Accredited by the Council of International Schools, International School Brunei (ISB) is also one of the oldest and most distinguished international schools in Southeast Asia, with 59 years of heritage in Brunei Darussalam. ISB has three campuses: Bandar, Seria (Primary only) and the Centre for Inclusive Learning (CIL). Built on a strong reputation as a highly regarded and inclusive Eco-school where ‘Everyone Excels’, ISB provides firstclass 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).
ISB is one of the world’s leading international schools with a very strong academic track record. The school offers an adapted England and Wales curriculum in the Primary and Lower Secondary sections followed by IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Secondary. As a fully inclusive school, ISB provides education to all students regardless of their abilities. ISB is proud to have a learning support provision led by an experienced and highly qualified team. The school is committed to continued professional development and is forward thinking in its approach.
The 2022 cohort of ISB Year 11 students gained 82 per cent A*-C Grades in IGCSE. The May 2022 cohort of Year 13 graduates produced outstanding results, with 16 students qualifying for the esteemed ISB Board of Directors Achievement Awards (IB bursaries awarded to graduates meeting IB goals during their programme). The school achieved a perfect top point score of 45 points and an average point score of 34 points, well above the global average of 31.98 points. The school continues to nurture students for scholastic success while also valuing the contribution they make in performing arts, music, and sporting events where opportunities are almost limitless for all.
At ISB, students are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of learning and performance opportunities with art and music. Through their study of art, music, drama and dance, students learn to plan, develop, and present artistic products or performances that reflect their own creativity.
ISB students are nurtured to let their talents shine not only in classrooms but also during school events such as International Day, performing arts showcases, music concerts, school productions and more.
ISB has a long history of sporting success. Students at ISB have numerous opportunities to participate in sporting activities and clubs, which in turn develop confidence, collaboration, and positive attitudes, as well improving mental and physical health. The holistic ISB experience is enhanced through participation in local, regional, and international competitions, Duke of Edinburgh (DofE), Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
Evidently, as a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), ISB students have opportunities to meet and compete against students from similar schools in Southeast Asia. This academic year alone, ISB students have won almost 300 medals from competing in FOBISIA sports invitationals.
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, inspires its students to become caring, openminded individuals geared for success in an ever-changing world. The unique combination of opportunity, challenge and care provided by ISB ensures that students are prepared for the challenges of university life and beyond.
Jerudong International School (JIS) is an ‘outstanding’, academically selective, fully accredited, thriving boarding school. It is nestled on 120 acres of a coastal campus, just a short drive away from the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. The school’s motto is ‘Achieving Excellence’, which is the driving force behind everything the school does.
As a British School Overseas, IB World School, and Eco School, JIS provides an excellent education for 1,660 students from 55 countries, aged two to 18. The school offers a British International Curriculum, which includes IGCSEs and A Levels, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and International BTEC, ensuring that the students receive a well-rounded education.
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 February 2023, JIS was honoured with the COBIS Patron’s Accreditation and became the first international school worldwide to receive Beacon Status in three standards: Student Welfare, Boarding and Extracurricular Activities. Additionally, JIS was a finalist in the Sustainability category at the International School Awards 2023, following its Global Eco Schools Green Flag Award in July 2022.
Furthermore, 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.
The JIS values of challenge, respect and inspiring change can be seen threaded throughout the school. There is an air of exuberance around the school and an enthusiasm for conversation. The students are connected to the world around them and identify with the school’s mission of making a critical difference to the lives of others. The school takes pride in cultivating a nurturing environment where students are challenged to reach their full potential and develop into well-rounded individuals.
JIS students have truly demonstrated their excellence and dedication to their studies, and the school is proud to see them enter the best universities in the world every year.
In 2022, a year which has been challenging for students everywhere as they struggled to study in a world impacted by the COVID virus, the results achieved by the A Level students at JIS proved to be even more remarkable. JIS students achieved an outstanding A* or A grade in 43.5 per cent of all grades awarded. An impressive 64.5 per cent of all grades awarded were A*, A or B, generally regarded as the minimum level required for entry into a leading UK university.
Remarkably, five students achieved A* grades in all four of their ‘A’ Levels subjects – Bruneian Ethan Cheam who will study computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) at the University of Edinburgh, UK; Gabriel Chan, also a Bruneian, who is planning to study medicine; Jacob Kattikaran from India (who will study maths and was awarded the President’s International Distinction Scholarship University of Alberta, Canada); Mustafa Nasir from Pakistan who is studying civil engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada; and Ray Kakuta, from Japan who will study for an Integrated Masters Degree in computing with artificial intelligence and machine learning at Imperial College, London, UK.
The school’s IB Diploma results continue to be outstanding, building on the excellent 10 years of IB Diploma provision at JIS. Australian student Tiana Moore achieved the highest score of 44 points. Benjamin Hinoul, from Belgium, Deputy Captain for Ibis Boys Boarding House achieved 43 points and has gone to study at Homerton College at the University of Cambridge. Twelve students achieved 40 points or above. The world average IB Diploma point score was 31.98. The JIS average point score was 35.4. Fifty-three per cent achieved 36 points or above.
One hundred and fifty one students were awarded IGCSE grades with 52.5 per cent of all grades being A* – A grades, 95 per cent being A* to C. Over 70 per cent of the grades achieved in Additional Maths and Triple Science were A* / A grades. The Languages were similarly impressive with over 90 per cent grades awarded at A* / A Grades (Level 9-7) for Foreign Language Malay and First Language Chinese.
JIS believes that education should be accessible and engaging. 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 Years 5 and above have their own personal device (Years 5 to 9 use Chromebooks and Years 10 to 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.
JIS believes that digital learning is crucial to ensure that every student can make the most out of their learning experience. That’s why students have access to campus WiFi, in line with the policy of learning anytime and anywhere. With Firefly and digital resources, the school makes sure that learning is accessible, interactive and effective.
The school understands that a wellrounded education goes beyond the classroom. That’s why the school provides exceptional facilities that are fully connected to Wi-Fi, including 27 state-of-the-art science laboratories, an extensive Performing Arts Centre and music faculty, as well as art, design and technology studios, and traditional classrooms.
The health and wellbeing of the students is also a top priority. The wellequipped medical centre and team of nurses ensures that all students receive the care they need.
The sports facilities are second to none, with two swimming pools (50 metres and 25 metres), three air-conditioned sports halls, three covered netball/ basketball courts and three football/ rugby pitches. A bespoke Racquet Sports Centre includes four squash courts, two championship level tennis courts, and cricket practice nets. The newly enlarged and renovated library provides a comfortable and modern learning space for our students. At JIS, the school believes in nurturing their students’ talents and interests.
That’s why the school offers a strong co-curricular programme with almost 300 activities to choose from, 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 provide students with unique and enriching experiences, helping them to be the very best that they can be.
A House at JIS is a vibrant community. In the Junior School, students learn about the importance of community through their participation in Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Houses. As they move into the Senior School, the Houses become smaller, with up to 70 students, and are named after birds found in Borneo. The Senior School boasts 16 Houses, including four boarding Houses and 12 day Houses. Each House is single-gendered, and the girls’ Houses have partner boys’ Houses with whom they collaborate for a range of events and socials. The boarding Houses also partner with day Houses to encourage interaction among boarding and day students.
The House system is designed to provide pastoral care, foster competition and promote camaraderie among the students. Each House has its own leadership team, including a House Captain and Deputy Captain, as well as other students in various unique leadership positions within each House. House competitions take place weekly and include a variety of events such as sports, arts, talent shows, debates, spelling bees and quizzes.
Each House arranges a lunchtime music performance at least once a year. Additionally, every House runs a Green Business project annually, such as the Stingless Bee Hives located in the Outdoor Discovery Centre that produce honey.
Copyright 1993 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook All rights reserved.
