B.E.S.T. School Curriculum and Teaching Methodologies

 

 

B.E.S.T. - Burapha English-Programme School of Thailand - was started in February 1997 by Mrs. Wattana Nuttasophon.

 

The School provides high standards in both Thai and English tuition from Kindergarten through to Upper High School level, with our Secondary Six Class opening in the High School in May 2012.  The School Staff consists of about 26 English speaking teachers and about 60 Thai teachers, who are qualified and experienced in their particular fields.

 

At all levels, students learn using up-to-date and authentic teaching materials sourced from major educational publishers around the world, such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Marshall Cavendish and Nelson Thornes. High School students study and learn research skills in fully equipped multimedia classrooms and laboratories.  After their time at B.E.S.T., when our students finally leave Secondary Six, we expect them to have achieved a minimum of five passes in Cambridge IGCSE examination subjects, and to be ready to pursue their higher education in their chosen fields, either at universities in Thailand, or at a sixth form college or university abroad.  High School students accordingly choose between a timetable of Mathematics and Science subjects (including Thai and English enrichment lessons) or a timetable of Humanities and Language subjects (including Maths and Science enrichment lessons).

 

As such, our curriculum and our teaching methodologies are mostly based upon the National Curriculum of England and Wales, and in the subject areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies (Geography) and ICT, English is the language of instruction, with a strong emphasis on traditional areas of instruction such as grammar, spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic.  As a bilingual school, our students also follow the Thai National Curriculum, which provides the basis for daily lessons in Thai language and culture, together with support in the subject areas of Maths and Science.  We believe that it is important that our students follow and absorb the best of both Thai and Western cultures and this aspect of our teaching is emphasized at all levels.

 

English

In English, our Kindergarten students use the Tiny Talk and Get Ready series, both from OUP, as the basis for their developing skills in reading and writing.  In Primary we move to Get Set Go and Cambridge English for Schools for further development of the four key skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.  The students' work is enhanced by additional reading and grammar materials throughout their Primary Years, with a particular emphasis placed on extending reading skills as much as possible. In Lower Secondary,    (S1-3) students continue with Cambridge English for Schools and in the High School (S4-6) they move on to the Oxford New English File series in preparation for their IGCSE exams. We offer these exams in English Second Language, English First Language and English Literature.

 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, we follow the Singapore Maths Curriculum in both the Primary and Secondary Schools, because it largely follows the English Key Stages, and the GCSE/O level Curriculum, but offers some Asian content.  The Singapore Maths Curriculum is highly regarded throughout the world for producing students with advanced numeracy skills in all areas of Mathematics.  IGCSE Mathematics is offered as a core subject.

 

Science

Our Primary Science students follow the Singapore Science Curriculum (Let's Learn Science/My Pals Are Here) for its high quality delivery of Asian content combined with rigorous and challenging learning materials. In the Secondary School students move on to the British curriculum (Spotlight Science series, New Science for You  series) in order to prepare for their IGCSE examinations in either individual subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or in Combined or Coordinated Science.

 

ICT

We recognize that our students move in an ever-changing world of technology and as such we offer ICT instruction throughout the Primary and Secondary Schools, using fully equipped computer rooms.  Students use computers to increase their keyboard skills, to research the internet and to create their own databases and projects. Our High School students use their own laptops for research and assignments and we ask them to follow strict rules concerning the use of school wifi networks. Younger students' access to the school's wifi network is controlled by the use of server technology.  ICT is offered as an IGCSE elective subject.

 

Social Studies (Geography/History)

All our students study the cultural History and Geography of Thailand.  In addition our Primary 3-6 students follow the British curriculum using the OUP series Geography Success. Secondary students move on to the Earth Our Home series from Singapore which teaches World and Asian Geography, largely following the British GCSE/O level syllabus in preparation for their IGCSE Geography examinations.  As an elective subject in the High School we also offer History IGCSE.

 

In addition to the above core subjects we also teach Thai Language and Culture, Health, Music and Dance, Art and PE.  High School students have additional elective options such as French Language.