4 international schools setting up students for success in school, university and beyond

A modern education calls for more than just a traditional classroom experience — it demands a dynamic approach that can efficiently prepare students for success at university and beyond. Moving beyond the realm of passive learning, today’s students are encouraged to explore and understand the content they engage with as well as foster their critical thinking, problem-solving and creative skills along the way. 

Technological advancements push this one step further. Tomorrow’s graduates need to be well-versed with the intricacies of the digital landscape — requiring adaptable and flexible thinkers. The best schools not only integrate such advances into the classroom but train students to develop a forward-thinking, growth mindset. 

These schools are paving the way for innovation in education. Its students are versatile and intelligent, ready to take on any challenge that comes their way. Their positive attitudes are instilled by holistic academic curriculums, a breadth of extra-curricular experiences and a healthy cohort of staff and classmates who lift them up at every turn. These four international schools embody the best of this: 

Nexus International School Singapore

Aine Massey, dedicated English teacher and guidance counsellor teacher in Nexus International School, engaging in lively conversations with the learners at the NexSteps fair. Source: Nexus International School, Singapore

At Nexus International School Singapore, students are given every resource to plan their futures with confidence and precision. For over a decade, it has approached teaching with one goal: to inspire students to have an open and creative mindset, understand their impulses, develop empathy for others, and above all, develop a commitment and deep passion for lifelong learning. 

Nexus distinguishes itself with its adoption of innovative learning. With a campus purposefully designed to support and enhance the learning process, every day becomes exciting and new. Students learn from subject specialists in stimulating classroom environments and are trained to become digital citizens with every new lesson. 

What truly sets Nexus apart, however, is its commitment to preparing students for their futures. Nexus implements a Careers and University Guidance programme which begins in Year Nine and continue to the end of Sixth Form. Led by English teacher and guidance counsellor Aine Massey, students learn to make the right choices for their futures by considering their interests, personality and individual decisions. 

A learner-centric approach is at the heart of this. A headstart during Year Nine gives them a clearer idea of choosing IGCSE subjects. As they progress through the years, they participate in the NexSteps Career Readiness Fair, speak to experts in different fields and participate in industry-level workshops with professionals — a rare opportunity for young learners. 

This only ensures that by the time they reach their IB years, Nexus students have the confidence to decide on subjects that not only align with their interests, but their next steps. Along the way, Year 12 and 13 students receive one-on-one guidance and support from Massey, gaining invaluable support during the critical time of university applications. 

The result? High-achieving students with a clear vision of what they hope to do once they graduate. Nexus graduates attend some of the best universities in the world, making an impact on the communities around them all the while. Most importantly, they have the confidence to chart their own paths according to their own terms. 

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi fuses service learning with a focus on technology to equip children with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make a positive impact on the world. Source: Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi fuses service learning with a focus on technology to equip children with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make a positive impact on the world. Source: Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi

Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi is a British international school that delivers a values-driven, progressive educational programme. Supported by a growing, caring, tight-knit community, students are treated to a holistic, experiential learning experience paired with a special edge — a balanced focus on well-being, character development and academic success. 

Service learning is part of the curriculum — an approach that develops kind and caring pupils with strong moral compasses equipped with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make a positive impact on the world.

Guided by its mission and vision, Live Worldwise, the school leads a range of service initiatives, including Educating Girls in Rural China (EGRC) Ambassador School Partnership, the Elevated Honey partnership, and the United World Schools sponsorship of Veal Reyoung School in Cambodia.

Another highlight is its emphasis on and integration of emerging technology into its international curricula (IGCSE and IB). It is the first school in China to use edtech tools offered by HarvardX, Century Tech and AS Steer. It is the first in the world to add PeerScholar into its curriculum, a formative peer-assessment tool used in over 60 countries. 

Jerudong International School

Jerudong International School challenges students to develop not only academically, but as individuals. Source: Jerudong International School

Jerudong International School challenges students to develop not only academically, but as individuals. Source: Jerudong International School 

Jerudong International School (JIS) is a premier British international school in Brunei with a difference. Home to over 1,680 students from more than 55 countries, it focuses on delivering a curriculum that not only challenges every learner but pushes them to develop and grow as individuals in their own right. 

Academics at JIS are varied, giving students the chance to choose the best option for themselves. This is most apparent during their pre-university years, where students can decide between taking the IB Diploma, A-Level examinations or International BTEC Creative Media. Each allows students to play to their own strengths, opening up more focused pathways that help them reach their future goals.

Outside of classes, students have plenty of opportunities to pursue their own interests and passions. JIS offers a wealth of different after-school activities that span across sports and the arts. Its impressive campus only enables discovery and exploration, taking advantage of the idyllic north coast of Brunei to develop an award-winning Outdoor Discovery Centre, a Forest School programme and easy access to the nearby rainforests of Temburong. 

It’s a strategy that works. JIS graduates attend some of the most prestigious universities in the world, set forth by outstanding examination results that place them among the top scorers in the world. 

Marlborough College Malaysia

At Marlborough College Malaysia, pupils hone their sense of social responsibility and learn to put their thoughts into action. Source: Marlborough College Malaysia

At Marlborough College Malaysia, pupils hone their sense of social responsibility and learn to put their thoughts into action. Source: Marlborough College Malaysia

Set on a safe and spacious 90-acre estate, Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM) is guided by principles of compassion, companionship and conversation. Here, students join the faculty in pursuing questions, not simply answers; in discovering ideas, not merely facts; and in appreciating the journey, not solely the destination.

Highly rigorous academics, a caring community, qualified teachers, student-focused learning, and college-preparatory courses — these are the features that ensure student success at MCM. Academic programmes here offer students myriad opportunities and challenges in a supportive environment. The school’s IGCSEs and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme opens the doors to many of the world’s finest universities.

What sets the college apart is its range of co-curricular opportunities. From sports to music and art, each and all provide challenge and comfort as a critical part of a meaningful, holistic education. They develop a pupil’s understanding of global issues and their responsibilities as global citizens.

“With our shared DNA and close links with Marlborough UK, we value and instil breadth of experience, intellectual rigour, creative joy and sporting excellence,” says Alan Stevens, Master of Marlborough College Malaysia. 

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