With over 50 years of experience in world-class international education, International School Brunei (ISB) is a highly successful, inclusive eco-school focussed on ensuring ‘everyone excels’. ISB nurtures the profile of an International Baccalaureate (IB) learner in everyone from Kindergarten through Year 13, through a variety of extra-curricular activities and life in boarding school.
Through authentic and challenging lessons, regular assessments and feedback, ISB equips its students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in life. ISB teaches the British International Curriculum until Year 11 and the IB Diploma Programme in Year 12 and 13.
The 2018-2019 cohort of ISB Year 11 students and Year 13 graduates recently celebrated an exemplary set of International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and IB examination results. The Year 11 IGCSE students achieved a record where 32 per cent of all examinations were at A* or A, with the top student achieving seven A* and two A grades.
Meanwhile, 36 Year 13 students completed the IB Diploma Programme with a 97 per cent pass rate and an average point score of 30. Both of these figures are above the world’s average, and two of ISB students scored 40 points or more. According to ISB, all the Year 13 students received university offers from all over the world.
ISB takes pride in its graduates, of which 90 per cent of them have been accepted into the top universities in North America, Europe and Asia, leaving as confident future leaders who strive for excellence and positive change.
In addition to guiding students to world-beating examination results and into university, ISB has long distinguished itself through the holistic programme and strong community values. The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities for all students to take part in. These activities form an integral part of the school’s vision for holistic education. Students are encouraged to sign up for at least one activity per day, making sure that they take full advantage of the range of activities available. The school’s extra-curricular activities include taekwondo, football, gymnastics, swimming, rugby, choir, art, creative writing, e-gaming, rock climbing, martial arts, scuba diving, gardening and chess, to name a few.
ISB provides opportunities for students to develop their talents and realise their full potential, whether in the classrooms, on the sports field, Performing Arts Stages or at their annual Model United Nations simulation, the ISB Borneo Global Issues Conference (BGIC).
The ISB BGIC is aimed at raising awareness about serious world issues, developing public speaking skills and growing responsible global citizens. The focus is upon the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. By taking part in this conference, students earn an understanding of global concerns and current affairs as well as debating and presentation skills in a formal environment. These are highly admirable skills and are sought after by employers.
In terms of accommodation, ISB Residence offers a friendly structured environment. The residence consists of two conjoined buildings, of which one is for male boarders and the other for female boarders. The buildings are joined by a common room, allowing all boarders the opportunity to unwind together after a long day of classes and extra-curricular activities.
ISB is proud to be an inclusive school where everybody in its diverse community excels. The school’s warm, supportive and inclusive environment, combined with students of all abilities, cultures and backgrounds, inspires its students to become caring, open-minded individuals geared for success in an ever-changing world.
Founded in 1997, Jerudong International School (JIS) offers the British and International curriculum to over 1,600 students, aged two to 18 from 55 countries. As the premier independent school in Brunei, JIS has highly qualified teachers primarily from the United Kingdom (UK). A small number of the teachers are from Australia and New Zealand, with native language teachers from China and France.
JIS is accredited as a British School Overseas (BSO) and an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, cementing its status as a well-established school offering education of the highest quality. JIS is also accredited as a Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) school.
In a recent report by Penta International, the overseas appointed inspectorate of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) in the UK, JIS is rated as “outstanding in every category”. JIS is the first international school in the world to achieve this milestone, true to its “Achieving Excellence” motto.
The report covers various areas including quality of teaching and learning, as well as spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students. According to the report, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and ‘A’ Level results of JIS students exceed UK national expectations. Meanwhile, the International Baccalaureate (IB) results exceed world expectations.
JIS takes pride in the exceptional grades of its students, reflected in last year’s examination results. The average score of the 2019 IB Diploma cohort is 36 out of 45. In comparison, the world average is 29.63. Additionally, over 55 per cent of the school’s ‘A’ Level subject entries gained A* to B grades. The results clearly indicate that JIS students perform excellently on the international stage.
Once enrolled at JIS, students have access to the school’s learning portal, Firefly. This makes it easy for students to access all the resources they need, submit their school work from any device, as well as collaborate with teachers and peers.
Firefly is also used by parents and teachers, with different permission levels. Parents can find information about the school’s co-curricular activities (CCAs), sporting arrangements, lesson timetables and can easily email staff for help and advice.
The school believes that digital learning is key to ensuring that every student gets the most out of their learning experience. Students have access to the campus Wi-Fi, in line with the school’s policy of learning anytime and anywhere.
The school provides an education that is not only academically challenging but also seeks to develop each student with an enriched school experience unlike any other. CCAs provide the experience of being a team member, and they also build communication and leadership skills.
An extensive range of CCAs are available for JIS students including gymnastics, horse riding, rugby, orchestra, diving, ballet, as well as musical and drama productions. There is also EcoJIS using the award-winning Outdoor Discovery Centre, an eco-forestry initiative which enables the school to sell compost and produce fresh honey, among other things. All activities are designed to excite and enthuse students, encouraging them to challenge themselves and constantly grow to succeed in life.
JIS encourages its students to participate in community service such as charity work not only in Brunei but also in Cambodia, India and Malaysia. The Junior School actively participates in charity work throughout the year for children with special needs in Brunei. JIS also has the Polio Points Scheme, where students are rewarded for their good work with Polio Points to purchase polio vaccines, improving the lives of children around the world.
Furthermore, approximately 35 per cent of the graduating class takes part in the Duke of Edinburgh International Gold Award, contributing to the students’ personal development.
Home to beautiful beaches, the cleanest air in the continent and some of the most biodiverse rainforest on the planet, Brunei offers a unique learning environment in which JIS students are able to flourish and achieve excellence. The impressive school grounds are a considerable asset enhancing the overall learning experience. Situated within the 120-acre school campus are the four JIS boarding houses which currently accommodate 200 students, with full services including a medical centre, dining room and recreation facilities, including a brand new cafe.
In addition to the four boarding houses, there are 12 houses for day students. The house system provides an avenue for pastoral care, competition and camaraderie among the students. Each house has its own house captain and deputy captain, assisted by other students in different leadership positions unique to each house. Boarding Houses are partnered with Day Houses, encouraging boarding and day students to meet.
There are lots of windows during the evenings for students to get together, relax or play sports.The basketball and volleyball courts are popular among students, buzzing with activity and energy after students have their dinner and finish their homework. Other activities include spelling bees, debate competitions and quizzes, deepening the bond between students.
JIS puts a high priority on guiding and assisting its students through the process of applying to universities and managing their career development. Students are challenged to aim high, within their capabilities, and are well informed about how to maximise their chances of securing an offer from leading universities worldwide.
As the leading British international school in Asia, JIS has seen many of its graduates commence their studies at the top universities around the world. The destinations of recent JIS graduates include the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford in the UK, Stanford University in the United States and the University of Toronto in Canada.
Copyright 2019 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019 All rights reserved.
