|
|
Post by Fletchsmile on Nov 20, 2015 15:17:38 GMT 7
I posted this in "another forum" yesterday and after 100 views haven't had a reply - serious or otherwise - so was feeling somewhat dejected, which is not ideal for Fridays  So thought I'd post here and see what happens...  =================================================================================== Our girls are currently in Shrewsbury International School in what I'd refer to as Primary School (under 11). We're considering switching to Bangkok Pattana or NIST. Anyone have any experiences of these 3 schools they'd like to share. What they like(d), disliked(d). Pros / cons etc Cheers Fletch |
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 20, 2015 19:18:19 GMT 7
Yes , Patana, the best!
You are OK I am retired and do not work there anymore.
|
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 20, 2015 19:22:30 GMT 7
It is Patana.
You must be very wealthy, the fees are phenomenal.
If you can afford it, yes by far the best.
Have you visited?
Watched?
You will not find better.
|
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 20, 2015 19:48:29 GMT 7
Yes Patana will allow you to watch.
They have by far the best teachers, me excluded, retired.
I have taught for forty years and never has a school matched my standards. Patana, where the individual is respected and encouraged did.
Hey they should pay me commission for this.
It is a "charity" school, supposedly non profit making. All profits are ploughed back into further development.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fletchsmile on Nov 20, 2015 22:11:26 GMT 7
Thanks for that buhi. We'd heard good things about it. I know quite a few teachers from other schools but none from Pattana. ex-teacher's feedback is always useful. Especially like the idea that it's non-profit and they plough the funds back into the school. I was very surprised to find out the basic fees were lower than Shrewsbury, as it seems to be higher thought of. I guess that's the non-profit kicking in. NIST is also non-profit. Shrewsbury has it's good points, like facilities and teachers, but one of the things I'm not keen on there is it's very commercial. Bangkok bank family are the owners behind it, and you can sort of see how they replicate things like banks do. Admire the business skills to an extent, but on the other hand commercialism isn't necessarily what you want from education, and especially not your own kids. Also found out that Pattana cap the nationalities at around 20% and it's more diverse in terms of students. We want the kids to have some Thai elements being half Thai, but being more international and exposure to more diversity is important to us. Shrewsbury is around 70% Thai. Haven't actually been to Pattana but plan on doing so. Also will probably go to Ploenchit fair there this year BTW Can we put you down for home schooling if needs arise? |
|
smokie36
Vigilante
Posts: 15,635 
Likes: 9,040
|
Post by smokie36 on Nov 21, 2015 2:17:27 GMT 7
NIST is nice....my gf tried to enrol me but I shimmied up the drainpipe and escaped with my shorts slightly torn.  |
|
smokie36
Vigilante
Posts: 15,635
Likes: 9,040
|
Post by smokie36 on Nov 21, 2015 2:20:44 GMT 7
Seriously though I thought the facilities looked very good....obviously a good emphasis on sport and health from what I could see which is a good starting point for any education.
|
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 21, 2015 14:59:04 GMT 7
The facilities at Patana cannot be bettered, a huge campus Olympic size swimming Pool , the sports compex has to be seen to be believed.
The whole school has been rebuilt over the last six years. It will blow your mind.
I had to used a bike just to get around the primary campus; each year group has a separate building all very far apart on a beautiful gardened site.
The teachers are from commonwealth countries , apart from language specialists.
They are recruited in the UK or Australia. Three year contracts with pay equivalent to home countries and a huge monthly housing allowance.
Very happy campers.
Alas poor old me did not get these perks.
As for tutoring, yes I could, but remember I am a primary specialist. |
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 21, 2015 17:48:41 GMT 7
One or two very imortant considerations.
Patana does have a minority of Thai pupils and that is because Thai are swayed by face, name, Shrewsbury, Harrow: Patana is a Thai word.
No teacher at Patana would blink an eyelid at, " Do you not know who my family is?".
Na Ayuttiha, only one I taught, great kid. Most are not there.
Meaningless and never once did I ever encounter this.
The rules are Western rules, applied to all , no exceptions, money will not buy you anything.
Another is transport, the drivers must , MUST, drive safely. One minor transgression and they are fired. After a fair hearing.
But in my six years at Patana there was never a school bus accident.
Residetial trips likewise, all coaches must have seat belts , worn and drive with extreme care. As above all children must wear seat belts on school buses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fletchsmile on Nov 23, 2015 21:13:21 GMT 7
Sounds great from what you describe buhi. We've actually fixed up an appointment for tomorrow. What's the traffic like BTW on a normal school day? One thing we realised last time is that when we visit places it's always after peak hour so we never see it as it is. Need to take the kids to school first. And if the kids are on holiday so we don't need to take them then it's not a true reflection Shrewsbury is terrbile for traffic. NIST looked like it might be bad given it's mid Sukhumvit. What's it like round Soi Lasalle? Of course the other solution is buy a house next door to rgs as I think he's that way out |
|
|
|
Post by rgs2001uk on Nov 23, 2015 22:55:12 GMT 7
Soi LaSalle is suk 105, usual Suk traffic.
No where near me Fletch, I am stuck out in the boonies of Bang Kapi, and loving it.
Suk 105, depends whether coming from Suk or SriNakarin.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 8:39:03 GMT 7
Yes , Patana, the best! You are OK I am retired and do not work there anymore. You worked there? It was my first overseas gig, three years. Top notch school. Small world innit? Wouldn't it be amusing if we were there at the same time Fletch go Patana for all reasons mentioned. They really invest in the students and have an inquiry based approach for the whole child development. Money is put back into the school. I have only great things to say about the place, like one big family. |
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 24, 2015 14:59:45 GMT 7
Sounds great from what you describe buhi. We've actually fixed up an appointment for tomorrow. What's the traffic like BTW on a normal school day? One thing we realised last time is that when we visit places it's always after peak hour so we never see it as it is. Need to take the kids to school first. And if the kids are on holiday so we don't need to take them then it's not a true reflection Shrewsbury is terrbile for traffic. NIST looked like it might be bad given it's mid Sukhumvit. What's it like round Soi Lasalle? Of course the other solution is buy a house next door to rgs as I think he's that way out Patana prefers the pupils to use the school transport, to prevent the log jam of posh parents cruising in their new Bentley. As mentioned the fleet of mini buses, well over a hundred , drive carefully, have a lady on board to look after the children and to report any misdemeanours. They arrive like clockwork, the whole fleet in contact with "mission control" at Patana .Any delay, reported directly to the class teacher. Patana runs on technology.
Mind blowing in Bangkok.
The drivers know the routes and avoid approaching via LaSalle College, which school , (my son will transfer to soon), blocks all of Suk 105 after 6 /45. Really best to use the school trasport, they pick up from every part of Bangkok.
|
|
buhi
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
Posts: 4,846
Likes: 1,431
|
Post by buhi on Nov 24, 2015 15:20:59 GMT 7
Amusing in the Big Flood a few years ago, some staff were affected and a few pupils. One kid took a boat from his house in the Don Muang area to a pre arranged pick up point.The affected staff switched to school transport. The fleet all arrived just about on time.
Planning, I know very un Thai like. If all the buses arrived at the same time it would be chaos (as at LaSalle). Think airport. It is a sight to see the buses coming in each morning.
The drivers have their own building at Patana, where they rest and dine after arrival.
No I will not be driving my son to school!
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Nov 24, 2015 16:19:27 GMT 7
Ah, the floods! We got a kid from Pattana after the floods wrecked the families business. This kids English and critical thinking skills were phenomenal, he was several years ahead of the kids in his new class here at my place. His knowledge of phonics was near native. I give Pattana my vote. He recently also got two kids from Harrow and I must say I am surprised about what they don't know considering the fees of the place.
|
|
