Onwards and Upwards: Accreditation Report Confirms Outstanding Trajectory

Over four days in May, Regents International School Pattaya was independently inspected by an experienced team from the UK charity CfBT Education Trust. The report is highly complimentary of the transformation in the school since the last report three years ago. According to the inspectors, the curriculum is outstanding, behaviour exemplary, the co-curricular programme exceptional, students’ personal development outstanding, the care and support of students outstanding and all teaching good to outstanding. The report can be read in full below.

“In situations like this, where you’ve been commended on the education you are offering, the easy route is to be self-congratulatory,” said Principal, Iain Blaikie. “That’s not the Regents way. After 22 years leading schools, there is one thing I know for sure: an inspection report isn’t the end of the process, it’s just one small marker of the progress you are making. Onwards and upwards!”

This dynamism was picked up by the inspectors themselves, who observed

‘There is a passionate drive for school improvement and maximizing all students’ experiences and learning outcomes.’

With the, ‘passionate drive for school improvement’ so evident, we asked the three most senior leaders of the school to pick just three changes each which parents should look out for in 2015-16.

Principal Iain Blaikie

Facilities     

“A sports hall, an artificial pitch, a new learners’ pool, new science labs, new technology facilities, improved ICT and much more.  Not over the long term – within the next 12 months. It’s a staggering level of re-investment and all of it is aimed at improving the students’ educational experience.” [Read more about this]

Appointment of Dr Peter Hill, Education Director for NAE     

“Dr Hill has been appointed to drive the evolution of educational excellence across our family of schools. He was founding Chief Executive of the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Secretary General of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and Professor of Education at the University of Melbourne. Again, a clear marker that we want to offer a distinctively excellent educational experience”

Collaboration with The Juilliard School

“The world’s finest performing arts conservatory collaborating with Regents International School Pattaya to offer a unique curriculum, beginning 1 September 2015. Truly, a landmark moment in the evolution and growth of quality performing arts education on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand.” [Read more about this]

Head of Primary, Nonie Adams

Home learning

“We’re streamlining home learning next year to focus more keenly on the key areas of reading, spelling, writing, maths and, for Years 4 to 6, science revision. Parents can expect student progress and attainment to rise still further as a result.”

English as an Additional Language (EAL) Support

“We started the transformation of EAL in 2014 and we’re moving on to phase 2. The introduction from September of our Intensive + Programme for beginner learners, combined with a significantly improved Transitional Programme for intermediate learners and increased training for all staff on catering for the EAL learner in the mainstream classroom – this is distinctively personalised learning.” [Read more about this]

Information & Communication Technology

“Parents will see a sophisticated use of technology as a learning tool across the Primary curriculum – both inside and outside of the mainstream classrooms. Again, this is about personalising children’s learning: increased student engagement (particularly for reluctant leaners), accelerated computing knowledge and a wider range of platforms for students to record and present what they have learnt.”

Head of Secondary, Garry Russell

Personal Development

“We’ve developed Growing Minds, a new PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) initiative which will re-define the way that our students think about who they are, who they want to be, and how much they can potentially attain. This will be supported not only by our team of Form Tutors, Year Heads and University Counsellor but by a new Careers Counsellor and PSHE Coordinator, who both start work here in September.”

Partnerships with Parents

“A new school reporting format will provide parents with a very insightful interpretation of the progress their son or daughter is making, including their attitude to learning as well as the normal measures of attainment and progress. We’re also increasing the number of parent-teacher evenings and allowing more time for parents to meet with those who are teaching their children. The result will be even stronger collaboration between parents and staff.”

IB Examination Preparation

“By moving the Year 13 mock exams from December to January, we’ll provide students with extra time to revise over the winter break. This is turn will have a positive impact on the way that they use and structure their study leave time in May. These may sound like fairly minor changes – but attention to detail is vitally important when you are striving to get high grades in your IB Diploma and enter into your university of choice.”