A bold and successful response to an entrenched problem lies at the heart of the decision to name Prince of Wales Island International School as international school of the year.

A relatively new school, it found itself facing a real challenge in its South-East Asian context: how to persuade pupils and their families to continue with the school beyond IGCSEs.

Its response was to create an “English-style sixth-form culture”. A new sixth-form centre boasts a coffee lounge and relaxation space; a new uniform encourages flexibility within the guidelines; and students have timetable flexibility to pursue elite programmes outside school.

The results speak for themselves: a 21 per cent increase in pupil numbers in the sixth form in 2016-17. And the school is “confident that the direction is establishing locally the longer-term advantages of demonstrating continuity and commitment, against a prevailing culture of pragmatic and short-term decision-making”.

The judges said: “Prince of Wales Island International School impressed the judges with its English-style sixth-form study culture, with flexibility that has demonstrably encouraged students to stay on so that the sixth form grew by 21 per cent in the year 2016-17.

“The school offered a competitive option for continuity against the backdrop of a short-termist culture, providing holistic secondary education through an English boarding school-style sixth form. 

“With intense support and mentoring, alongside timetable flexibility, the school has demonstrated the long-term advantages of continuity, and its success is demonstrated by excellent academic results and the growth of the sixth form.”

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