Regent’s International School offers a holistic education that places every child at the heart of the curriculum. Our mission is to ensure that students develop into well rounded leaders for the future. In order to realise this vision, we provide all students a broad, balanced range of academic subjects that is delivered by experienced international teachers. We also ensure that all students develop their literacy in English. This curriculum is supported by a strong pastoral team as well as a variety of enrichment and extracurricular activities. Our curriculum is based on Key Stages that build on the Primary School curriculum and ensure progression from year to year. The various areas of this website outline each of Key Stage and our Handbooks provide more detailed information on our curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Regent’s International School Key Stage 3 Curriculum for Year 7 to 9 builds on the foundations of knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the Primary School. It seeks to deliver a 21st century education to meet the needs of our young and society. It aims to ensure that our children become well rounded leaders for the future; children that grow into
- Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
- Confident individuals who are able to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
- Responsible citizens who make a contribution to society
In order to meet the interests and needs of individual students, as well as the changing demands and challenges society poses, there is a need to support children in a number of core areas such as functional skills but also in terms of their personal, learning and thinking skills.
Our Key Stage 3 Curriculum therefore has a strong emphasis on functional skills such as
- Literacy (specifically reading, writing, speaking, listening in English)
- ICT and digital literacy
- Numeracy
There is also an emphasis on developing approaches to learning linked to
- Collaboration and interdependence
- Critical thinking
- Creativity and resourcefulness
- Reflection
- Resilience
Students develop this core knowledge and skills through a broad and balanced curriculum composed of a range of subject areas including Languages (First and Second), Humanities, Sciences, Maths, Arts and Sports. The curriculum is delivered by dedicated, professional, caring and experienced international teachers who place your child at the heart of everything they do.
At Regent’s International School, we place great importance on wellbeing and aim to ensure students feel safe, stay healthy and are happy. We provide support for student’s mental and emotional welfare and offer a range of opportunities beyond the classroom including anything from MUN to drama and music to sporting activities as well as outward bounds and curricular trips that further enrich a child’s education.
At Regent’s International School, our Key Stage 3 curriculum will not only prepare students for IGCSEs, the IB Diploma and university, it will support them in developing into well rounded leaders.
Key Stage 4 and IGCSE
At Key Stage 4, students follow the International General Certificate of Secondary Education programme (IGCSE). This offers one of the most recognized qualifications around the world. IGCSE courses are renowned for developing vital educational skills, including: recall of knowledge; oral skills; problem solving; initiative; teamwork and investigative skills. The resulting qualification provides an ideal foundation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme offered at Regent’s International School, Bangkok.
Many of our students excel at IGCSE level with students consistently exceeding UK national averages in terms of A*-A grades and A*-C grades. Through the programme, students continue to develop their abilities in
- Literacy (specifically reading, writing, speaking, listening in English)
- ICT and digital literacy
- Numeracy
They also continue to develop approaches to learning linked to
- Collaboration and interdependence
- Critical thinking
- Creativity and resourcefulness
- Reflection
- Resilience
Breadth and depth
Students are encouraged to study a wide range of subjects at IGCSE level. In order to follow a broad and balanced curriculum, many students take courses from each of main subject groups (see below). Choosing across the subject range means that students will be well prepared for the IB Diploma course.
IGCSE examination information
The IGCSE programme is a two year course. Exams are normally taken at the end of
that period, although early entry is occasionally offered at Regent’s International School.
Examinations are held in November and in May. Subjects are examined through a
range of assessment methods, including: coursework, oral and listening, practicals and
written examinations. We enter students for the level most appropriate to their ability
and base this decision on their prior attainment and their teachers´ expertise. Results
are available in January and August for the preceding examination session.
Beyond the Classroom
At Key Stage 4, we continue to encourage students to develop skills that will enable them to become responsible and confident young adults. We provide a number of opportunities both through the formal curriculum and beyond the curriculum. Participation in House and inter-school competitions continue to be encouraged as are enrichment, service and extracurricular activities such as the International Award, MUN, Outward Bounds trip and sports, music, art and drama activities.
The strong emphasis on academic rigour as well as on wellbeing and citizenship will mean that students are well prepared for the IB Diploma and university. This balanced approach is a core element of our mission in supporting students to become well rounded leaders for the future.
Pre-IB programme
Regent’s International School Pre-IB programme offers new students the opportunity to prepare for the IB Diploma. This programme is specifically designed for a student that is shown to have the ability and potential to be successful in the IB Diploma. However, they may lack the language and literacy skills in English to fully access the IB course, or may not have completed the first year of the IGCSE programme.
The Pre-IB Programme is a personalised intensive course that follows the second year of IGCSE. It is specifically adapted to the interests and needs of the individual student.
Typically, the programme has an emphasis on furthering a student’s literacy skills in English. It aims to ensure that by the end of the year students are at intermediate level in English and have become more able and confident in reading, writing, speaking and listening in English.
The programme also emphasises skills in
- ICT and digital literacy
- Numeracy
as well as approaches to learning that are aligned to the IB Diploma
- Collaboration and interdependence
- Critical thinking
- Creativity and resourcefulness
- Reflection
- Resilience
Students must select subjects from the six subject areas of the IB Diploma; choosing across the subject range means that students will be well prepared for the IB Diploma course.
All Pre-IB students must study
- English: First or Second Language
- Mathematics
- At least one Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Other subjects offered include:
- Humanities: Geography, History, Business, Global Perspectives
- Languages: Thai, Chinese, Mandarin
- Arts: Drama, Music, Art and Design
In addition, throughout the year, students are provided extra time for independent study as well as extra lessons in English.
At the beginning of Term 2, Year 11, students can decide on whether they are to be entered for the IGCSE exams in May/June. This decision will be based on discussions with subject teachers, parents and the Key Stage 4 Coordinator.
Generally, a student is expected to pass 5 IGCSEs at grade A*-C including English and Maths. However, the school will also consider other indicators such as feedback from subject teachers, progress in English and information from cognitive ability tests (CAT4).
Through the Pre-IB programme, we also encourage students to develop skills that will enable them to become responsible and confident young adults. We provide a number of opportunities both through the formal curriculum and beyond the curriculum. Participation in House and inter-school competitions are encouraged, as are enrichment, service and extra-curricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, MUN, Outward Bounds trip and sports, music, art and drama activities.
The strong emphasis on academic rigour as well as on wellbeing and citizenship will mean that students are well prepared for the IB Diploma and university. This balanced approach is a core element of our mission in supporting students to become well rounded leaders for the future.
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous academic program emphasizing academic achievement, critical thinking, research skills and community service. It has been operating worldwide for over 50 years and is in place in almost 3000 schools in over 130 countries around the world. The IB Diploma is recognized in virtually every country in the world.
The Diploma Programme encourages students to:
- ask challenging questions
- learn how to learn
- develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
- develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures
- is holistic in outlook
- emphasises students are the changemakers and leaders of the world
Because of this, the IB is highly valued by all universities across the world. In many UK and North American universities it is felt to be the best programme in preparing students for Tertiary Education, as such the “Gold Standard.”
‘In the States and in Canada, IB students are very much sought-after’
‘What the IB gives you, that I think A-levels don’t, are the skills not just to get into university, but to succeed at university’ (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/education-and-family/why-the-ib-is-the-perfect-passport-to-university/ )
At Regent’s International School our students consistently exceed world average point scores and go on to study at a range of universities including Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial, Manchester in the UK, Cornell, Pennsylvania, New York and Berkeley in USA, UBC and Toronto in Canada and City University in Hong Kong and many more.
The curriculum
The IB Diploma requires students to study six subject areas, with one discipline taken from each group in the curriculum model:
- Language A (literature and/or language): English, Thai
- Language B (second language) English, Spanish, Mandarin or another Language A: English, Thai, Mandarin or a Self Taught chosen language (we have supported Korean, German, French, Japanese and many other languages)
- Individuals and Societies: Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Digital Society (formerly Information Technology in a Global Society)
- Experimental Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sports Education Health Science
- Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics Applications and Interpretations
- Arts: Theatre Arts, Visual Art, Music (or one subject from another group)
All IB Diploma students must choose three courses at Higher Level (HL) and three courses at Standard Level (SL).
In addition to these academic disciplines, the IBDP is founded on three core components for which the students are required to:
- Complete a 4000 word Research Essay
- Undertake a two year course of study in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
- Commit to a range of Creative, Action, and Service (CAS) oriented experiences
Recommended Entry requirements for IB Diploma
Due to the course content the following recommendations are made regarding entrance into some subjects at different levels:
- A* at IGCSE is recommended for HL mathematics
- B or higher is generally recommended at IGCSE to take subjects at HL.
- C or higher at IGCSE is recommended to take other subjects at SL
Regent’s International School also offers the IB Courses pathway which may be more appropriate for students who do not meet the recommended requirements for the IB Diploma or would like to focus on specific subject areas. This will also mean that students can gain a High School Diploma that is recognised by Thai universities. More information on this can be found at this link
Assessment
IB Subjects are graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The students may gain up to another 3 points through the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay. The maximum number of points awarded for the IB Diploma is 45. A student must gain 24 points with 12 points at HL to pass the full IB Diploma.
Prepared for university and life
The IB Diploma and IB courses pathways at Regent’s International School ensures that our students leave school prepared for university, prepared for the challenges they will face but, more than this, able to actively participate in society as open minded, principled global citizens.
