International boarding schools that foster independence

22 May 2019

Asia is a burgeoning education hub; the region is seeing a growing number of private schools that offer an alternative to state or national schools, which translates to greater flexibility for parents to shop for schools they feel are perfect for their child.

Schools in the region offer various curriculums – be it American, British or even the International Baccalaureate (IB) – which means parents looking to ensure their child receives a holistic education must look past traditional study destinations such as the UK and US and start looking to the East instead.

Boarding schools are a great option. The boarding school environment is a petri dish of international cultures that serve as an excellent learning platform, shaping young minds for our increasingly globalised world, in addition to giving them a multicultural outlook on life. Depending on the school, students have the opportunity to learn alongside pupils of various nationalities, sharpen their life skills, and enjoy immeasurable personal growth – all of which are important for future success.

Living away from parents also means learning to live independently and manage one’s time, which fosters independence and serves as excellent preparation for university life. And the experience culminates with a globally respected qualification.

Source: Jerudong International School

If you’re considering sending your child to a boarding school in Asia, here are four you should consider:

SHATTUCK ST. MARY’S FOREST CITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – MALAYSIA

Shattuck-St. Mary’s is a coeducational boarding and day school in Forest City, an ecologically green city in Malaysia’s southernmost state Johor, for students from Pre-K to Grade 12. The school gives students a unique opportunity to enjoy an American education in Malaysia as either day or boarding students.

Here, students learn to be a part of a global society alongside local and international classmates from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Canada, the UK and US. The school boasts an experienced and international teaching faculty who bring a wealth of expertise to the American curriculum. Meanwhile, learning programmes for students between the ages of three and 18 reflect not only different approaches for different ages but also a unified vision of education for the whole child.

Academic excellence aside, Shattuck-St. Mary’s also emphasises a balanced lifestyle through participation in sports – a graduation requirement. Students also have access to the full range of school resources at designated times, including the pool, the weight room, the soccer pitch and the net sports. Excursions to the local malls, movie theatres, IKEA or even to Singapore are regularly scheduled and chaperoned by teachers.

Source: Shattuck St.Mary’s

The school’s location serves as a great educational experience as Malaysia is a smorgasbord of cultures, located at a crossroads between the East and West. Overlooking Singapore, the country is also highly accessible – there are numerous direct flights into the country from Japan, China, Korea and Thailand, among others.

JERUDONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (JIS) – BRUNEI

JIS, a co-educational school, offers the British and international curriculum to students aged two to 18 from some 55 countries. The school is broadly selective and prides itself on providing an education that is not only academically challenging but also develops well-rounded students.

The spacious campus is surrounded by rainforest, providing a green, clean and safe haven for students.

Here, children learn in an inclusive and respectful environment where diversity is embraced. Boarders have access to a range of facilities, including a medical centre, dining room and recreation facilities, sports complex facilities and a brand-new cafe.

JIS also boasts of impressive student performance, validated by Penta International BSO Inspection Report, which said the school fully meets BSO standards, while the arrangement ensured by the school for the welfare, health and safety of the students is outstanding.

Source: Jerudong International School

Meanwhile, learners in Years 12 and 13 can choose from the IB Diploma or the A-Level programme, studied over two years and taught by an outstanding team of highly qualified academic staff, helping them gain entry to the world’s leading universities.

Unsurprisingly, many JIS graduates have gone on to study at reputable universities around the world, including the University of Oxford, Brown University, Australian National University, King’s College London, and more.

DWIGHT SCHOOL SEOUL – SOUTH KOREA

Dwight, an IB World School located in the South Korean capital, is part of a global network of independent IB schools founded in New York in 1872. Its Seoul campus is the first IB World School in the metropolis to receive authorisation in all three IB Programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP).

What’s unique about Dwight is that the school was designed to prepare graduates for admission to prestigious universities – it boasts a three percent enrolment rate into ivy leagues and saw 14 Russell Group Acceptances in 2018 alone.

Source: Dwight School Seoul

Meanwhile, the school believes in the importance of extending opportunities for learning beyond the classroom and providing Nature Education for children. The school embraces the Waldkindergarten (Nature School) philosophy that is widely popular in Europe.

Dwight also has a rich tradition of athletic excellence and success, believing that school athletics are an integral component of a complete educational experience, also serving as an important element for student-athletes to set goals, develop skills, build friendships, work in teams, increase confidence and promote fitness.

To ensure student success at university-level, Dwight’s university college counsellors assist students and their families in every aspect of their college search, meeting one-on-one with each student, organising university and college visits to the school, holding university and college information sessions and providing support with other services needed for admissions to universities worldwide.

DULWICH COLLEGE BEIJING (DCB) – CHINA

Do you want your child to enjoy a quintessentially British education in China’s capital?

Source: Dulwich College Beijing

DCB first opened its doors in 2005, and today welcomes students with over 45 different nationalities. Educating children from as young as two up to 18, DCB’s primary teaching language is English, with a Dual Language approach in Mandarin and English in Early Years.

Children aged five and below follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, before following the National Curriculum of England and Wales from Year 1 to Year 9, which has been enhanced to meet the needs of the international student body. In Year 10, students begin the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), a rigorous two-year course that covers a broad range of subjects, including maths and sciences, English and foreign languages, and the humanities. In Year 12, students undergo the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).

The system of pastoral care is highly developed at DCB, while the academic framework has proven successful. The school has enjoyed some of the finest IGCSE and IB results in Asia, while many students have gone on to join Ivy Leagues, Russell Groups and other prestigious universities around the world.

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