Bangkok International Preparatory Secondary School

A Values-Driven British International Education

Bangkok Prep's educational philosophy is built on a clear and publicly articulated framework of values, vision and mission that permeates every aspect of school life. The school's Vision — "Preparing our Community for a Sustainable Global Future" — signals an outward-looking, long-term orientation that goes beyond academic achievement.

The Mission in Practice

The official Mission Statement commits the school to four interconnected goals:

1. Academic and personal potential — ensuring every learner reaches their full potential both academically and in preparation for life beyond Bangkok Prep.
2. Enriched curriculum — providing a programme in which innovation, sustainability, creativity and health are highlighted, not treated as add-ons.
3. Collaborative learning — inspiring students to achieve their best through collaborative learning in a safe and enjoyable environment.
4. Global citizenship — developing globally minded, passionate learners who uphold the Bangkok Prep Life Values.

The 11 Life Values

Uniquely, Bangkok Prep has codified its character education into 11 named Life Values, each with a one-sentence descriptor published on the school website:

Globally Minded, Creative, Honest, Responsible, Resilient, Resourceful, Brave, Caring, Collaborative, Respectful, Proactive

These are not aspirational slogans but are actively taught and assessed through pastoral programmes, the House system, and extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to reflect on these values in assemblies, advisory periods and community service projects.

Sustainability as a Structural Commitment

Sustainability is woven into both the physical campus (solar panels on the Secondary building, rainforest planting) and the curriculum (Environmental & Sustainability clubs, eco-design projects). This reflects a genuine institutional commitment rather than a marketing message.

Character Through Community

The House system — Bears (Ursus), Lions (Panthera), Tigers (Sabre) and Elephants (Surus) — provides a vertical community structure from Primary through Secondary, reinforcing the Life Values through inter-house competitions, service projects and mentoring relationships. Students remain in the same House throughout their time at the school, building long-term bonds across year groups.

For families seeking a school where character development is as explicitly structured as academic achievement, Bangkok Prep's values framework offers a transparent and coherent approach.

Two Decades of Growth and Consolidation

Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School was founded in 2003 by educators Patrada Yomnak and Magdalena Urioste, who identified a gap in Bangkok's international school market for a high-quality, British-curriculum day school accessible to both expatriate and local Thai families.

Early Recognition (2009)

Within six years of opening, the school had grown sufficiently to attract national recognition: in 2009, Bangkok Prep won Thailand's Prime Minister's Export Award for International Education, acknowledging its achievements in growth, development and contribution to Thailand's international education sector. This early award signalled the school's ambition and quality trajectory.

Triple Accreditation (2011)

A landmark year came in 2011, when Bangkok Prep simultaneously achieved accreditation from three bodies:

• CIS (Council of International Schools)
• NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges)
• ONESQA (Thailand's Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment)

This triple accreditation — rare for a school of its age — validated the school's academic standards, governance and pastoral care against international benchmarks.

Campus Expansion

As enrolment grew past 1,000 and then 1,600 students, the school operated across multiple sites. A purpose-built Secondary campus opened around 2017, providing dedicated facilities for Years 7–13. The most significant infrastructure milestone came in August 2023, when a brand-new Primary campus at T77 (Sukhumvit 77) opened, finally uniting all year groups — Pre-Nursery through Year 13 — on a single, purpose-built site under the banner "One School, One Campus."

Corporate Ownership

Bangkok Prep is now part of International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global group of premium international schools. This corporate backing has supported investment in facilities, curriculum development and staff recruitment.

Founding Day

The school celebrates Founding Day on 7 November each year, marking the anniversary of its 2003 opening — a tradition that connects current students to the school's origins and founding values.

Academic Framework: British Curriculum from Nursery to Sixth Form

Bangkok Prep delivers the English National Curriculum from Pre-Nursery through to Year 13, providing a coherent and internationally recognised academic pathway. The curriculum culminates in:

• Cambridge IGCSE examinations in Years 10–11 (Key Stage 4)
• Cambridge A-Level (or BTEC) qualifications in Years 12–13 (Sixth Form)

The school is an approved Cambridge International Examination Centre, ensuring students sit externally moderated assessments that are recognised by universities worldwide.

IGCSE Subject Breadth

In Years 10–11, all students take a core of compulsory subjects — English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, PSHE, Thai Language and PE — supplemented by elective option blocks. Electives span Art & Design, Business Studies, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Economics, Geography, Drama, Media Studies, Music, and a range of languages (French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Thai).

A-Level Specialisation

Sixth Form students typically take 3–4 A-Level subjects chosen from a broad menu including Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts and Technology subjects. Entry to the Sixth Form requires a minimum of five IGCSE/GCSE passes at grade C or above, ensuring students are academically prepared for the rigour of A-Level study.

100% University Placement

Bangkok Prep's most prominent academic outcome claim is that all graduating students have been offered a place at the university of their choice. This 100% university acceptance rate is consistently cited across multiple years. Recent leavers have matriculated to:

• UK: Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College London, UCL, University of Bath, Lancaster
• USA: UCLA, NYU Poly
• Canada: UBC
• Australia: University of Sydney

Small Classes, High Support

With an average class size of 22 students and a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, Bangkok Prep provides the individual attention that supports strong academic outcomes. EAL support (Years 1–9) and Learning Mentor programmes for students with additional needs ensure that the academic environment is inclusive as well as ambitious.

One School, One Campus: The T77 Site

Since August 2023, Bangkok Prep has operated from a single, purpose-built campus at 77 Sukhumvit 77 (On Nut 1/1), Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. The consolidation of Primary and Secondary sections onto one site — branded "One School, One Campus" — marked a major milestone in the school's development, creating a cohesive community across all year groups from Pre-Nursery to Year 13.

Location and Access

The campus is conveniently located near the On Nut BTS Skytrain station (approximately 5–10 minutes' walk), making it accessible from across Bangkok. A free school shuttle connects the campus to On Nut BTS during peak arrival and departure times, and a door-to-door school bus service covers major residential areas across the city.

Facilities Overview

The campus offers an impressive range of facilities across both Primary and Secondary sections:

Sports & Physical Education

• 25-metre outdoor swimming pool
• Indoor sports hall (basketball, netball courts)
• Full-size football field and turf sports courts
• Gymnasium and fitness equipment
• Dance studio

Arts & Performing Arts

• Drama theatre and stagecraft studio
• Music recital hall and practice rooms
• Visual art and design studios
• Creative Arts Centre (art, IT, technology)

Academic & Technology

• Multiple computer and robotics laboratories ("makerspaces" with 3D printers and laser cutters)
• Science laboratories
• Two libraries
• Wi-Fi campus-wide
• Modern classrooms with break-out learning areas

Wellbeing & Community

• Pastoral centres including a nurse's office/health clinic
• Secure 24-hour access with CCTV
• On-site cafeteria (5-star hygiene rating)
• Early Years outdoor learning area and playgrounds

Sustainability Features

• Solar panels on the Secondary building
• Rainforest planting and green landscaping

The campus atmosphere is described as safe, modern and vibrant, with a strong sense of community fostered by the House system and the school's 200+ clubs and activities.

A Genuinely International Community

With over 1,600 students from 50+ nationalities, Bangkok Prep is one of Bangkok's most diverse international schools. The student body is roughly evenly split between expatriate and local Thai families (approximately 50% international), reflecting the school's deliberate positioning as a school for both communities rather than exclusively one or the other.

The House System: Building Belonging

Every student at Bangkok Prep belongs to one of four Houses from the moment they join:

Students remain in the same House from Primary through Secondary, creating vertical communities that span age groups and year levels. The House system drives inter-house competitions in sports, arts and academic events, and provides a pastoral anchor for students throughout their school career.

200+ Extracurricular Activities

Bangkok Prep offers over 200 clubs, teams and activities, organised across several categories:

Sports: Football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, tennis, badminton, swimming, martial arts, rock climbing, athletics, and competitive BISAC inter-school leagues.

Arts & Performing Arts: Dance, Drama & Theatre, Visual Art (painting, sculpture, mixed media), Digital Design, Film/Photography, Music ensembles (band, orchestra, choir, traditional music).

STEM & Technology: Robotics, Coding & Programming, AI & Technology clubs, eDesign & 3D printing, Science Olympiad, Mathematics club.

Academic & Leadership: Model United Nations, Debate & Public Speaking, Journalism, Chess, Young Entrepreneurs' Society, Student Council, ISP Changemakers.

Service & Sustainability: Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, Environmental & Sustainability club, Cultural Exchange workshops.

Multilingual Environment

While English is the primary language of instruction, the school community is enriched by Thai, Japanese, Mandarin, French and Spanish language programmes. EAL support ensures that students whose first language is not English can access the full curriculum while developing their English proficiency.

Pastoral Care

Dedicated student counsellors and school nurses support student wellbeing. The school's Life Values framework — particularly Caring, Collaborative and Respectful — is actively reinforced through pastoral programmes, ensuring that the diverse community is also a cohesive and supportive one.