My Q here isn't about teaching at the school, it's more about studying.

Our niece, Thai, is finishing P-6 a the end of this academic year at another school, she's doing quite well where she is but the school doesn't carry all the way on to M-6, so we're looking for options. Thhe Sarasas Witaed Rangsit School's name came up. http://thai.swrs.ac.th/

Anyone familiar with it?

Thanks.

Mac

I don't like to write bad things about schools.

Sarasas is a large chain of schools with 'branches' in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and possibly elsewhere. I guess they must have a very good 'front'.

I'm a fully qualified teacher with UK experience, currently teaching in an international school. I applied for a job at a Sarasas school when I first arrived in Thailand. I was declined at the application form stage because my handwriting wasn't good enough. Handwriting considered more important than qualifications, not even given an interview. My handwriting's bad, but not that bad.....

I know of 5 students who have gone to Sarasas schools, and all of them have left within two years. I'm sure there are many who last longer, its obviously a very successful school with it having so many branches, but in my experience children moved on to other schools quicker than I would expect.

When you search on google and look at ESLcafe, then the Ajarn forum, you get a feel for how the teachers think.

I guess you can draw your own conclusions.

I've had some contact with a few of the Sarasas Schools. Some are quite good and some less so. The programs are bilingual. If she is currently in a program with a reasonably strong English component, she will be OK. If she has been in a Thai program, it might be difficult for her.

The curriculum follows the Thai Ministry of Education curriculum.

There is a lot of variation in the management of the schools, even though they are from the same group.

Best thing is have a visit and see what you think.

thanyaburi-mac.

Check out your P.M.s

Before I became a fully qualified teacher I worked briefly at one of these school.

I distinctly remember one teacher who would pick on a little indian girl every day; calling her black and dirty while the rest of the class pointed and laughed, practically rolling on the floor.

When I complained (both to the teacher and admin) the response was "you don't understand Thai style.

Don't know if that kind of thing is tolerated at all of the schools, but it certainly was at that one.

Something to think about.

As others have pointed out, there is considerable variation among the 20 or so Sarassas schools. Some of them are absolute nightmares for the teachers, with the subsequent high turnover and lack of continuity in teaching style and substance. Others have a better reputation.

I would try to have a private chat with one or more of the foreign teachers. Ask them what the yearly turnover of foreign teachers is. If it's much more than 50%, I would look seriously at other options.

A turnover of 50% would be exceedingly high, IMO. Talking with the Foreign Teachers is a good idea, especially those around your nieces grade level. A number of schools will do very, very well with KG and grade school students, but less so with higher grades.

It's also a good idea, if possible, to talk to a few of the parents.

I was a teacher at a Sarasas school for a couple years (not Rangsit). If I had to sum up the teaching philosophy, I would have to say: $$$$$

On forums where 'name and shame' is more free, Sarasas often comes up with very mixed results- often varying, as other posters have said, with the specific location. Much of this is about teacher issues with administration, but one comes up with classroom management issues, too. Research carefully.

In fairness...I should add that I liked teaching the students at the Sarasas I was at for the most part. It was the administration.