Why Lighthouse
We help students find THEIR path
Lighthouse International School Phuket Education is focused on each student and seeing them reach their full potential. We are a school of the future and completely committed to our children’s success.
New Education System
Nurturing personalities without losing family background
- We have small class sizes so that children receive personal help and direction.
- Native English speaking teachers, with English and Thai speaking assistants.
- Dynamic learning methods so that children enjoy learning, which is especially important as our children begin school.
- Complete facilities set in a natural surrounding. At Lighthouse it is natures way instead of the factory way.
The Current (Old) System
The current education system was developed in the 1800’s when most people were working in factories. Schools were a place employees could send their children while they worked. Children were taught how to be good factory employees.
Of course, much has developed and changed since that time, however many things are still the same. There is a bell to tell you when to start, a bell to tell you there is a break, a bell for lunch, another break, then a bell to tell you to go home.
This system worked when most people worked for corporations who wanted knowledge based workers to be on time at a particular location with endless in room meetings.
Innovation, Digital Revolution & New Workplace
However, if we desire our children to be leading the way in innovation and creativity in today’s economy we’re going to have to do things differently. We are going to need to teach our children in a non-traditional way, preparing them for a non-traditional workplace.
Today’s changing economy has less need to memorise a large amount of information and the fear of being wrong, listening to a teacher tell you what to think all day. Project based work combines problem solving and allows the children to think creatively and learn from mistakes, rather than focus on continual testing.
Work Life Balance
We desire for our children to lead their lives in a way that will impact the world in a positive way. Allowing them to have a good work/life balance where they have strong families, strong convictions, good work ethic and an innovative mind.
The Lighthouse Approach
- Professionals in teaching
- Accelerated curriculum
- Mixed age classes
- Not all learning is classroom based – we encourage students to learn from different school locations
- We bring in professionals in their respective fields. From computer programmers, to chefs, to artists, to business owners to scientists. This allows children to learn and ask questions of successful leaders in their field, getting a real feel and desire for their potential future.
- We use the accelerated curriculum methods, which allow students to work quickly through easy topics and spend more time on those that are more difficult, or that they are more interested in; given them more time and freedom to explore subjects of interest. Giving them a lifelong love of learning.
- Children learn in classes with children from different ages. Children from 3-6 are together, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. This enables children to learn from their peers and help their peers. Giving students insight and experience in what it really looks like to work in team and be leaders. Research shows that mixed age learning is better for students. Benefits of Mixed Age Learning.
- Children are able to do their work in classrooms, but we also encourage some of the older children to work in the school cafeteria, cafe, or even at the park. Currently about 45% of the workforce does not go into a traditional office to work. They work from their homes, cafe’s, or different offices around the world. We equip our students to be diligent and be able to work in different locations, with different distractions. This encourages children to develop their work habit and leads to more creativity and a love of learning.
Traditional Core Subjects
Of course, some things stay the same. We still need to cover the basic subjects, not only that, we need to students to excel at these subjects; math, reading, writing, communicating, problem solving, information technology.
The Future Is Now
Instead children of today need to know where to find information, identify what information is true and relevant, compile that information in a concise way and finally present that information dynamically, whether that is as an individual, or as a group.