The Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) is a secondary school (Years 7-13) modelled on the best of British independent education. It opened in September 2011. Pupils, both boys and girls, day and boarding, follow our own curriculum (roughly based on the English National Curriculum and Common Entrance) in Years 7 to 9, with IGCSE and A level (CIE and Edexcel) in the upper years. Drawing from Penang, the whole of Malaysia and other countries in the region, POWIIS now has almost 500 pupils with good numbers in the sixth form. The eventual capacity is 750. The spread of ability, at present, is quite wide but includes many very able students.The outstanding buildings are located in a new township in an attractive rural location, Balik Pulau, on the island of Penang. Facilities are second to none in Penang and arguably so in Malaysia. They include a substantial library, a 500 seat natural acoustic concert hall/theatre housing a Steinway D concert grand piano, a multi-purpose sports hall, a 25 metre swimming pool, football and netball pitches, tennis courts, a fitness suite, art studios, and a design technology centre. The State Government plans an education hub in the locality including the establishment of an international university nearby. There is wireless coverage throughout the site, all classrooms have SmartBoards and all staff and pupils have laptops.The senior staff are from leading boarding schools in England and many of the teachers have come directly from the UK and the international circuit. The teaching philosophy at POWIIS borrows from the best of both the independent and state sectors in the UK, as well as international schools in the region, providing an interpretation appropriate to a core of Malaysian students and also those from ex-pat families and the international groups from further afield. The student mix contributes towards a rich experience as the students prepare for university as well as for careers in a wider international context. One of the attractions for teachers is the quality of the students, most of whom are utterly delightful, many are talented and discipline problems are largely absent. The School has a very special atmosphere of purposeful and relaxed co-operation with excellent staff/pupil relationships.The vision is a secondary school with impressive academic credentials that is also concerned with the welfare of its pupils and staff, teaching a set of values exemplified by the motto Truth, Wisdom, Integrity and offering a wide educational experience that stresses the worth of activities well beyond the boundaries of exam syllabuses. Programmes in music, sport, drama, art, outward bound activity and community service are central to the School’s development. Even at this stage, much of the vision is in place.
The Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) is a secondary school (Years 7-13) modelled on the best of British independent education. It opened in September 2011. Pupils, both boys and girls, day and boarding, follow our own curriculum (roughly based on the English National Curriculum and Common Entrance) in Years 7 to 9, with IGCSE and A level (CIE and Edexcel) in the upper years. Drawing from Penang, the whole of Malaysia and other countries in the region, POWIIS now has almost 500 pupils with good numbers in the sixth form. The eventual capacity is 750. The spread of ability, at present, is quite wide but includes many very able students.The outstanding buildings are located in a new township in an attractive rural location, Balik Pulau, on the island of Penang. Facilities are second to none in Penang and arguably so in Malaysia. They include a substantial library, a 500 seat natural acoustic concert hall/theatre housing a Steinway D concert grand piano, a multi-purpose sports hall, a 25 metre swimming pool, football and netball pitches, tennis courts, a fitness suite, art studios, and a design technology centre. The State Government plans an education hub in the locality including the establishment of an international university nearby. There is wireless coverage throughout the site, all classrooms have SmartBoards and all staff and pupils have laptops.The senior staff are from leading boarding schools in England and many of the teachers have come directly from the UK and the international circuit. The teaching philosophy at POWIIS borrows from the best of both the independent and state sectors in the UK, as well as international schools in the region, providing an interpretation appropriate to a core of Malaysian students and also those from ex-pat families and the international groups from further afield. The student mix contributes towards a rich experience as the students prepare for university as well as for careers in a wider international context. One of the attractions for teachers is the quality of the students, most of whom are utterly delightful, many are talented and discipline problems are largely absent. The School has a very special atmosphere of purposeful and relaxed co-operation with excellent staff/pupil relationships.The vision is a secondary school with impressive academic credentials that is also concerned with the welfare of its pupils and staff, teaching a set of values exemplified by the motto Truth, Wisdom, Integrity and offering a wide educational experience that stresses the worth of activities well beyond the boundaries of exam syllabuses. Programmes in music, sport, drama, art, outward bound activity and community service are central to the School’s development. Even at this stage, much of the vision is in place.
The Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) is a secondary school (Years 7-13) modelled on the best of British independent education. It opened in September 2011. Pupils, both boys and girls, day and boarding, follow our own curriculum (roughly based on the English National Curriculum and Common Entrance) in Years 7 to 9, with IGCSE and A level (CIE and Edexcel) in the upper years. Drawing from Penang, the whole of Malaysia and other countries in the region, POWIIS now has almost 500 pupils with good numbers in the sixth form. The eventual capacity is 750. The spread of ability, at present, is quite wide but includes many very able students.The outstanding buildings are located in a new township in an attractive rural location, Balik Pulau, on the island of Penang. Facilities are second to none in Penang and arguably so in Malaysia. They include a substantial library, a 500 seat natural acoustic concert hall/theatre housing a Steinway D concert grand piano, a multi-purpose sports hall, a 25 metre swimming pool, football and netball pitches, tennis courts, a fitness suite, art studios, and a design technology centre. The State Government plans an education hub in the locality including the establishment of an international university nearby. There is wireless coverage throughout the site, all classrooms have SmartBoards and all staff and pupils have laptops.The senior staff are from leading boarding schools in England and many of the teachers have come directly from the UK and the international circuit. The teaching philosophy at POWIIS borrows from the best of both the independent and state sectors in the UK, as well as international schools in the region, providing an interpretation appropriate to a core of Malaysian students and also those from ex-pat families and the international groups from further afield. The student mix contributes towards a rich experience as the students prepare for university as well as for careers in a wider international context. One of the attractions for teachers is the quality of the students, most of whom are utterly delightful, many are talented and discipline problems are largely absent. The School has a very special atmosphere of purposeful and relaxed co-operation with excellent staff/pupil relationships.The vision is a secondary school with impressive academic credentials that is also concerned with the welfare of its pupils and staff, teaching a set of values exemplified by the motto Truth, Wisdom, Integrity and offering a wide educational experience that stresses the worth of activities well beyond the boundaries of exam syllabuses. Programmes in music, sport, drama, art, outward bound activity and community service are central to the School’s development. Even at this stage, much of the vision is in place.