Ten years and counting

Much has already been written about the school's physical presence, and rightfully so, because the school grounds and buildings are at once imposing, spacious and beautiful.

Learners of a different ilk

Gemma Jones goes through the paces with her Year 2 class.

But what struck me most about BIS was the measured intensity of its students to learn.

My day started with a tour of the primary school, which is under the direction of Daryl Orchard. A visit to the various classes unveiled clusters of quiet, well-disciplined children who were not just in class occupying space, but who were quietly engaged in focused learning. On special holidays or open house days its easy to apply a fresh coat of paint, or to ask students to be on their best behaviour. Getting students to be so genuinely focused can't be easily orchestrated. It's either a part of the students' daily learning regimen or it's not.

Lukas Kuceht paints a picture worth a thousand words.

A casual observer may call it student discipline, which is nothing more that restraining oneself from committing a faux-pas. No, this is something entirely different. This is a mass of students who are not practicing restraint, but who are acutely intent on getting the very essence from each experiment, from each brush stroke, each treble note, indeed, from each class. It's that look on a master carpenter's face who is about to mitre an angle that must fit perfectly into another piece of wood without the benefit of nails or glue. It's called the love of learning.

That's the look, the feel, the inspiration I got from student after student whom I viewed going about their work; whether it was listening to a teacher read from a library book, or dashing soap suds all over their best mate. The kids, though having fun, were clearly in school for a purpose, and they wanted to make the most of it. From all appearances, the students are succeeding in their own right. Well done students!

Teachers on a roll

Students learn the rather complex protocol for the simple task of safely boiling water.

In my day-long tour, I got to spend less time with the teachers than with the students and top administrators and staff. Notwithstanding, I can only conclude that a primary reason the student body is so pleasantly focused on their work - indeed, improving their minds - is because the teachers are qualified and good at what they respectively do. They obviously make the students' work fun, as I didn't see a bored student among the lot.

Since World Teachers' Day was fast approaching, the students had prepared a collective Teacher's Day presentation to the teachers. The presentations and exhibitions of thanks seemed to be heartfelt and genuine. Well done teachers!

Towards the end of the day, the press was invited to posit queries to those in charge of this United Nations in a microcosm. Headmaster, professor Dr George A. Hickman, introduced senior staff members and members of the board of governors. Apiwat Ourairat, a distinctive member of the board of governors and son of board chairman and BIS founder, Dr Arthit Ourairat, was present to discuss the school's history, growth and success. Also present were Head of Primary School, Daryl Orchard, and Head of Secondary School, Nicholas Botting.

Two major concerns surfaced during the question and answer period. The first, was the initial concern by parents over the quality of the education and the direction of the school during the period a year ago when the school was converting from Dulwich International College to BIS. During the tumult some parents withdrew their children and there was a precipitous drop in enrolment. But Dr Hickman said that enrolment is now higher than before and many parents who initially withdrew their children have now re-enrolled them.

How big is too big

The school is presently at the proverbial crossroads in terms of future direction, and must answer the question: "How big is too big?" This is the second issue. BIS is having to decide whether to admit additional learners and thus expand their physical facilities, or limit the number of enrollees and preserve its present community atmosphere.

Dr Hickman said the question is a recurring one. The answer, he said, remains evasive. That is why the board recently devised a three-to-five year plan to help in providing the proper answer. He said BIS does not wish to become a factory school whereby unlimited numbers of students would be admitted; it does wish to retain all the beneficial community aspects where the students are challenged academically and nurtured socially. But that still does not set a specific number of students. Dr Hickman offered that perhaps the optimum number is somewhere between 1,000 to 1,100 students. The board is expected to decide soon.

The meeting of the press was followed by a formal opening of the BIS Phuket Archives by Vice Governor of Phuket Worapot Ratasima.