Meet the Headmaster – Education in paradise

Expat Life spoke to Simon Meredith, the Headmaster at BISP, as the school celebrates 25 years of international education on Phuket.

What makes British International School, Phuket unique?

Rarely do you see the words education and paradise in the same sentence, however at BISP, many families are attracted by the world class learning opportunities and the lifestyle afforded in a tropical island location.

With over 60 different nationalities amongst our student body, we are a truly international school. 70% of our students are international, which creates a diverse, cosmopolitan atmosphere at the school.

The students have access to internationally recognised learning and examinations, with professional coaches in football, golf, tennis, swimming, aerial arts and gymnastics, artists in residence and school trips across Asia and beyond. Every child in middle school learns a musical instrument and is entered into LAMDA exams. 

The school has day and boarding students.

We pride ourselves on offering learning without limits.

Where do your graduates go?

Our graduates pursue a diverse number of destinations, careers and interests. In the past three years alone, students have progressed to 134 different universities in 22 countries, as well as to professional sports clubs and careers around the world.

We recognise the needs of each individual, and support students and their families in making the right choice for the individual child. Two dedicated University Counsellors guide students and parents from Year 9 onwards. 

Ultimately, we want students to find their passion at BISP, and to be able to follow these passions upon graduation.

Tell us about the school’s mission.

Our mission is to Inspire Learning; Nurture Wellbeing; Ignite Passion

This mission reflects what we believe schools have to provide in a modern context. No longer are good schools responsible for simply providing strong academics. Instead, parents seek schools which can provide a balance of learning, wellbeing and extracurricular activities, and through our unique triple helix system, this is something BISP has been doing for many years.

We continue to enable students to make the most of the environment. Students play sports on real grass, enjoy our outdoor pools, and learn on our on-campus golf course. The afternoons see our population enjoying the fresh air, taking part in our 300 plus extracurricular activities, incorporating a healthy physical element into their lifestyle.

What is life like for boarding students?

The recent academic years have been unique in that some of our boarding students have not been home for two years. It is a testament to the boarding experience at BISP that during this time, these students have flourished.

Boarding students have the unique opportunity to share schooling experiences with students from around the world and establish lifelong friends. Some travel for more than 30 hours to get to BISP and so schooling is part of a great adventure.

Our house parents are from the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, France, Philippines, and Korea, and seven of the nine house parents have their own children in the school, forming an international and diverse family, and providing the safety and routines in which boarding students can feel at home.

A chef oversees our menus and refectory and caters for high performance athletes, and our onsite nurses ensure medical care 24/7.

Students have the opportunity to explore Phuket on weekends and to travel Asia and the world on sporting and academic trips throughout the school year.

Many day students will join us if their parents are away for some time, or for periods of intense exam practice, as we have the flexibility of accommodating any family circumstances. We also have a weekly boarding option and part time boarding.

What would you say to any families moving to Phuket?

We recommend visiting the campus, meeting myself and the principals, and, depending on the ages and needs of your children, meeting our university counsellors and the specialist learning needs team, the head of boarding and high performance coaches.

We also offer trials, allowing students to experience the school prior to enrolment. 

It is also a good idea to speak to other families. Approximately 25% of our graduating classes have been at BISP since the start of their schooling in Little Ducks or Early Years, so you’ll find plenty of parents with the experience of the whole school journey.

Education in paradise is a reality! 

Why not come and join us!