International School Brunei (ISB) is one of the world’s leading international schools with a strong academic track record. Accredited by the Council of International Schools, ISB is also one of the oldest and most distinguished schools with 57 years of heritage in Brunei Darussalam.
Built on a strong reputation as a highly regarded inclusive Eco-school, ISB provides excellent international education for two to 18-year-olds across its Early Years Provision (Pre-Kindy to Reception), Primary School (Year 1 to Year 6) and Secondary School (Year 7 to Year 13).
The school offers an adapted England and Wales curriculum in the Primary Section followed by IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Secondary. With results consistently above world averages, ISB is proud of its high standards while valuing the contribution students make in performing arts, music and sporting events.
The 2020 cohort of ISB Year 11 students gained 88 per cent A*-C grades while Year 13 graduates celebrated exemplary IBDP results with a 96 per cent pass rate.
In ISB boarding facilities, The Residence, boarders are not only nurtured to achieve academically and be model global citizens, but also to be able to survive in the increasingly competitive 21st Century. The Residence strives to provide an environment where students in their care are treated as individuals and receive a personalised educational experience with the opportunity to develop and grow in body, mind and spirit.
To enhance the IBDP Core and embrace the IB Learner Profile attributes, ISB’s annual student-led Borneo Global Issues Conference (BGIC) is a highlight of the year. A Model United Nations Conference, BGIC is aimed at raising awareness about serious world issues, developing public speaking skills, and growing responsible global citizens. By taking part in the conference, students from over 20 schools have the opportunity to learn and understand global concerns, developing awareness of different perspectives on issues affecting communities.
ISB is a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA). The FOBISIA membership provides ISB students with opportunities to meet and compete against students from similar schools in Southeast Asia. ISB students regularly take part in a wide range of FOBISIA events – School Olympic competitions, Maths competitions, drama festivals, creative writing competitions and leadership and environmental conferences to name a few. Students also have the chance to take part in other international events during the school year – a team goes to the Southeast Asian Maths Competition (SEAMC) every year. Secondary students also compete in the World Scholars Cup with the 2019 team qualifying all the way to the world finals held at Yale University.
The unique combination of opportunity, challenge and care provided by ISB ensures that students leave secure in the knowledge that they are prepared for the challenges of university life and beyond.
ISB is proud to be an inclusive school where everybody in its diverse community excels. The school’s supportive and inclusive environment, combined with students of all abilities, cultures and backgrounds, inspire its students to become caring, open-minded individuals geared for success in an ever-changing world.
Jerudong International School (JIS) is an ‘outstanding’, academically selective, fully accredited, thriving boarding school occupying 120 acres of a coastal campus a short drive from the capital city Bandar Seri Begawan. The school’s motto is “Achieving Excellence” and strives to do this in every area.
JIS is a ‘British School Overseas’, IB World School and Eco School with 1,680 students from 55 countries, aged three to 18, offering a British International Curriculum including IGCSEs and ‘A’ Levels and the IB Diploma.
The school is an international member of the prestigious United Kingdom (UK) Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) organisation, Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) and the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), in addition to being recognised by The Good Schools Guide. The 200 highly qualified teachers primarily from the UK pride themselves on providing an education that is not only academically challenging but also seeks to develop the whole student.
In January 2019, JIS became the first international school in the world to achieve the highest rating in all nine areas inspected by the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectorate. These are: quality of education provided; spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils; welfare, health and safety of pupils; suitability of proprietor and staff; premises and accommodation; provision of information to parents, carers and others; manner in which complaints are handled; quality of leadership in and management of schools; and minimum standards for boarding.
JIS examination results have been excellent with students entering the best universities in the world every year.
Despite the pandemic, in 2020, JIS graduating students were awarded outstanding grades. One hundred students received their ‘A’ Levels with 63.3 per cent being awarded all A*, A or B grades. The locations where the top performing ‘A’ Level students are now studying include the UK (the University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, University of Aberdeen and Nottingham University), Australia (Melbourne University), Canada (University of British Columbia and University of Calgary), Singapore (Nanyang Technological University) and Brunei (Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Science of Universiti Brunei Darussalam).
The graduating IB Diploma student cohort achieved a top score of 43 points, an average score of 37 points and 97 per cent exceeding the world average. Their university destinations include Australia (Monash University), Brunei (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), Canada (University of Toronto and University of British Columbia), New Zealand (University of Auckland), UK (London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Bath, University of Leeds and University of Manchester) and Netherlands (Erasmus University).
One hundred and fifty nine students were awarded IGCSE grades with 64 per cent of all grades being A* – A grades, 96 per cent being A*-C.
Once enrolled at JIS, students and their parents have access to the school’s digital learning portal, Firefly. The school also uses Google Classrooms. Students in Year 6 and above have their own personal device (Years 6-9 have Chromebooks and Years 10-13 have laptops). The Firefly portal makes it easy for students to access their homework, timetables and resources 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 their children’s academic progress, homework and timetable as well as the school’s co-curricular activities. Parents are also able to access a wealth of information about the school and curriculum.
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 WiFi, in line with the school’s policy of learning anytime and anywhere.
The exceptional facilities, fully WiFi and networked, include 27 science laboratories, an extensive Performing Arts Centre and music faculty, art, design and technology studios, libraries and traditional classrooms. The wellequipped medical centre takes care of all students.
Sports facilities are extensive, with two swimming pools (50m and 25m), three air conditioned sports halls, three covered netball/ basketball courts and three football/rugby pitches. A project to enlarge and develop the former tennis courts area was completed in February 2021. This covered area now includes two squash courts, two championship level tennis courts and cricket practice nets. The newly enlarged and renovated library was reopened in February 2021.
A strong co-curricular programme exists with almost 300 activities on offer including a wide range of sports and arts activities, EcoJIS – a student led project leading the school towards the Green Flag status, House competitions, International Award (DoE) programme and the Model United Nations club. The school takes full advantage of the wonderful environment of Brunei to ensure that every child is the very best that they can be.
A House at JIS is a community. In the Junior School, the younger students are introduced to this concept using Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Houses. In the Senior School, the Houses are smaller with up to 70 students. Named after birds in Borneo, the Senior School has 16 Houses – four boarding Houses and 12 day Houses. The Houses are single gender, and every girls’ House has a partner boys’ House who they work together with for a range of events and socials. Boarding Houses are also partnered with day Houses to encourage interaction among boarding and day students.
The House system provides an avenue for pastoral care, competition and camaraderie among the students. Each House has its own leadership team including a House Captain and Deputy Captain, assisted by other students in different leadership positions unique to each House.
House competitions are held weekly and include sports events, arts, talent shows, debate, spelling bees and quizzes. Each House will arrange a lunchtime music performance for at least one Thursday during the year. Every House also runs a Green Business project every year such as the Stingless Bee Hives in the Outdoor Discovery Centre producing honey.
Copyright 2019 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019 All rights reserved.
