If you had visited the British International School of Kuala Lumpur (BSKL) 10 years ago when it first opened, you’d have noticed several major differences from how it is today. Back then, it consisted of a single campus catering for students up to Year 4.
Today, the campus has grown enormously, situated in a green neighbourhood in Bandar Utama and divided across three age groups which are Lower, Junior and Secondary. The facilities here are sprawling and impressive to say the least – two swimming pools, football fields, an auditorium, 3D printing room, technology-supported classrooms and more. Topping all of this is a positive energy that alights on visitors the moment they walk through the glass doors.
That said, spend a few minutes with Head of School Janet Brock and you’ll understand who sets the tone for cheerfulness in this school of over 1,000 students.
“I come from a large family (I’m one of 9) so what I want to create here−whether it’s with 10 children or 1,000 children−is that they feel like they’re part of a supportive family when at school,” says Janet, warming everyone in the room with a light-hearted quip in between bouts of story-telling.
Janet fondly recalls her first day at BSKL six years ago after arriving in Malaysia just after the Easter holidays.
“I remember driving to the school and being taken to the assembly of 400 children from 2 to 13 years old, and they sang me a song. I got so emotional – it was such a lovely start to the time here.” Janet says.