Bandung International School

Bandung International School is located in the lovely town of Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. It is an IB World School. The school has 180 contact days per year and runs a 36-week school year. BIS works to develop students are international aware and “internationally educated.”

BIS is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian school. It has a School Board which sets policy and a school administration which implements policy. I found it interesting to see that this was listed on the information page of the website because I have worked at several schools both as an administrator and a teacher where the School Board mistakenly took their mission to be to set and implement policy. Always a mistake and a sign of trouble for teachers if a Board has too much power and thinks too highly of itself. BIS is accredited by CIS and NEASC.

BIS has students from over 25 countries. Because of the international nature of the student body, BIS implements an international curriculum and emphasizes Indonesian culture and language so that students gain an appreciation of their time in Indonesia.

The school educates students from Early Childhood through Grade 12. It has two divisions: Primary which includes students from Early Childhood through Grade 5, and Secondary which includes the Middle and High School students.

Fees are not cheap. The total tuition and technology fees run from US$3,700 for Early Childhood up to US$ 12,700 for high school students. Additional fees include ESL (should a child need additional instruction in English) and a Facilities and Maintenance Fee which runs an additional $1,400 per year for students in EC3 through Grade 12.

The School Mission

Through relevant, challenging and engaging programmes, we inspire students to become skillful and courageous, empowering them to participate responsibly, successfully and with integrity in the global community.

Early Childhood

The Early Childhood program has three levels: EC1, EC2, and EC3. Students start at EC1 at three years old and progress onwards. Students learn through inquiry as is the practice in all PYP schools. Students spend their day in specially designed classrooms for students of this age. Specialist teachers are employed in Music, Indonesian Culture and Language and Swimming. EC3 students also have specialist teachers for Library Skills, Art and PE.

The EC program has a special EC playground so that the children have a safe place to play and explore. Students in EC1 and EC2 have half-day programs, while the EC3 students have a full-day schedule. BIS encourages parent involvement with their children’s education.

The Primary Years

The Primary Years division covers grades 1-5. BIS uses the PYP of IBO as their curriculum. The curriculum centers around six themes (more on this next month when I write about IBO). The themes function on an interdisciplinary approach (and if you are not familiar with PYP, it takes some time to get used to the structure and the jargon that goes with it) and students learn using the inquiry method to build on their curiosity about the world. There are specialist teachers for Art, Music, PE, Indonesian Language and Culture, French (Grade 5 only), Library Skills, and Computers. Each Friday afternoon there is an Elementary Assembly. Students can pick from a variety of after school activities.

Middle School

The Middle School covers the traditional years of Grades 6-8. The core curriculum includes the Humanities, Science and Math. Exploratory subjects include Foreign Language, Indonesian Language and Culture, Computers, Fine and Performing Arts and PE. BIS works to make the transition from Elementary School to High School as smooth as possible. Like all Middle School programs, students are given increasing responsibility for their learning, as they get closer to high school. The Middle School offers a range of extra curricular activities.

High School

The High School program emphasizes critical thinking and applying knowledge to new situations. High school students are given the opportunity to develop a sense of global awareness. The curriculum is college prep and the school web site uses much of the usual IBO jargon of challenging students to be responsible citizens of the world who are able to “…think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and learn enthusiastically.” The core curriculum centers on math, English, social studies, science and foreign languages. Additionally there are a variety of electives in Computer Technology, PE, Home Language Studies, Applied Arts and Fine Arts. Graduates of BIS are awarded a diploma which is recognized by Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The High School also offers Advanced Placement courses that are needed by students who wish to study in the United States and get a head start on their university education. Activities for high school students include the Student Council, sports teams, and drama productions.

In addition to the academic program, BIS has extracurricular activites that create opportunities for students to develop skills and abilities in areas outside of academics.

Employment

Openings are posted on the school website as well as being listed in TIE Online and with Search. The school website notes that teaching standards are high and teachers are supported with professional development. It also notes on the employment page that the school uses a “demanding” PYP and IBDP curriculum.

The school website does not list benefits or salary. But, my guess from the last time that I was familiar with their salary structure is that it is modest by international standards, that is, don’t expect anything like you would get at one of the big schools like Jakarta International or the International School of Bangkok.