Enquire to study in the UK 
Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School (Bangkok Prep) is one of the leading international schools in Bangkok. Here, students from Nursery to Year 13 thrive academically, socially and emotionally before going on to some of the world’s top universities such as: University of Cambridge, Cornell University, LSE, Imperial College, Brown University and UCLA, to name a few. This is something the school has achieved over its 21 years of operation – as well as in more recent years receiving strong praise for another unique feature: a growing and significant sustainability focus in its ethos.
“When I started, I was keen to get involved with the student-led Eco Team,” says Lynne Pearson, who took on the role of Secondary Eco-Coordinator last year. Together, she and the Eco Team lead many environment-related activities in the school, hyping awareness about how human actions affect the planet and helping everyone act more responsibly rather than leaving it to just a small minority.
Initiatives like these barely scratch the surface of what it’s like to prepare for a sustainable global future at Bangkok Prep. Four pillars – Education, Environment, Wellbeing for All, and Leadership for the Future – shape this mission. This includes integrating practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Always striving to do better, there are activities and offerings like the Growing Green Recycling Contest, where students bring recyclables to the school and earn a chance to win prizes.
Environment-related activities at Bangkok Prep sow awareness about how human actions affect the planet. Source: Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School
Bangkok Prep is the first international school in Thailand to be awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation and have been reaccredited twice since (the award requires a biannual renewal). This is the highest status by the ECO School organisation. Bangkok Prep was also the first international school in Thailand to have its very own forest campus. It is situated in Bangkrajao, the Green Lung of the city, and hosts many sustainability-related events including Forest School (Level 3) Training (first in Thailand), FOBISIA Environmental Conferences, as well as regular field trips that take the classroom out into the great outdoors.
Instead of concrete walls, the natural environment provides many ways to encourage creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and emotional resilience. Year 3 students got to build a stove with hand-made clay and paint a snapshot of nature using watercolours in the style of Monet; Year 8 geography students explored microclimates and conducted infiltration testing; and Year 10 students had team building activities and honed new skills like map reading, tent building and cooking lunch on a portable stove.
“Sustainability is not confined to theoretical discussions; it is translated into practical applications,” says Michael McFarlane, Assistant Head of Whole School (Sport and Sustainability). “These experiences empower them to be active contributors to a more sustainable and resilient future.”
Learning in the great outdoors empowers Bangkok Prep students to be active contributors to a more sustainable and resilient future. Source: Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School
Going outdoors stimulates cognitive, emotional, and physical development, making students more dexterous, coordinated and healthier overall — even when they’re not actively engaging in some task. The tranquil setting of the Forest Campus serves as a respite from the demands of everyday life. It’s a great place to unwind, reflect, and recharge — giving students regular exposure to nature that has been linked to improved mental health and overall well-being.
“The impact on students’ learning experiences is profound, with the Forest School serving as a catalyst for holistic development, environmental stewardship, and the cultivation of a lifelong love for learning,” says McFarlane. So much so that some students carry these lessons into university, pursuing fields with a minor in sustainability, like medicine, engineering, biochemistry, and molecular biology, in top universities worldwide.
