Curriculum and the Learning Environment

At St. Mark's Australian International School, a focus on the individual is at the core of all we do. The caring relationships between the class teachers and each individual student are at the heart of our Early Years, Primary and Secondary education, providing the best possible foundation for learning. The security, which comes from an encouraging and supportive environment, fosters a strong sense of belonging and enhances students' self-esteem and resilience, enabling their learning to flourish.

The ability to use a language other than English and move between cultures is important for full participation in the modern world, especially in the context of increasing globalisation and cultural diversity. Learning a new language offers students the opportunity to use the language to communicate with its speakers, gain direct insights into the cultures, and enhance their vocational prospects. The rise of the economy in China has propelled an increasing interest throughout the world to learn Mandarin, making it become a very important language of communication.

Our tri-lingual program focuses on the mastery of languages and its application to real-life situations. Embedded in the course of our studies, students are encouraged to speak, read and write in all of the 3 languages - English, Mandarin and Thai and they become confident users of these languages as they progress through our program.   Throughout their schooling, our students are constantly challenged by a stimulating, collaborative environment, where their individuality is valued and exploration of individual interests is encouraged.  Implementing the renowned Australian curriculum, our program has been designed to foster a strong academic focus with exciting and versatile learning experiences, especially in the area of Mathematics and Science.

Infused throughout the curriculum are opportunities for students to develop their communication skills in speaking, reading, and writing. Our curriculum requires students to exercise and develop their higher-order thinking skills in English, mathematics, and science. The classroom and pastoral care program work together to enable our students to develop an awareness of their own spirituality and appreciation of the beliefs and needs of others as well as the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Our program focuses on whole child development, where academic achievement, physical well-being, and character development are developed hand-in-hand, ensuring a well-rounded and balanced individual.

Our comprehensive Maths and Science program and qualified teaching staff have helped build confidence in learners to achieve in these subject areas. As a school, we work together to ensure that every student are cared for.  For our students to achieve such a remarkable accomplishments, these stem from the collaborous work of our dedicated teaching staff and the approach we manage and monitor our students' progress and learning. A conducive work environment where every staff works collaborously together to achieve a common goal is the key to our success. We strive to create an environment which support our students' learning and aim for the higest possible outcome, where each student understand what it takes to achieve a superior grade.  When we have a combination of good resources coming together, these ultimately lead to success.

Early Years (Nursery to Preparatory) focuses on learning through play and providing a safe and secure environment, where students are encouraged to express themselves and develop confidence. Our balanced curriculum ensures that students develop and acquired their speaking, reading, and writing skills at a young age.

Primary Program (Year 1 to 6) builds solid foundations for later learning with an emphasis on mastery of basic skills of literacy and numeracy, as well as developing cultural understanding, problem-solving, and personal and interpersonal skills. The range of studies with a number of teachers, running through our primary and high school program exposes our students to varied teaching and learning styles. The diversity of experiences helps to equip our students with the flexibility they need to thrive in a changing world.

Secondary Program (Year 7 - 12) is divided into 2 levels, Lower Secondary from Year 7-10 and Upper Secondary from Year 11 – 12. Our program ensures that students develop an awareness of themselves and appreciation of others.

Lower Secondary (Year 7 – 10) Program is based on the acclaimed Cambridge IGCSE program, where our curriculum focuses on the development of students' skills in synthesising, summarising, and differentiating facts from opinion, which are crucial skills for successful further learning and in daily living. St. Mark's provides a range of IGCSE courses ranging from English language, Mathematics, the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Other Languages (Mandarin, Thai), Professional Skills (Accounting, Business Studies).

Upper Secondary (Year 11 – 12) Program adopts the Australian Matriculation Program, providing students with access to a high-quality, relevant, and internationally recognised curriculum. Students will receive the Australian Matriculation Certificate of Education upon completing Year 12. These certificates provide direct pathways to all Australian universities, as well as admissions to universities worldwide, which includes the competitive higher institutions in the United Kingdom, the EU, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, China, and India. This program is of one and a half years in duration, and our graduating students will benefit from commencing universities one year earlier than their peers in other schools.