Talk

Flip

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Education

Anyone with experience of British International Schools?

11 replies

Schmedz · 05/05/2013 15:54

There may be an opportunity for us to move to Japan (Tokyo) and I am wondering if anyone is able to offer advice on the (British)international schools there. We would be moving in January so not ideal for the academic year.

Eldest will be year7 and youngest in Year 5. Both at academically selective school (one of the top indie junior schools in UK) now...any idea how standards compare?

OP posts:

Report

bulby · 05/05/2013 16:07

Hi, you've asked a difficult to answer question. Most international schools are private businesses - some follow a British curriculum. They aren't British schools if that makes sense. Some are fantastic, some are beyond dire. I suspect that in Japan the quality will be quite high, I worked at one in another SE Asian country with a fantastic reputation but some of the things shocked me (in fairness I'd always worked in the state sector wasn't used to the way business permeated). Children often come from all over the world which is an amazing opportunity for your kids. The quality of teaching can be variable, check out where staff were trained, at my school many were locally trained and if I'm honest not very good. The results for a given international school can be excellent but be aware that there may be a lot of private tuition driving that. Facilities can be brilliant.
Try some expat websites or the TES working overseas forum for specific information about schools you'd be looking at.

Report

Schmedz · 05/05/2013 17:24

The one I'm looking at is a not for profit, follows British curriculum and has pretty strict procedures for recruitment ( they visit all the prospective teachers to observe them teaching in their own schools as well as having quite strict requirements for qualifications and minimum teaching experience in the UK) . It would be me who would be looking to work there as well as have the children attend. So I'd like to think it was a pretty good standard of teaching overall!
Thanks for the tip on forums ...will follow it up.

OP posts:

Report

TheRealFellatio · 05/05/2013 17:25

You should post this in the overseas section as well, you might get a better response there.

Report

Schmedz · 05/05/2013 17:45

Thanks RF. great idea!

OP posts:

Report

Schmedz · 05/05/2013 17:50

Umm...feel silly but can't find an Overseas section....please help!

OP posts:

Report

AgentProvocateur · 05/05/2013 17:57

Can I just point out for the benefit of any Scottish MNers who may be thinking of moving overseas and looking for an international school that they follow the English (not British!) curriculum, which is very different to the Scottish one.

We did it for a few years in SE Asia, and it was a great experience, but there was a LOT of adjustment needed when we came back to Scotland.

Report

TheRealFellatio · 05/05/2013 17:57

It is in Homes and Gardens . stupid place for it if you ask me

Report

Schmedz · 05/05/2013 17:59

LOL RF! I totally agree
Thanks.

OP posts:

Report

PeriPathetic · 06/05/2013 21:14

If you're looking at BST, it's a good school, but the campus isn't great. Unless its changed in the past couple of years, years R to 3 are in one, city centre campus, while years 4 upwards share a campus with a college some distance away. This would be a problem if you worked in one while your children attended the other.
Maths levels are very high, English is variable depending upon the teacher. Not many trips out of school. Loads of extra curricular options.
It does change rapidly though due to turnover of pupils and staff. We did have some issues with bullying and lack of support though.

Report

50shadesofvomit · 07/05/2013 14:56

My brother was at BST in the 90s and it wasn't as outstanding as a top prep but he managed to pass the 11+ for Rokeby and Kings Wimbledon with some extra tutoring at home. Other children in his class went back to the UK and passed tests to Surbiton High etc

My sister and I went to ISSH and were accelerated a year. I went there from Habs in Elstree.

My mum was advised that children from top UK preps going to international schools should be accelerated a year in order to be able to keep up if they move back to the UK. My other brother went to St Mary's and he too skipped a year.

I also went to YIS which was more European than ISSH. There are many UK teachers and they offered GCE O levels (in the 90s) Personally I preferred it to ISSH and have many happy memories.