Decoding the Success of “Wells International School”.
Highlighting an “Outstanding Curriculum” to Lead Students to Success in Life!
International schools in Thailand today often have distinctive features and unique identities. However, one of the key features that forms the heart of each school is the “curriculum” that the school chooses to use in its teaching and learning system.
The curriculum that is currently gaining momentum and receiving tremendous interest at present is the International Baccalaureate (IB) system, which not only emphasizes learning content but also focuses on cultivating students to be inquisitive learners who know how to question, think systematically, and are able to connect knowledge for application in real life.
Dr. Chang Yao-Lang Chairman of the Board, Wells International School stated that Wells International School designs its curriculum with the primary goal of paving the way for student success through combining rigorous standards, holistic development, and understanding connections for real-life application.
“Our curriculum is skills-based, inquiry-focused, and developed according to internationally recognized concepts, following U.S. Common Core standards and International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum guidelines for some of its programs, such as the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Wells Bang Na and the IB Diploma Programme at Wells On Nut.”
This curriculum not only emphasizes academic excellence but also gives importance to the intellectual, emotional, social, and behavioral development of each individual student. In the curriculum development process, several important factors are taken into consideration, including:
- Alignment with international standards and practices to ensure global competitiveness
The learning needs of students at each age level
Integration of essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication - Integration of cultural elements such as Thai language and traditions to cultivate responsible global citizenship
- Use of diverse teaching strategies and assessment methods to accommodate different learning styles
- Emphasis on “Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs)” which promote lifelong learning attitudes and behaviors, such as critical thinking, responsible global citizenship, and appreciation of Thai culture
“Overall, Wells International School aims to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences to prepare students for success in both their academic and professional futures,” Dr. Chang emphasized.
Regarding the outstanding curriculum of Wells International School at each grade level, Dr. Chang further specified that at the kindergarten level, we use a curriculum based on the American system, emphasizing the foundation of literacy skills, mathematics, emotional and social development, and creativity.
The learning environment is nurturing, promoting curiosity and learning habits from an early age. At the primary school level, the curriculum emphasizes skills and inquiry based on U.S. Common Core standards, promoting holistic development in intellectual, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects. There is integrated teaching and learning in science, social studies, mathematics, literacy, Thai language, and culture.
Additionally, there are courses in arts, physical education, technology, and foreign languages to prepare students for secondary education. At the high school level, the school provides intensive college preparatory curricula options such as Advanced Placement (AP), AP Capstone, and IB Diploma Programme (IB DP), including opportunities to study university-level courses through Arizona State University (ASU).
Students also participate in internship activities, leadership development through student council, clubs, conferences, and service projects. All grade levels at Wells integrate technology, extracurricular activities, and experiential learning to develop students into thinkers, communicators, and lifelong learners.
For extracurricular activities, Wells International School has arranged numerous enrichment programs and activities, such as academic clubs, debate, Model United Nations, STEM programs, volunteer clubs, sports teams, and performing arts (music, drama, visual arts).
One highlight is the Summer Science Program in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, where students spend 6 weeks working with master’s and doctoral level researchers in laboratories, learning real work in a university environment, while experiencing Hawaiian culture and nature. Another important program is Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), which is a core component of secondary student development.
“This program encourages students to engage with the community through social service activities, environmental projects, and leadership. It also provides internship opportunities with local organizations to connect academic knowledge with the real working world,” the Chairman of the Board of Wells International School stated.
Furthermore, Wells International School also supports students in participating in various competitions in academic, artistic, and sports fields, both domestically and internationally, to create good experiences and serve as trial stages before actual competitive examinations, such as Model United Nations, World Scholar’s Cup, debate, robotics competitions, sports competitions, etc.
In the past, Wells’ students have achieved success and received numerous awards, such as national debate championships, mathematics and spelling bee awards, etc. Student selection depends on academic performance, ability, and teacher recommendations. The school provides practice sessions, tutoring, and counseling to develop speaking, thinking, and teamwork skills.
Theo An Rousseau, a Grade 12 student who scored a combined SAT score of 1560 and won first place in a national French history essay competition when he was in Grade 9, said that personally he likes studying biology the most because he can conduct research on his own on topics he selects and is interested in, which is very fun and he intends to pursue studies in this field in the future because he wants to work in research specifically.
After participating in the summer Science program in Hawaii, he experienced working in an actual plant research laboratory and really enjoyed how everyone in the lab worked independently on their own tasks but still collaborated toward the same goal.
“I think extracurricular activities are important because they enhance your learning, but the most important thing is to do them happily, for our own learning. At school, I participated in the Wells Hawaii Summer Science Program at the University of Hawaii. At that time, I truly learned what working in a laboratory is like. It was a very valuable experience because it made me more certain that this is what I want to do in the future. And very soon, I am also preparing to participate in the Taipei International Youth Science Forum in Taiwan, where I will have the opportunity to conduct research again. It will definitely be fun.”
Theo also gave tips on studying well while doing activities, saying that if there is an exam, he will read books in advance, including during the weekend before the exam. But the most important thing is paying attention in class. There are many study methods, such as spaced repetition or the Pomodoro method, but what’s important is that you have to be there in class.
He usually reviews his own notes. If he doesn’t understand in class or can’t remember, then he uses those methods to help. He likes to go out to a coffee shop with his computer without a phone because the environment helps with concentration, unlike being on a bed. “Don’t stress too much. You need to find stress-reducing activities.” He plays piano to relieve stress. It’s relaxing.
Sunnathakarn (Karn) Siriwongkul, a Grade 5 student who is a winner of spelling bee competitions, essay competitions, and poetry competitions, said that what she likes most about school is student-centered learning because she likes to ask questions and find answers on her own, likes to research and discover new things.
She loves writing very much because writing helps her express herself, share her thoughts and emotions. She also likes art. In the future, she wants to be a wildlife conservationist because she is someone who loves animals and nature very much.
“When you get burnt out, anxious or low, it’s important to know who to talk to. My best friend and my Mom are my sources of support, so I would encourage others to have someone to reach out to. Therefore, when I study, I find a way to make it more fun. When I study Chinese, I use pictures to help me remember the characters. Anything that helps you stay motivated can help,” Karn recommended.
__________________