The school aims to foster academic achievement, nurture well-being and encourage extra-curricular involvement in all pupils, in order to maximize their potential to lead enriching and successful lives
Founded in 2007, The International School of Samui (ISS) follows the British Independent School model as well as the British curriculum which is supported by the University of Cambridge curriculum programs. It is an ‘Outstanding School’ according to its most recent 2018 inspection. ISS is situated in one of the main areas of Koh Samui with the availability of all necessary facilities nearby. It has a hospital and shopping Centre just a few minutes away and is a 5-minute drive to the beautiful beach.
Vivacious Campus with Modern Infrastructure
ISS has lush green surroundings with advanced infrastructure and very well maintained campus. It has a 25-meter swimming pool, air-conditioned sports hall, science laboratories, a ‘black box’ drama theatre with a capacity of 200. Primary and senior school common and recreational rooms are in ample supply. There is a well-equipped D&T room which includes twenty cooking stations complete with cooking equipment.
Diverse and International Learning Environment
It is a truly international school with over 250 pupils currently enrolled from over 35 different countries. The school celebrates diversity and supports the diverse culture in the campus. Moreover, 82% of the total students are expatriates which depict that it truly has an international education environment. The school has maintained a community and family-orientated atmosphere where students, parents, and teachers are able to develop constructive relationships with one another.
Passionate Front-runner with Extensive Experience
Jeremy Lees is the Headmaster and Founder of ISS. He is a UK qualified teacher with a BSc (Hons) degree in Laser Physics and Optoelectronics from the University of St Andrews. He has rich experience in the fields of education. Formerly, Mr. Lees served in the British Army as an Officer and combat helicopter pilot. He has made a significant contribution in the success of the school. ISS has grown into one of the most prestigious institutions under his able leadership. Mr. Lees is a gentle, kind and hardworking professional who always perseveres to achieve the best result for the students and school which reflects in their excellent and outstanding IGCSE results year on year.
Comprehensive Program of Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has a strong emphasis on sports and extra-curricular activities to foster team building skills and cooperation amongst the children as well as honing great coordination and other spatial skills. Moreover, the school focuses on making learning enjoyable and to give every child the opportunity to develop a sense of confidence in them. ISS has a one-to-one music department and a variety of extra-curricular activities related to sporting, theatrical, arts and more. The school believes that extra-curricular activities are as important as academics for overall development of the students.
Teaching with a Global Perspective
The International School of Samui has an extensive and interesting curriculum covering a wide range of subjects and skills which include comprehensive after-school activities, school trips, and excursions. The school offers quality education of an international standard at three levels i.e., early years, primary and senior school level.
It provides meaningful education to children from two to four years of age and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. EYFS is a framework that supports an integrated approach to early learning and care. For its primary school, ISS follows the British National Curriculum supported by the Cambridge Primary program focusing on topic-based learning. At Senior School level, children 11 to 16 years old are educated to a high standard with a strong focus on their well-being and pastoral care.
Offers Scholarship and Financial Support to Students
The school offers various forms of scholarship programs to the students. In 2017, the school reached its 10th anniversary and to make this milestone memorable the founder provided funding for 10 additional scholarship schemes for senior school students. The ‘Lees Scholarship’ is a special scholarship program which is offered to children living on Koh Samui who demonstrate a strong academic aptitude but who were unable to study at ISS due to their families’ financial circumstances.
Glimpse of Some Achievement
The school achieved the first accreditation from the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) in Thailand over ten years ago. On top of this, it recently renewed its Silver accreditation status from the Education Development Trust (EDT) – a world authority on International school inspection and evaluation having inspected schools around the world for more than 20 years. In 2018, the school achieved 43% A/A* IGCSE grades and 96% A*/C grades. This was a record result for the school and two times more than the UK average.
Preparing for Better Career Opportunities
ISS has a dedicated IGCSE form tutor who organizes practice interview sessions for all students as well as advice and guidance on creating individual CV’s. The school offers a week’s work experience at the end of the summer term for all IGCSE students on top of 6th Form and University guidance all year round. After completing their studies at ISS, students receive every opportunity to be enrolled at internationally renowned universities and schools around the world.
