School is not what it used to be. Over centuries, Thailand’s education system has evolved to cater for the arising needs of the next generation. More than ever, this evolution is required again, as children face unprecedented challenges of the modern world. To experience lifelong growth and success in whatever path they choose, the next generation must be equipped with the appropriate tools, values and principles. Here is how we are doing this at Ascot International.
Students who find themselves in our international school for the first time may be initially shocked by the different learning systems we employ and the outcomes we are striving for.
Traditional curricula education models expect students to attend classes and be assessed on their ability to complete specific tasks outlined in the syllabus. Most commonly, these assessments are delivered in the form of pre-determined examinations and assignments.
Students are put under the microscope and expected to replicate what they have been taught under strict test conditions. While these assessments can provide evidence of knowledge retention (at least in the short term), they cannot indicate whether a student has learnt new skills or acquired new values and beliefs.
What makes Ascot International the best school in Thailand is our defiance of this education model. Instead of students being made to memorise materials and present the ‘correct’ answer, we encourage them to explore knowledge, collaborate, discuss and determine their opinions based on evidence. Instead of our teachers presenting students with the answer they expect, we step our students through the process of discovering knowledge and analysing it for its usefulness and reliability
In today’s day and age where children are constantly connected to streams of information with varying reliability, these skills are essential to informing their decision making. It is a lesson which they can carry forth into their professional and personal lives. Ascot prides itself on the bond our staff members form with students, a pastoral relationship built on the tenets of trust, honesty and collaboration instead of dictation, authority and expectation.
Today’s world is the most interconnected it has ever been in history. In a country like Thailand, renowned for its diversity, we see it as vital for our students to be culturally sensitive while understanding how to practice inclusion.
By the very nature of being an International Baccalaureate World School, we teach our students how to foster an international mindedness which they will benefit from for the rest of their lives.
At Ascot International, students irrespective of their beliefs are welcome to learn with us. This is done through our commitment to The Learner Profile, a heuristic which outlines the broad range of attributes which define the differing capacities of humans and their responsibilities.
Working as part of The Learner Profile framework means students are committing to more than just their academic or extracurricular success, but also to becoming compassionate citizens for generations to come.
These capabilities are developed through students being encouraged to assist their pupils and broader school to community to be mindful and aware of differing values and beliefs. We believe diversity is an asset, not an obstacle. To succeed in whatever path they choose, we believe our students must embrace differences wholeheartedly.
With our students achieving great outcomes both academically and in their extracurricular pursuits, you may suspect we apply significant pressure on our students to achieve at such a high level. This assumption could not be more incorrect; our curriculum focuses on students acquiring lifelong learning principles while encouraging them to live healthy and balanced lives.
It is not true that students must burn themselves out to achieve great things. Of course, approaching your studies with diligence, resilience and effort are a requirement for long term success, but these principles must be adopted alongside complementary wellbeing protocols.
In traditional curriculum models, students are expected to demonstrate competency across certain areas with little flexibility or autonomy in what they learn. This model leads to students becoming disillusioned with their education and developing a negative relationship with learning.
To prevent this, we actively encourage our students to pursue their individual passions and interests, thereby incentivising them to enjoy the learning process. By design, this system leads students to working hard, practicing and learning new skills, which in turn leads to higher levels of achievement.
On top of prioritising autonomy and independent learning, we make sure our students are being given equitable opportunities to grow. We recognise our students come from a myriad of backgrounds and may even require us to adapt and cater for learning differences.
Our ethos is to encourage all students of differing abilities to fulfil their individual potential. To achieve this, we identify obstacles to their success, and where reasonable adjust our requirements to ensure students are not excluded or disadvantaged.
The challenges of today cannot be addressed by an outdated education system. As the best international school in Thailand, we provide our students with an education that meets the needs of students while uplifting them to seize their future.
From Early Years to Secondary: The Ascot Learning Journey. Discover a holistic education at Ascot International School, where the IB and British curricula foster curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
IB vs. British Curriculum: Explore the unique blend of these prestigious educational frameworks at Ascot International School. Discover how we nurture well-rounded individuals with a global perspective and prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world.
At Ascot International School, safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of every child is our unwavering commitment.
An IB World School, accredited by CIS.