From the vision of the school founders Riza Sripetchvandee and Ian Davison, a new school was opened in 2002 under the name of Windsor International School and ownership of Windsor Education Co. Ltd. The School was constructed at Soi 164 Ramkhamheang Road, Minburi, in Eastern Bangkok.
Over the course of the next two years pupil numbers grew steadily. A new building was opened in September 2004 to meet the demand from Early Years students.
In April 2004, the School became affiliated to the prestigious and world famous Bromsgrove School UK and changed its name to Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST). Bromsgrove School UK was founded over 450 years ago and is a leading co-educational independent day and boarding school for some 1,500 pupils and is situated in the English Midlands and provides a first-class education with excellent facilities and resources, as well as enjoying considerable distinction in Sport, Music and the Arts.
The change of name reflected the enhanced vision of the School owners to position BIST in the top ten international schools in Thailand, to become the International School of Eastern Bangkok and be worthy of carrying the name Bromsgrove. Plans were laid to expand the shareholder base and have sufficient financial resources to acquire land and build a world class Preparatory and Senior School for students aged 7 to 18. An ideal plot of land was purchased, set in the serenity of Windsor Park and Golf Club, 20 minutes from the Ramkhamhaeng Road Campus. The huge undertaking of building the new campus was started in late 2004 and completed only a few days before the new school year started in September 2005. The Sports Hall was completed in late 2005 and the builders finally left the site at the end of the year.
The Ramkhamheang Campus was converted to an Early Years campus for children aged 2 to 6. The school is well positioned in a growing residential part of the city and has set a target to become the school of choice for parents looking to start their children in a British style education.
Pupil numbers steadily as a result of a supportive parent body and an extensive marketing campaign in Thailand and South East Asia. Boarding facilities were opened in January 2006 and the School suddenly became a 24 hour operation with truly international appeal. New boarding students from Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong and Australia broadened and added to the diversity of the student body. Also in 2006 BIST was certified as an examination centre by the University of Cambridge.
In the next few years both day and boarding pupil numbers continued to rise with a wide representation of local and international students. Particular strengths emerged epitomised by the success of our world-class golfers, joining the top-league schools in BISAC (Bangkok International Schools Athletic Conference) and the BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association).
In 2007-8 a new boarding house was built, able to accommodate up to 100 students. The 3rd floor of the Lord Jones Building (opened by Lord Jones himself) was partly converted to a girls’ boarding house and a discrete suite of class rooms for primary students. A putting green was also added beside the Headmaster’s house. The first cohort of students sat the IGCSE examinations achieving excellent results. Towards the end of the year BIST also included membership of the Council of International Schools following a pre-inspection visit in May. In October 2008 the school achieved ‘candidate status’ with CIS.
In May 2008, BIST formed an affiliation with Daewon Foreign Language School , the leading high school in South Korea. Koreans teachers were recruited to deliver a Korean after school programme and a significant number of high caliber Korean students were attracted to BIST.
In 2008-9 BIST opened its Sixth Form with a commendable number of students studying a range of subjects. Construction of a new boarding house, designated for girls, commenced for completion in 2010. All classrooms started the year with computers and data projectors for muti-media learning and a second ICT suite was added. In late 2009 a Board of Governors was constituted to direct the School strategy and policies moving forward and a number of independent members appointed to strengthen the School governance and management and give it a wider external perspective. In August 2010, Headmaster Jon Wingfield joins BIST on secondment from Bromsgrove School UK. Mr Wingfield has been working at our sister school since 1996. He brings with him a wealth of experience including further strengthening the links between the two schools. In October 2010, a new girls boarding house opens making the school's boarding facilities second to none.
The school continues to gain reputation for its academic excellence, professional teaching staff, sports excellence particularly it’s outstanding golfing talents and boarding facilities and ethos. |
A Premier International Day and Boarding School in Bangkok affiliated with Bromsgrove School UK established 1553
