International School Thailand - Our Culture and Traditions

Every school has slightly different Culture and Traditions, and it is crucial to be aware of them if one is to truly appreciate, understand and learn about the school. At Bromsgrove International School, we are very proud of both our Culture and Traditions.

As our mission statements indicates, we aim “To identify and develop the potential of each student, provide them with the best achievable qualifications and prepare them for a successful and happy life as responsible members of the global and local community”.

We recognize that academic excellence is one very important strand of every child’s education, yet we are also concerned for the intellectual, physical, moral, spiritual and emotional development of our students.
BIST is the sister school of Bromsgrove School in England, which has a 450 year old tradition. Looking back through books which chart Bromsgrove’s history in England, one catches a sense of why Bromsgrove and British Education are so respected in the international community.

Firstly there were Headteachers who were zealous in their devotion to certain principles. Some of these principles were moral, some religious, some academic and some simply promoted the idea of self-discipline by external example.

Secondly, schools such as Bromsgrove in England have had the freedom to devise strategies which work for them, secure in the knowledge that ever changing governments have little real effect on their teaching methods. The same traditions which were tried and tested hundreds of years ago can still work. Where else does the prefect system, the importance of team games, punishment and reward, and much of our curriculum come from?

Thirdly, unlike many other countries, UK private education places great emphasis on the pastoral support and guidance of children by those in charge. Teachers in the UK have never been just teachers of academia – they also show what is right and wrong, how best to behave in a respectful tradition, support children's social, moral and emotional development.

Fourthly, British Schools have placed equal emphasis on sports and the arts – athletics, team sports, healthy competition, music, art and drama. No respectable British private school would be without its sports fields and assorted competition with other schools, its drama and music production, its choir, its art displays and informative notice boards, school houses, its music instrumental lessons and so on.

Fifthly, British Education has sought to develop the creativity and imagination of its children. This can happen in 'creative writing', literature, art, sculpture, design and technology, music, ICT and even Mathematics and Science. All this is done in the spirit of 'ask if you don't understand’. Don't just ask 'Why?’ also ask 'Why not?’ Individualism is celebrated and encouraged.

Lastly, perhaps more than anything, the uniform of students stand out as icons of all that such institutions stand for: tradition, discipline, respectability and a common culture. A uniform is an outward display of one's inner being.
How do these ideas 'translate' into the running of BIST?

1.      TEACHING & LEARNING

A philosophy of:
·         Small class sizes (maximum of 15 in the younger years, to 25 in the Secondary School)
·         A modern purpose-built school
·         Experienced and highly qualified teachers
·         Selection of students by standard assessment tests (e.g. NVR, Mathematics, Literacy) and personal interview
·         Regular monitoring of student’s work – appropriate feedback given
·         Formal and regular reporting

2.      CURRICULUM

BIST’s curriculum is based on the English national curriculum of England with appropriate changes made for living in SE Asia.

3.      EAL (English as an Additional Language)

Great emphasis is put on teaching appropriate English skills through all subjects. Many of our teachers have undergone further professional development by attending the ‘EAL in the mainstream’ course at School.

4.      Extra curricular

All staff contribute to the extra-curriculum programme, with teachers able to choose activities related to their own skills & interests. Children get the chance to try out new and different sports, games and skills. It is at this time that further social integration takes place and further opportunities for language development occur. This is all part of our philosophy to bring out the latent talent of our children.

5.      School Houses

Four School houses exist: Walters, Taylor, Edwards and Earle; all named after Bromsgrove School’s past Headmasters. All children and staff are attached to the houses which are identified by colours. The houses form the basis for tutor groups, inter-house competitions in sport, games, music, arts, etc.

6.      Democracy and Leadership

Opportunities are given for children to be elected to positions of responsibility such as Lead Boy, Lead Girl, Head Boy, Head Girl, House Captains and Vice-Captains, Student Council Representatives, Mini-HODS (student Heads of Department), and so on. Many forums exist to allow children to have their say within the framework and responsibility for self and others.

7.      Global issues and the environment
BIST ensures that its children become aware of the local, national and international environmental and global issues such as pollution, global warming, energy conservation, poverty, disasters, etc.

8.      Trips and Adventure

Children often learn best when they are removed from their ‘comfort zone’ and ‘think out of the box’. A day or residential trip, linked to the curriculum and local community, are seen as having key importance at BIST.

9.      Boarding

The School family and community is best epitomised by our commitment to boarding – experienced professional teachers, supported by additional staff such as Nurses, GAPS and Teaching Assistants all support the work done in boarding. Here children learn about self sufficiency, responsibility, relationships, independence, confidence and raising self-esteem. BIST becomes their second home.

10. Uniform & Routines

BIST has strict policies for its School uniform and routines in School – We believe that children learn best when they can work within a supportive, caring, structured environment where the expectation and boundaries are clear. Our behaviour management systems focus on a system of ‘catch them being good’ (CBG) rather than ‘catch them being bad’ (CBB) Merit certificates, English certificates, prizes and praise are all used to good effect.

11. English, English, English

Our English speaking environment (ESE) is part of our core value. Great emphasis is placed on supportive strategies to encourage all students to speak and write in English and reward children for doing so. Weekly assemblies celebrate success.

12. Sport and games

BIST is keen to give all students the opportunity to excel in sports. We believe in offering scholarships to students with real potential and to appoint excellent teachers and coaches to enhance their skills. We have special days where we focus on things like Internationalism, Red-Nose Day, Earth Day, Halloween, etc.

13. The Arts

Great emphasis is placed on ensuring that Music, Art, English, Drama and Dance facilities enable all students an opportunity to explore their creative talents – we have a regular cycle of concerts, plays, informal recitals and inter-house competitions to encourage and motivate healthy competition.

14. Line-ups assemblies and formal ceremonies such as prize-giving, Wai Kru and Loy Krathong

Every Monday, students assemble for line-up or in tutor groups. Registration and daily notices are given. This is an important community point at the start of each week. Weekly assemblies are held to celebrate successes. Here there is a degree of formality and gravitas – correct uniforms, silence where appropriate, handshakes and clapping.

In many cases we are attempting to mirror such occasions as ‘Commemoration Day’ at Bromsgrove UK – boaters, leavers in new suits and outfits, lines of hand-shaking, speeches and formal celebration. Solemnity and ceremony is what British Schools do well, and so should we. At the beginning of each year, we hold a formal hand-shaking ceremony when every member of the teaching staff shakes hands with every student.

15. The public face of BIST
Our staff and students are ‘on show’ most of the time. For most of the year we are in the ‘public eye’ as we walk about the campus, go on trips outside school, in class and during sports and activities. Our expectation is that Staff and Students greet visitors with either/all:

                  a) eye contact
                  b) verbal greeting (such as ‘Good morning’, ‘Hello’, etc)
                  c) wai

The worst thing to happen is that NOTHING happens!

In addition, our expectation is that uniform should be worn correctly at all times. It is the external symbol of the inner person. Whether we like it or not, we are judged by first impressions. They DO count.

The correct uniform should reflect a respect and pride in appearance of all that we do and our environment.

Bromsgrove International School’s culture and traditions can be summed up as;

COMMUNITY – service to the school, the local and wider community though the work of the Student Council and other groups. All students should understand the need to help those less privileged.

LEADERSHIP – we believe in giving responsibility to our students – firstly, for themselves, and later, for others. With freedom comes responsibility. “FOR EVIL TO EXIST, IT ONLY REQUIRES THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING”

ACADEMIC RIGOUR – pursuing excellence in all that we do. Staff are here to guide so that students achieve potential, inner understanding and self control.

RESPECT – for self, for others, for the environment, for other nationalities, for other religions, and for other cultures and traditions.

INTERNATIONALISM – Whilst the common language and ethos is British, as an international school we celebrate our differences as well as our similarities.

TRUTH – The democratic right to speak appropriately and express our views and listen to others – in the pursuit of truth.

We hope this gives you an insight into Bromsgrove International School and its Culture and Traditions.