ESF South Island School

Helen Thew

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our exceptional school, where we are dedicated to supporting and guiding our students to achieve their full academic, social, emotional, and physical potential. We offer a wealth of resources to support this goal: excellent facilities set in beautiful, lush surroundings; an engaging academic experience filled with challenges and rewards; and a diverse array of extracurricular activities, providing countless opportunities for our students to grow, be the best they can be, and effect positive change in the world around them.

At the heart of everything we do is our vibrant community, comprising dedicated teachers and support staff, community leaders, parents, alumni, and, of course, our exceptional students. These students put in tremendous effort to prepare themselves for future leadership roles. Our school’s mission is simple yet profound: to Make a Difference for ourselves, others, and the larger community. We believe that a happy child learns best, and our school structure is designed to provide the foundation for this to happen.

Through our Academic, Pastoral, and Values in Action curricula, we prioritise the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students.

Our Academic Curriculum: we aim to provide personalised and unique learning experiences for our students. We believe in fostering a growth mindset and encourage our students to seek opportunities to learn, acquire new skills, and enhance their existing ones. These opportunities are embedded in our curriculum, which includes the IB Middle Years Programme for Years 7-9, IGCSE/GCSE for Years 10-11, and both the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Careers-related Programme for Years 12-13.

Our Pastoral Curriculum: ensuring the happiness and well-being of our students is our number one priority and is a collective responsibility. To promote learning and continual positive development, we work closely with a dedicated team of pastoral leaders and engage the entire school community. This collaborative approach ensures that the emotional and social needs of our students are met. We explicitly teach and promote health and well-being, building resilience and preparing our students to tackle a variety of challenges with confidence.

Our Values in Action: our students are provided with daily opportunities to make a difference and develop as independent, global citizens who appreciate diversity and support all community members to thrive. By putting our school values into practice, our students become active, supportive members of the school, the local community, and the broader world.

So what makes our South Island School so special? It is our community that sets us apart. We are more than just a school; we are a family. The strong bonds and supportive environment we nurture extend well beyond academic learning, enriching the overall experience for everyone involved.

I look forward to meeting each of you throughout the year, and if you are not yet a member of our school family, I invite you to explore what our school has to offer. Take a look for yourself at the opportunities and unique experiences that make our school a place where students can truly thrive.

Helen Thew

Principal