC, IGCSE, IB Diploma) programme is enriched by beyond the classroom activities that build character

The Virtues Project, based on the beliefs and virtues valued by diverse cultures and world religions, make the school values (Community, Service, Faith, Excellence and Respect) accessible to the children. These empowering strategies inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life. 

These features ensure SJI International students gain far more than outstanding academic achievements — they reach the highest levels of personal growth. At SJI International, children will experience an international, modern-day Lasallian education, eventually growing to become people of integrity and people for others. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International