While the school opened only recently in the Thai capital, its legacy dates back more than 150 years. It is part of Brighton College, founded in 1845, and was named the UK Independent School of the Year for 2013-14 at the Independent Schools Awards.
In Bangkok, 25 per cent of international school’s teachers come directly from other Brighton Colleges while the rest have previously taught at leading independent schools in the UK.
“Our team of inspirational teachers provide children with an unparalleled level of attention to detail. This means each child’s achievements are noticed and celebrated and he or she can become the very best version of themselves possible,” the college’s founding headmaster, David Tongue, said.
There are now 50 students at the Pre-Prep classes at the school. Classes run from 7.40am to 3.30pm.
He said courses were divided into three semesters of three months each year.
Hands Management Company Limited chairwoman Nusara (Assakul) Banyatpiyaphod said recently that |the school had got very positive feedback.
“Most of our pupils always look forward to come to the school,” she said, adding that some of them asked if they could come to school on weekends.
She said the small classes allow the teachers to get to know their pupils extremely well in order to respond to their needs and interests.
“Instead of knowledge-based education focusing on memorising that is normally taught in Thailand, we try to teach differently to make our pupils achieve life-long learning skills that they can get knowledge by themselves from various sources such as the Internet,” she said.
She added that the college was looking forward to creating and spreading new standards of education to other Thai schools.
The expansion of the Prep-part is designed for 9-13-year-old students and the Senior-part is for students aged between 13 and 18 years old.
“Along with the Prep and Senior school, facilities such as a sport complex featuring an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an auditorium for art performance and gallery, and outdoor zone would be available on a 51-rai campus next year,” she said
Tongue said his school would teach pupils mainly in English but also in Thai and Mandarin
“We have recognised the fact that Mandarin is now one of the world’s most-spoken languages,” he said.
He said the college aimed to make the pupils happy while learning and make them feel as if they were with their family.
“Good learning is learning with an open mind and happy mood. Hence, the teachers have a significant task to make the class inspirational to the pupils,” he said.