Experience With Isb Bangkok?

[MND]

Hi,

Moving to Thailand soon and are looking for International School in Bankok for our children. Have found ISB and would like to know if anyone can recommend ISB Bangkok. It is pretty expensive. Is it worth the money? How is the surrounding area Nicharda, Is it a good place to live in?

Best Regards

[samran]

Are you American?

Look, Nitchada Thani is miles away from the centre of two, but it is a gated estate and has everything that you'd want there. It is a bit of a 'little America' feel to it. Big houses, yards, etc.... and is where many of the senior oil and gas expats live, primarily as the oil and gas workers work a little north of the City.

That makes to commute for them OK, but not for everyone else. Good for the school kids though as they don't have to go far.

Never have been to the school as a student but have used the facilities for sporting events and they are phenomenal. The school again from all appearances attempts to emulate the American school experience. Great if you are an exptriate American, but there are a range of other international schools in the 'city' area of BKK, including NIST. Bangkok Pattana is a little further out, but probably a bit better connected to town than ISB.

Many people, including ourselves, don't live in gated communities such as Nichada, there are many good condo's and apartments in the centre of town.

All depends on what you want, how much you can afford, and how far from the city you really want to live.

[MND]

Nope not America. European. Thanks a lot for your input!

[Goinghomesoon]

For a European (if school fees are covered by your employer or you are independently wealthy) I would look at the other 2 top international schools - NIST and Patana. Declaration of vested interest here, I have a child at NIST and we've been extremely pleased. We initially sent our child to one of the second-tier international schools and were not particularly happy with the resources teachers were given, however the teachers themselves were fantastic.

[kamahele]

I don't have children in school but am a bit familiar with ISB and Nichada Thani as I have spent some time staying there. You don't have to live in Nichada Thani for your children to attend school there but it is handy, but if you are commuting, one of the gates is just off off the expressway so very convenient. I know one former Thai student who attended ISB and he has no Thai accent. He sounds as if he is a native speaker so kudos for the staff. As for the local community, it is quite beautiful. There are many different sub communities at Nichada from the large houses to town houses and condominium complexes. There are play areas, tennis courts, pools and they provide a very safe environment. They have 24/7 security in each sub community and manning each gate. They also have bike paths, making it safer for young children and those of us older folks who still enjoy riding our bikes instead of driving.

[Trembly]

The following comments are not intended as recommendations one way or the other, just a report of my own experiences:

The aforementioned NIST and BPS (my alma mater) tend to have a distinctly American pop-culture vibe to them (despite BPs being British curriculum); if you send your kids there they will probably end up speaking and acting American, no matter where they come from. I've known countless kids from the UK and Antipodes who sound American . . . until their parents telephone! I myself gave the American accent a whirl for a couple of years and stopped after having a quiet word with myself. NIST and BPS are both very cosmopolitan schools and the mixture of distinct nationalities and cultures from an early age is a valuable learning experience that I would recommend for any child.

Then there is Harrow. I don't know what its like now but when I was there the pupils were probably 80 - 90 % Asian. This had a calming effect on the classrooms and it was a swotter's paradise. Your child is more likely to retain their original accent here, but a middle English accent will cultivated otherwise. If your child is of 'socialising' age then they will probably have a richer experience in the schools with more western kids, unless they can easily adapt to Asian culture.

Having said that, the dek-inter (international kid) bamboo telegraph (roughly divided into Asian and non-Asian, with some overlap) has pretty wide coverage and it is entirely feasible for your child to end up developing close friendships with kids from other schools.

ISB has already been mentioned, so I won't go into that. I believe RIS is also US curriculum and also has a smaller German speaking section, but I don't know much about RIS apart from that it also had a large Asian contingent so can't really comment.

The the International : Asian pupil ratio and the resulting difference in atmosphere is another topic in itself.

Edited June 19, 2011 by Trembly

[thepanom]

My children went to RIS more then 15 years ago, at that time they had only 3-5 international schools in Bangkok, my children loved RIS, and I liked the school myself very much as well, but this is 15 years ago!!!

[ExpatJ]

Seems the big three schools are Pattana, ISB and NIST. We are opting for NIST.

ISB and Pattana are long commutes for your kids if you plan to live in central Bangkok- not good for the kids i think at all. NIST is right in central bangkok (Asoke area).

ISB and Pattana are also (from i have have picked up) known as being more 'party' schools when compared to NIST. The blog of the daughter of the American ambassador who went to ISB (and who died recently in that tragic accident) highlighted the problem of prescription drug abuse and alcohol abuse among international school kids in Bangkok.

One hi-so Thai lady told me just last month that she was worried about the permissive culture in ISB/Pattana (she saw 2 mid teen kids making out in the dining room when she was given a tour of one of these schools); interestingly she said she didn't like NIST either because she thought it was too academic for her kids, worried they would be pushed too hard!

[nonthaburial]

I would be very interested to learn more about Harrow. I have heard both good and bad stories but would like an opnion from someone currently using their services.I originally believed that Harrow was a feeder for Harrow UK, but I understand Harrow UK is a boys only school yet Harrow Thailand is mixed

[Trembly]

I would be very interested to learn more about Harrow. I have heard both good and bad stories but would like an opnion from someone currently using their services.I originally believed that Harrow was a feeder for Harrow UK, but I understand Harrow UK is a boys only school yet Harrow Thailand is mixed

Harrow International School Bangkok is a mixed boarding and day school which is a franchise of Harrow School in England (indeed a boys' school).

They share the same board of governors who come to do regular inspections but the vibe in Bangkok is more like a shiny 11+ grammar school (so I'm told by my father), albeit with some imported traditions like a 6th form with head-boys and head-girls and prefects' privileges etc.

Go and sound out the principal if you're interested. If he's a good egg then the teachers are happy, doing their jobs well, and the kids are happy and receiving valuable experiences. Harrow Bangkok's founding headmaster (now retired I believe) was one such egg, but he moved over to Shrewsbury and took some really good teachers with him. The chap who replaced him was demonstrably a share-holder's man who turned the place into an effective but cold academic mill. A quick look on the website reveals that there is a new principal at the helm now so can comment no further.

If you are interested in Harrow then do give Shrewsbury a visit. I know that one of the best teachers I've ever had is still there.

Edited June 20, 2011 by Trembly

[madjbs]

NIST is the best all around school in my opinion, unless you want a very American styled education, in which case send them to ISB.

[Kuruzovich]

I would be very interested to learn more about Harrow. I have heard both good and bad stories but would like an opnion from someone currently using their services.I originally believed that Harrow was a feeder for Harrow UK, but I understand Harrow UK is a boys only school yet Harrow Thailand is mixed

Harrow International School Bangkok is a mixed boarding and day school which is a franchise of Harrow School in England (indeed a boys' school).

They share the same board of governors who come to do regular inspections but the vibe in Bangkok is more like a shiny 11+ grammar school (so I'm told by my father), albeit with some imported traditions like a 6th form with head-boys and head-girls and prefects' privileges etc.

Go and sound out the principal if you're interested. If he's a good egg then the teachers are happy, doing their jobs well, and the kids are happy and receiving valuable experiences. Harrow Bangkok's founding headmaster (now retired I believe) was one such egg, but he moved over to Shrewsbury and took some really good teachers with him. The chap who replaced him was demonstrably a share-holder's man who turned the place into an effective but cold academic mill. A quick look on the website reveals that there is a new principal at the helm now so can comment no further.

If you are interested in Harrow then do give Shrewsbury a visit. I know that one of the best teachers I've ever had is still there.

I incidentally just ran into the founding head of Harrow at the 2011 global round of the World Scholar's Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He is definitely not retired, particularly considering he received one of the two "Coach of the Year" awards during the closing ceremony. His current position is at Repton School in Dubai, and he seems to be quite happy there.

[Old Man River]

NIST is the best all around school in my opinion, unless you want a very American styled education, in which case send them to ISB.

I am curious as to why you say NIST is the best all around school. My kid goes to BPS and we are very happy with it. Other than being located in central Bangkok, what, in your opinion, does NIST have that makes it the best all around school?