Garden International School Bangkok

Garden International School Bangkok is a British curriculum international school located in Sathon District, Bangkok, Thailand. The school was founded in 1999 and is part of the MBF Taylors Ltd. Education Group, which owns schools in Malaysia and Thailand. Its mission is to provide an outstanding education that enables students to reach their full potential, develop a lifelong love of learning, and become responsible global citizens.

The school values excellence, respect, integrity, care, and responsibility, and aims to create a safe and nurturing environment for all students. It offers a British education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales, and is accredited by Education Development Trust and the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA). It is also a member of the International Schools Association of Thailand and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia, and is a Cambridge International Examinations and Oxford International AQA Examinations Centre.

Campus

Garden International School Bangkok has two campuses, located on opposite sides of Yen Akat Road in Sathon District, Bangkok. The First School campus educates Early Years, Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, while the Upper School Campus educates Upper Primary/Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to Year 6), Lower Secondary/Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to Year 9), Upper Secondary/Key Stage 4 and 5 (Years 10 and Year 11 for students taking IGCSE, and Years 12 and 13 for students taking A Levels).

The school has a variety of modern facilities including a multi-purpose hall, a music room, an art room, science laboratories, a library, a swimming pool, a football pitch, a basketball court, a tennis court, and a canteen. In 2016, the school began construction on new facilities to expand the Early Years part of the school, with plans to also improve the facilities for the Primary and Secondary School in the 2017/18 academic year.

The campus is located in downtown Bangkok, near both Silom and Sathorn Road, two of Bangkok’s commercial hubs. The school provides transportation services for students from different parts of the city.

Academics

Garden International School Bangkok provides a British education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales and accepts students from Early Years up to Year 13. The school offers a range of academic programs for students, including the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS Level), and Advanced Level (A-Level).

All students up to the end of Year 9 study the core areas of English, Science, Mathematics, Music, Art, a Foreign Language, Humanities, Computing, and Physical Education. After the completion of Year 9, students study their core IGCSE subjects of English, Maths, and Science, choosing additional IGCSE subjects that are of personal interest and could lead to further study at A-Level.

Students in Years 10 and 11 study a mix of subjects at the IGCSE level, which is the culmination of study at Key Stage 4. The IGCSE subjects available are English as a First Language, English Literature, English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Science (Triple Award), Coordinated Science (Double Award), Combined Science (Single Award), Thai, Geography, History, French, Mandarin, Art and Design, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Computer Science, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Music, and Physical Education.

Students at the start of Year 12 study for a further two years with the completion of the Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS Levels) at the end of year 12 and then progressing into Year 13, where students go to complete their A2 Levels to provide completion of the full A-Level, which is the culmination of study for Key Stage 5. Students study four subjects at AS Level and then continue with three subjects to complete their studies at A-Level. The subjects for AS and A-Level are Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, and Physics.

Garden students perform consistently well in external examinations, with 95% of the Year 11 class of 2017 attaining at least five IGCSEs with grades A*-Cs and 52% of IGCSE grades being A* or As. One of the Year 11 students received an Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award from Cambridge International Examinations for high achievement.

Management

Garden International School Bangkok is owned and operated by MBF Taylors Ltd. Education Group, which also owns schools in Malaysia and Rayong in Thailand, as well as English and bilingual schools in both Thailand and Malaysia.

The school is led by a team of experienced educators and administrators who work together to ensure the smooth running of the school. The Head of School is responsible for the overall management of the school, while the Deputy Head and Heads of Departments oversee the academic and pastoral aspects of the school.

There is also a Board of Governors that oversees the strategic direction of the school and ensures that it is operating in accordance with its mission and values. The Board is made up of members who have expertise in education, business, and community development.

Overall, the management of Garden International School Bangkok is committed to providing a high-quality education to its students and fostering a supportive and inclusive community within the school.

Admission

Admission to Garden International School Bangkok is open to students of all nationalities and is subject to availability. The school has a rolling admission policy, which means that applications are accepted throughout the year, provided that there are available places in the desired grade level.

To apply for admission, parents or guardians must complete an online application form and submit the required documents, which include academic transcripts, school reports, a copy of the student’s passport, and a passport-sized photograph. Depending on the grade level, additional requirements may include a personal statement, a recommendation letter from a teacher, and a language proficiency test.

Once the application is received, the admissions team will review it and arrange an assessment or an interview with the student. The assessment or interview is used to evaluate the student’s academic level, language proficiency, and overall suitability for the school. For students who are not fluent in English, a language assessment will be conducted to determine the appropriate level of English language support.

After the assessment or interview, the admissions team will inform the parents or guardians of the admission decision. If the student is accepted, the parents or guardians will be required to pay a non-refundable registration fee to secure the place. The school also requires the payment of tuition fees, which vary depending on the grade level and the program of study.

Garden International School Bangkok also offers scholarship opportunities for outstanding students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service. Scholarship applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the school has a limited number of scholarships available each year.