Today is a historic day for Brunei's oldest international school, International School Brunei (ISB), as it marks the official opening of its new 22-acre, purpose-built campus at Sungai Hanching.

After completion of the teaching and learning areas of the school in August 2015, ISB began operations at the campus, with construction still ongoing in certain areas.

However, with the administration, arts and sports areas cleared for use towards the end of last year, and the conclusion of building operations on the boarding residence earlier this month, ISB is now officially celebrating its opening.

The school was founded in 1964 by Datin Glass, wife of a senior government official, as a home school.

Numbers grew rapidly over the years, and by 1970 ISB moved to a site provided by the government at Tapak Kuda.

More student growth necessitated a relocation to a bigger campus, so ISB moved to Jalan Dato Haji Ahmad in Berakas in 1985.

The school was officially opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna on March 9, 1986, eight years after securing the lease.

Over the next 30 years, ISB would become a household name, renowned for the provision of excellent academic, cultural and sporting achievements, while maintaining its inclusive academic philosophy.

However, having outgrown the Berakas campus, plans for a move were formulated in 2002, culminating to the move to the Sungai Hanching campus in 2016.

On the new site, ISB's 1,260 students - representing 46 nationalities - have access to ultramodernlearning, performing arts and sport facilities as well as first-rate boarding accommodation, encouraging excellence in all aspects of their development.

Last year's 'O' Level and iGCSE results were the best in iSB's history - in over 90 per cent of the examinations taken, students achieved grades between A* and C, in 32 per cent students grades between achieved A* and A.

Within the international Baccalaureate (iB) programme, iSB celebrated a pass rate of 87 per cent, five percentage points higher than the world average, with 40 per cent of students scoring above the world average of 30 points.

The school leadership is confident that the new facilities and resources will propel the students to greater heights, academically and otherwise.

ISB is also very proud of its status as the preeminent ecoschool in Borneo. This unique status was underlined when the school received the Greenmark award from the BCA (Singapore), the first such achievement for a school in Borneo.

The decision to construct a green campus is one way the school demonstrates its long-time commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Not only has ISB pioneered reforestation initiatives such as the Million Trees Project, the new campus will also be home to a purpose-built CARE Centre (Conservation Action for Recycling and the Environment) which will serve as an education and activism point for the protection of the planet.

Having been built on a 52 year history of fostering global citizenship, academic distinction, eco-mindedness and excellence in arts and sports, iSB is looking forward to the next 50 years on this brand new campus, with hopes that each year will continue to be better than the last, to make sure that everyone excels.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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