Sri Bestari International School, Bandar Sri Damansara

Sri Bestari International School (SBIS) is the leading choice for high-quality and affordable education in Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Established in 2017, the international school provides a nurturing environment that aims to support the academic and personal growth of their students. Kiddy123 spoke to Principal Ms. Tan Siak Hun to understand what makes SBIS so appealing to students and families.

As an educator herself, Ms. Tan has over 20 years of experience in the international, private and government schools’ arena. She has also served as an education advisor for school transformation programmes under LeapEd Services, a subsidiary company of Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

She believes in building communication within the team, starting with team-building activities to strengthen internal engagement and the integration of ‘Expert of the Day’ sessions, a programme where staff members teach a skill to the rest of the team. Ms. Tan believes that by training teachers to have a growth mindset and growing the team from within, it has helped to maintain the quality of teaching at SBIS.

Foundation for Global Opportunities

SBIS adopts the Cambridge Curriculum ensuring an excellent learning journey across three key academic stages.

The International Early Year Curriculum (IEYC) is designed for children aged 3 to 5 with the aim to support key areas of learning through a thematic and play-based approach that will spark young minds and have them engaged in their subjects through planned units. Primary and Secondary students will sit for the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary Checkpoint exams in Year 6 and 9 respectively, before completing secondary school with the Cambridge IGCSE exams in Year 11. Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia are compulsory subjects for all levels and are taught in groups based on proficiency.

With the growing importance of Mandarin as a language globally, the school also stands out with its integration of the “Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi” (HSK), an internationally recognised Chinese Proficiency Test, within its syllabus. Students can also opt for IGCSE Mandarin as an elective.

In the past year alone, SBIS has seen tremendous achievements that speak volumes about its commitment to excellence. In 2023, 63% of their total examination grades in IGCSE were A* or A. More notably, four of their students earned the Top in the World Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award in Mandarin Chinese! In 2022, two of their students received the “Top In Malaysia” awards in the IGCSE Global Perspectives and IGCSE Combined Science respectively.

Subjects & Activities Offered

Big on Inclusivity Development

Since taking the reins in July 2023, one of Ms. Tan’s earliest initiatives was to build and create a means of open communication within the community. Since then the school has organised Meet and Greet Sessions in Term 1 where parents are updated on the progress and direction of the school.

On top of that, to help newcomers from different educational systems or countries settle down in SBIS, the school has specific sessions during their Orientation Days to bridge gaps between parents, students and teachers. The Tutor-Ward System is also introduced, whereby several students would be assigned to a level-based teacher whom the parents can be in contact with, ensuring their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Where Play Meets Positive Impact

Some of the significant things noticed while exploring the 15-acre campus were the dedicated spaces and diverse range of activities catered to the well-rounded development of students.

The school organises its EduVenture programme annually in Term 2, where Bestarians can experience learning through projects, activities and research methods inline with academic lessons and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

Findings and reflections are then presented before applying and experiencing them in real life situations under the guidance of the teaching faculty. Students have been able to utilise their presentation skills and research methods to apply in external competitions such as the MUFY (Monash University Foundation Year) Sustainability Challenge and the Cambridge IGCSE Learner Award 2023: Action on Climate Change.

While the EduVenture programme emphasises the academic aspect for all Bestarians; the Sport Expeditions offer active Bestarians fun-filled options each term to quench their thirst for outdoor activities and an active lifestyle.

Beyond the classroom, SBIS has well-equipped areas for ICT, science, art, dance, culinary arts, music, and sports.

SBIS will soon be embracing a digital library that gives students access to an array of educational resources. Down the pipeline, SBIS is looking to enhance interactive learning and research within the classroom using tablets.

While SBIS is paving the way for more digital integration, the team also balances it out by creating more play areas.

Tan recalls a student who came forward to ask her if she likes to play, followed by a suggestion to have play time during breaks. It was wonderful to see how the team has set this up by maximising their public spaces with installations like a giant chess board, arcades and cosy play areas. Students have the option to enjoy sports or other activities when they are not in the classroom.

To complement the school curriculum, SBIS encourages student-led programmes that develop lifelong skills and prepare them for the real world. Societies like the Interact Club and Eco School expose students to the ins and outs of organising events, while the upcoming Little Delight programme would give enterprising students a taste of running and managing a business.

The school also runs signature programmes like the M.A.D. (Making A Difference) Together Outreach Programme, with the aim to promote the value of community service.

Other changes implemented across the past year have included the school’s participation in the International School Sports Association Malaysia (ISSAM), the commencement of its Annual Swimming Gala, Christmas Bazaar, overnight camps and the first outstation trip for secondary students.

Parents are invited and encouraged to be involved in some of these events, such as Ambition Day, EduVenture Exhibition, Eco Fashion Show, and Mini Sports Day. Every activity organised by the school is designed to build leadership, resilience, independence, and confidence in students.

Culture of Growth

At SBIS, the academic and administrative staff are constantly developing skills to better enhance and manage classroom settings and daily school lives of Bestarians. There is a great importance placed on fostering the growth mindset and leadership skills amongst staff and students alike. The growth-oriented environment is designed to help them develop healthy habits, enabling them to face obstacles with resilience.

Looking ahead, Ms. Tan shares that the school is expecting an enrolment of over 800 students, up from around 600 last year. SBIS is in the midst of planning a recycling campaign and gardening project, amongst many others.

When asked about aspirations for the SBIS community, Ms. Tan’s response remained true to the school’s philosophy of growth. “I hope that the school community will set an example – whether it is the staff, parents, or whoever is involved here. Coach someone else to be a better leader, a better person. Whatever you want to learn as an educator, be generous with that,” she says.