Learning outside the classroom

Dear Parents,

If you visited BIS this week, you may have wondered why there were many empty classrooms down the Secondary corridors. There’s an exciting answer here, our students from Year 7 to Year 10 have been out and about in various locations on their annual residential trips.

Residential trips are a very important part of our curriculum. Learning alongside others outside the classroom has been shown to help develop self-esteem; encourage further independence; learn how to co-operate with others and to respect the needs of peers.  In addition, the choice of trips enables students to be in nature and further develop an understanding of the world around them. Our students this week have certainly been engaging in practical problem-solving activities with a challenging element. The importance of perseverance and the sense of achievement when success has been achieved has been seen in abundance.    

On our BIS website you can read all about their adventures: Year 7 enjoyed organic farming and trekking at La Ferme du Colvert; Year 8 tested their skills of perseverance through trekking and cycling activities in Cat Ba; Year 9 took part in an Amazing Race and helped with local community projects in Sapa; Year 10 were involved in raft building and a high rope challenge course in Dalat.

IGCSE Evening

Year 12 students and parents were the guests of our British Ambassador, Gareth Ward, last Friday night. In the welcoming courtyard of the Ambassador’s  Residence, we celebrated the tremendous achievements of our students in last summer’s IGCSE exams.

Once again, I would like to congratulate our Year 12s. Last year, we entered students for a total of 498 IGCSE exams, an average of 8 per student. 47% of the exams were given the highest rating of A* to A and we had a 92% pass rate which places our school approximately 20% above the average attainment of UK schools for A* to C. In addition to celebrating these super results, special awards were presented to two of our students, Vu Duc Hang Giang and Hoang Hai Ha, who came ‘Top in the World’ in Mathematics.

ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music)

Parents gathered today in the Theatre to hear a presentation from Mr. Ryan Lewis, the senior ABRSM representative for our region. Mr Lewis introduced the syllabus, assessment framework and resources available, both in print form, on-line and through apps.

The ABRSM is an examinations board based in London, UK, which provides examinations in music at centres around the world. If you would like to find out more then please contact Ms. Rachael Howarth, Head of Performing Arts at BIS.

Our school will be closed next week for our half-term break. I look forward to welcoming our community back to school on October 28^th.