Extracurricular activities (ECAs) can play a vital role in a student’s growth and development. These activities are additional subjects that a student can participate in outside of regular school hours. They help students discover their passions and learn new skills, giving them a feeling of purpose and help increase self-esteem. Not only do ECAs promote positive growth, but they can be helpful when it comes to university applications. When a university sees these additional subjects on a student’s resume, they know that the student is driven, passionate, and suitable for further studies.

Today we will talk about the many benefits of taking part in ECAs, why it is important to encourage them, how they help with further education, and give you an idea of the kind of ECAs you will expect to find in an international school.

What are the benefits of extracurricular activities?

Improves academic studies – We know that it might sound a little contradictory, but extracurricular activities really do help children to excel in academics. Rather than dividing a child’s attention, the much-needed break from studies improves their focus during school. In addition, when a child finds something they are passionate about, it promotes a sense of purpose and creates a positive outlook towards all aspects of their daily lives.

Enhances their social skills – Joining an extracurricular activity not only means learning a new skill, but it involves becoming part of a group where all students will share similar interests. This doesn’t just go for sports ECAs, either. Even learning a musical instrument means being part of a team. This environment can work wonders on a child’s social capabilities.

Boosts confidence – At some point, all parents have probably witnessed their child’s confidence levels drop from not achieving the desired grade or being unable to do something others can. Exploring various options for extracurricular activities can ensure that a child finds something they enjoy and be good at. This can be highly confidence-boosting for children, which in turn, helps with their studies and other aspects of their lives. When people lose confidence in one thing, it can often lead to losing it in another. Maintaining a high level of confidence in students through ECAs can keep them motivated to stay on top of their studies and be generally happier.

Allows them to explore new hobbies and interests – The great thing about ECAs is that a child can take their time to explore various options until they find something they love. If a child decides they do not enjoy the ECA they have chosen, nothing is stopping them from picking another, and another, until they can settle for one that suits their interests. Often, we see students explore multiple ECAs and finally fall in love with the one they least expected.

Discover a world beyond school – As adults, we are very aware of the importance of a good education. Unfortunately, not all children see it this way. School can be a difficult time, often leaving them feeling tired and overworked. Of course, this isn’t because it is tiresome or arduous; it usually comes from a lack of choice and feeling like it is all there is to life. Allowing a child to get involved in ECAs gives them the freedom they desire to explore a world outside of school. This can have an incredible impact on a child’s energy levels and increase productivity elsewhere.

Develops time management and self-motivation – It can be surprising how a child’s time management is enhanced when they are driven by an activity they want to do. Extracurricular activities can give a child the motivation they need to dramatically improve their punctuality. For example, if your child struggles to get up for school in the morning, giving them a reason to want to get out of bed is the way to go.

How can extracurricular activities help with a university application?

It might not be a necessary part of the criteria to get into university, but they generally favour applicants who have taken part in ECAs. This is because they can show the university more about the applicants’ character, interests, achievements, and motivation. This can tell them how a student is likely to contribute to their community. When university courses have limited placements, extracurricular activities can give a positive insight into the student’s personality, giving them the upper hand.

What extracurricular activities are good for children?

The only person who can make this decision is the child. There are a number of options out there, so it is good to let them see them all before making any decisions. Here are a few popular choices to give you an idea of what subjects and activities you are likely to find when exploring ECA options in an international school.

Sports – These are a very popular choice with students and are almost guaranteed to build social skills and confidence and give them a sense of achievement. Popular sports ECAs include football, basketball, swimming, golf, and cricket.

Performing arts – Being involved in performing arts is a fantastic way for children to express themselves, make friends, improve self-esteem, and discover a new passion.

Learning a musical instrument – Learning an instrument is a great way to improve motivation, time management, and patience and feel proud of their achievements.

Clubs and Societies – A popular choice for extracurricular activities is joining debate societies, chess clubs, maths clubs, and so on. These clubs and societies allow a child to take their skills further by participating in country-wide or even international competitions.

Want to know more?

If you want to learn more about available extracurricular activities and their benefits for your children, contact Bromsgrove International School Thailand today. BIST is proud to host over 40 extracurricular activities for its students. Our experienced team can give you all the help and information you need to help you make the right decisions for your child to excel. So, get in touch, and let’s achieve excellence together.

The first time you wave goodbye to your children during that all-important leap into the world of university can be a daunting feeling. Wondering if they are equipped with the physical and emotional skills they need for a life of independence is sure to be a looming thought.

Fortunately, there is no better place to prepare a child for this stage of their life than boarding school. Boarding schools provide so much more than an education; they offer a supportive environment that promotes the growth and development a child needs to tackle any real-world situation. As a result, your child will be fully ready for whatever life throws at them and have an air of confidence and self-assurance that most students are still yet to achieve.

In short, boarding school can be the best place to prepare your child for university. But, as well as preparing them, they are also an incredible place to reassure parents and guardians, making the move to university a much more fun and relaxing experience where you can focus less on worrying and more on cherishing the moment.

What will a boarding school environment do to help prepare for university?

Firstly, boarding schools will guide students to be proficient in self-management. It is one of the only places a child will learn to manage their time correctly and become familiar with routine and household tasks. On top of this, the social aspect of a boarding school environment will provide tremendously positive emotional development, so there is no need to worry about them struggling to make friends when they start uni.

What life skills will a boarding school provide?

Of course, there are the basic skills needed to get by in day-to-day life, such as self discipline, punctuality, and time management, but boarding schools will offer so much more. One of the best things about boarding is being surrounded by highly trained and experienced educational staff that will know precisely what their students need to be ready for anything, especially university.

If a child is struggling in any aspect of their life, the staff and teachers will be there to help them. This can range from emotional support and counselling to baking cakes or academic development/tutoring. The list really is endless when it comes to equipping a child with the skills needed to thrive in life beyond school.

Further thoughts

As you can see, there is really no place like boarding school to prepare a child for university. If you want your child to be confident, independent, socially equipped, and ready for life at university, there is no better way. At Bromsgrove, we genuinely believe in achieving excellence together, and thankfully, we have the staff and facilities needed to do just that.

If you would like to know more about our boarding school or onsite facilities across our campus in Thailand, then don’t hesitate to get in touch today. We are highly experienced and dedicated to providing an environment that promotes academic and mental growth for every one of our students. We are now in our 21st year of providing excellence and preparing children for the next cornerstone in their lives. If anyone knows exactly how to prepare a child for university, it is undoubtedly Bromsgrove International School, Thailand.

When considering boarding school, feelings can easily be mixed. It is a tremendous step for both the children and guardians involved. You might ask yourself how being away from home is going to be better for your child. Well, boarding school can actually work wonders for a child’s development and success in later life. Today, we are going to focus on some of the major areas of growth that are dramatically enhanced in students who attend boarding school. We will also go into detail about what we think the five main benefits are for children who attend boarding school. We have seen an abundance of success at Bromsgrove International School, so if you are undecided about boarding school, maybe this can help.

1) Social Capabilities

One thing that everyone worries about concerning their children’s school life is how they are getting on socially. It is easy for children to be shy or lack confidence in social situations. Partly, this can be as simple as being unfamiliar with such a social environment. Children at boarding schools rarely struggle with this because they are surrounded by opportunities to socialise in so many ways that they will quickly excel in their social capabilities. Here are a few reasons why boarding school benefits a child’s social skills.

Making lifelong friends – Boarding schools allows children the opportunity to truly get to know each other. This means that the friends they make are far more likely to stick together and be with each other for life.
Building confidence – Because children will constantly be in a social environment, they become familiar with all kinds of social situations. This creates an incredible amount of confidence early on.
Team working skills – When students are at boarding school, they will learn how to work together much better. This is down to their living situation, extracurricular activities, playing sports, studying together, and going on field trips.
Exposure to different cultures – Children will be introduced to other children from entirely different backgrounds. This sort of exposure is excellent for familiarising children with foreign countries and cultures, creating a well-rounded individual.
Networking beyond school – A combination of all these factors not only means socialising in a friendly way but having the skills to network beyond school and stand a better chance of a successful future.

2) Mental and Physical health improvement

Boarding schools provide everything a child needs to improve both their mental and physical health. Contrary to common belief, children who attend boarding school will leave more grounded and emotionally ready for the real world than anybody else. On top of this, they will have the privilege of a number of healthy habits to take with them into adulthood.
Developing a structured life – This is something that even adults can struggle with. Boarding school students will be so familiar with a healthy lifestyle structure that anything else will seem obscure. This can have fantastic benefits on mental health, personal development, and motivation.
Having a varied and healthy diet – At boarding school, children are provided with a healthy and nutritious diet, with a variety of meals that they might not get at home. This will help with both physical and mental health and also help them develop their tastebuds.
Getting exercise – One of the biggest bonuses is the options for exercise and how it is incorporated into every student’s routine. Forming these habits in early life will increase the chances of living a healthy lifestyle beyond school.
Having a sense of belonging – The social network at a boarding school will give children a sense of belonging that they won’t get anywhere else. This is a great way to build self-worth and confidence.

3) Academic excellence

It is no surprise that students who attend boarding school are often much higher achievers and excel academically. This is partly because boarding schools are able to pick the best curriculum, but there are also many other factors why this might be.
Access to the best facilities – As a boarding school is funded differently than most schools, they are able to build a campus with the best facilities you can get. From science labs to performing art spaces, a boarding school will provide children with a chance to explore their subjects in detail.
Ample supervised study time – During the evenings, boarding schools will ensure a supervised time when students can do their homework and study. Having this daily study slot is a great way to increase their chances of success.
Additional educational opportunities – Children also have access to additional educational opportunities such as debate and maths clubs or even a chance to enter nationwide competitions in certain subjects, giving them an abundance of additional practice and revision.
Constant peer support – Students are constantly surrounded by their peers, meaning that they always have a support network around them. Sometimes, it can be difficult for children to approach their teachers if they are struggling, so having this network is a massive help.

4) Around-the-clock support

Even when students find themselves struggling at boarding school, they will have the privilege of twenty-four-hour professional support workers who know precisely what is needed for them to feel fantastic within no time. Here are some of the ways a child is supported at boarding school.
Guidance counsellors – Whenever a child is lacking direction or feeling down, trained guidance counsellors will be able to provide the support to figure out why they feel this way and improve it.
Student academic support – If a student is struggling academically, they will be provided with a member of the academic support team who can guide them through their studies at a pace that suits them. With the help of educational support, every student has the opportunity to excel.
Onsite nurses – Whenever an accident occurs or a child feels unwell, boarding schools provide around-the-clock nurses who can make sure they are well looked after. Having onsite nurses means a child can receive medical attention much quicker than at home.

5) It is way more fun

Of course, as adults, we know that all of the above is significantly important in terms of a child’s growth and development. However, they might not always see it this way. One thing they will notice, though, is that a boarding school can be way more fun than a regular school. Once a child experiences the fun to be had at boarding school, they never want to go to an ordinary school again.
Some of the fun to be had involves regular weekend excursions, extracurricular activities, having more independence, and always getting to hang out with friends. When done right, boarding schools are an excellent place for a child to be, and they really will be the best times of their life.

Still undecided?

If boarding school is something you have been considering but you have more questions, talk to Bromsgrove International School today. We have been providing a world-class education to our students in Thailand for over twenty years. Our highly qualified staff will gladly talk you through every finite detail of our boarding school and its great benefits. School life at Bromsgrove International is one of the best that can be provided. We are constantly updating our facilities and curriculum to promote excellence in every one of our students.

It goes without saying that boarding school isn’t a regular school environment. Unlike ordinary educational institutions, boarding schools offer support for their students throughout all aspects of their lives. As well as being renowned for high academic achievement, students at boarding school learn to perfect skills in life management and excel in emotional growth. There is an abundance of ways in which faculty at boarding schools help their students develop. The faculty aren’t simply teachers; they are highly qualified and experienced educators, caregivers, support workers, and acting guardians who know exactly what every student needs to propel them towards excellence. Today, we are going to discuss the many ways that the faculty at a boarding school can help your child push forwards a future of absolute success.

Achieving academic excellence

First, let us look at what a boarding school can offer a child academically and why they are renowned for having a much higher quality of education than a regular school.
Being a private school, they can choose the best curriculum and add anything needed to increase a child’s success rate. Also, offering around-the-clock support for students allows enough time for concepts and ideas to be fully understood by students, so there is no need to cut any corners. Students will also benefit from additional regimented homework and revision time in the evenings, meaning everyone works at the same academic level.
In short, the faculty are highly qualified academics who can support a student throughout their school day and personal life. This is why boarding schools have a reputation for providing a world-class education. There is no other place that can offer students the same level of support that a boarding school can.

Promoting strong peer relationships

During a student’s time at boarding school, they will spend all their time with their peers. Whether studying, eating, playing, exercising or simply living, their time will naturally be spent together, helping to develop solid social-emotional skills unlike anywhere else.
The faculty at a boarding school know precisely how to utilise the students’ living situation to ensure they are heading towards the best possible outcomes. They will encourage plenty of team-building activities and know how to buddy children up with the best peers to help them thrive. Although students will experience independence and freedom at a boarding school, they will be closely monitored to make sure they are always heading in the right direction towards success. When students find the best social circles to suit them and are allowed enough time to study and play together, chances for success are optimised to the fullest.

Increasing chances of personal growth

Students who attend boarding school are renowned for excelling in their personal growth. Whether it is physical, academic, or emotional, the chance of success will be dramatically heightened compared to students in a standard educational setting.
Faculty can offer them all the support they need in every aspect of their lives. Homework club will help them manage time, get to know their peers, and help them understand the subjects they might be struggling with. In the evening, students can participate in sports, extracurricular activities, cooking, and other social and skilled activities. Boarding school faculty will also offer a twenty-four-hour support service for students who might be struggling, whether it is professional counselling, life advice, or just needing a place to relax and someone to talk to.
When students leave boarding school, they will have a tremendous advantage in general life skills, be socially and emotionally equipped to deal with university or work, have incredible confidence, and be academically excellent. They will have everything they need to succeed across all aspects of life.

Learning new skills through extracurricular activities

As boarding schools have more time, the faculty can run a multitude of ECAs, from performing arts to sports. These are valuable in the development and success of students as they will find fulfilment in learning skills that not only come in useful throughout life but provide immense social capabilities, teamwork opportunities, and endless enjoyment.
It is a crucial component of success in later life, and the benefits of these additional courses will help students shine in life beyond school. Extracurricular activities create a healthy work-life balance and dramatically enhance academic achievement.

Benefit from a smaller class size

Another tremendous benefit of boarding schools is that classrooms are kept to a size where every student will get the support and attention they need. No student is left behind at boarding school, and the staff are there to ensure they can achieve their dreams and always keep ahead of academics. Smaller classes are a proven way to promote achievement, confidence, and excellence.

Further reading

At Bromsgrove International School, we are proud to boast first-class boarding facilities. Throughout our twenty years of excellence, we have created a boarding environment encompassing every aspect of growth and development a child needs to succeed. The recent refurbishment of our Tudor and Windsor houses has been acknowledged by the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), and we have received ‘Highly Commended’ at the BSA Awards 2023. This award recognises our efforts in providing boarders with an exceptional place to live, study, and play, along with addressing the design and sustainability of our refurbished houses.
If you would like to know more about why our boarding school students are more successful in the long run, feel free to talk to the incredibly experienced team at Bromsgrove International School or take a look at our boarding school facility in Thailand. We can’t wait to hear from you and work together towards a future of excellence.

Congratulations to Bromsgrove International School Thailand and our Boarding team selected as finalists of the BSA Supporting Excellence Awards 2023 in the Boarding House Extension or Refurbishment Award category. The final result will be announced at the BSA Annual Conference hosted by the Boarding Schools’ Association later in May.

The thought of boarding school can certainly be a little anxiety-inducing. The fear of missing your loved ones is genuine whether you’re a student or a parent. At BIST, we are very aware of concerns that one might have when considering or joining a boarding school. Thankfully, we also know a thing or two about dealing with these worries and providing the best facilities for our boarding students to thrive. Boarding school goes far beyond academic success. It is about creating the foundations a child needs to succeed across all areas of life. A well-managed and healthy routine throughout a child’s school years can work wonders in further education and beyond. We provide an all-inclusive positive environment that encourages students to focus on the things that really matter. At BIST your children will never be bored. In this article, we want to share some of the incredible facilities, dedicated staff, activities, and healthy habits you will encounter at BIST, along with some tips to adjust to life at a boarding school in Thailand.

Developing a healthy routine in and out of school

One significant benefit of boarding school that children are unlikely to receive anywhere else is the tremendously healthy routine and not having to endure the daily commute. For many parents, managing all aspects of a structured life for their children can be near impossible while still trying to work. Having highly trained, caring staff on duty 24 hours a day will work wonders in any child’s development. A boarding school provides a child with an early morning wake-up call, social and nutritious mealtimes, a world-class education, a broad selection of extracurricular activities, fitness and sports facilities, library and much more. During the weekend they will participate in cultural explorations, adventure days, community volunteering, and many recreational field-trips and activities. This balanced lifestyle encourages everyone to have an incredible social life and get involved with a multitude of both mentally and physically beneficial activities. At BIST, a child will be part of a community that prides itself on providing an environment where they can feel comfortable talking with staff and be encouraged to participate. If that wasn’t enough, there is also a ‘no electronic devices after lights-out policy’ that guarantees a good night’s sleep so that a child can make the most out of everything boarding school has to offer every day.

Nobody misses out on the fun

The individual support provided to every student who boards at Bromsgrove is fantastic and meets the British Boarding School Association (BSA) standards. The social aspects and mandatory extracurricular activities instil confidence in students as they are encouraged to socialise with all students of many nationalities throughout the school. On top of this, there is a full termly schedule of outings and activities. Activities include:

  • FOBISIA – Federation of British Schools in Asia members compete in sports, academics, and arts.
  • Pop concerts in Bangkok
  • Shopping excursions
  • Go-karting, ice skating, bowling
  • Kayaking
  • Safari parks
  • Amusement parks
  • Boarders Got Talent
  • Adventure tours
  • Museum trips
  • Team games
  • Over 40 extracurricular activities

On top of this, students also have constant access to all of the school’s world-class facilities, so they can pick and choose to focus their time doing something they love.

Facilities at Bromsgrove

BIST prides itself on providing and encouraging students to take advantage of the best facilities across the campus which are regularly updated to keep up with the ever-changing standards of today. These facilities will make sure a child is kept in the highest spirits during ‘downtime’ while boarding at BIST. The campus facilities available include a four-floor performing arts centre with a 525-seat auditorium to cater for anyone with an interest in music, dance, or theatre. We also have libraries, recreation rooms, impressive sports facilities including a gym, swimming pool, football pitch, golf course, and much more. With these facilities, there is something for every student to enjoy in their ‘downtime’.

Mental Wellbeing

Although we provide so much to lift students’ spirits during their stay at Bromsgrove School, adjusting to boarding school can still have challenges. We aren’t simply about keeping children busy or entertained; we are 100% student-centred, which means our students’ wellbeing always comes first.
We provide a safe and secure ‘home-from-home’ boarding environment, with several common room areas, so students feel comfortable confiding in our staff. We also promote a strong parent-student-teacher communicative relationship all year round to ensure the very best for every boarder.
Additionally, there are a few things that can help enhance the boarding experience. Connecting with students in the same house can be a great way to quickly feel settled and also make lifelong friends. We also have a ‘buddy system’ to ensure new boarders are ‘buddied up’ with an older student for support.
If you would like to find out more about Boarding at Bromsgrove, please contact our boarding school in Bangkok today.

On Wednesday 5 April at Windsor Park campus, students, parents teachers and staff celebrated the #Songkran festival as part of our Thai cultural learning. We started the day with giving food and offerings to monks, followed by various activities including a pagoda decorating competition, a mini concert performed by Secondary students, Thai traditional games and Rod Nam Dum Hua activity. We all finished with a very enjoyable then joining water splash!. This was fun and amazing way to finish the Term 2. Happy holidays!

 

 

Thank you for your registration. Our Admissions team will contact you back within next business day to confirm your registration. For more information, please contact us at admissions@bromsgrove.ac.th or call 02-8216886.

On Friday 18th November, Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST) celebrated its 20th year anniversary by holding a Gala Concert at the Oriental Siam Performing Arts Centre, on our Windsor Park campus. We were delighted to welcome BIST shareholders, governors, staff, parents, guests and representatives from our sister school, Bromsgrove School UK. The concert featured music from the BIST choir & orchestra, solo performances by our music scholars and a Thai cultural dance. At the event, we also displayed a number of art pieces created by BIST students and were serenaded in the PAC foyer by the BIST senior jazz band. Thank you everyone for making it a wonderful and memorable evening!

For more pictures, please click here https://www.bromsgrove.ac.th/gallery/bist-20th-anniversary-gala-concert/