Established in 1964, International School Brunei (ISB) has a strong reputation as a highly regarded internationally accredited school, providing excellent education for 2 to 18-year-olds in Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam is a tiny nation nestled between Malaysia and the South China Sea on the third largest island in the world, Borneo. Brunei itself is a modern oil-rich state. It has a sub-tropical climate and a family-friendly lifestyle, a good standard of living and travel opportunities within Asia and Australasia.

ISB occupies three sites. ISB Seria, a primary school in Seria (Belait District), ISB Centre for Inclusive Learning, a provision for students with additional and complex learning needs in Panaga (Belait District), and an all-through school with a state-of-the-art campus in the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan. ISB’s eco-accredited Bandar campus boasts world-class facilities to cater for their 1200 students. Comprising of Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Pre-University, ISB students work closely in a distinctive, happy, family atmosphere. ISB offers an adapted England and Wales curriculum followed by IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

With over 40 nationalities celebrated in our community, ISB is proud to be truly international. Whilst fully inclusive and not-for-profit, ISB’s belief is that Everyone Excels. With results consistently above world averages, ISB is very proud of its high standards whilst valuing the contribution the students make in performing arts, music, and sporting events.

ISB has a long-term commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability and is one of the very few Green Flag accredited Eco-schools in Asia. The Eco-Schools Green Flag is an internationally recognized award for excellence in environmental action and learning - ISB is committed to sustainability and eco awareness beyond the school community. We believe our students can make a real difference in this world. Outdoor learning is integral to our curriculum; students enjoy the Jungle Classroom and Eco Garden to enhance their learning. Extra-curricular activities provide further opportunities for our students with a myriad of programmes to choose from.

Proud to be an inclusive school, ISB’s warm and supportive environment, combined with students of all abilities, cultures and backgrounds, inspires its students to become caring, open-minded global citizens geared for success in an ever-changing world. The school nurtures students to be responsible leaders who feel empowered and can make a difference.

In 1964, Datin Glass, a government officer’s wife, started a tutorial group for her daughter together with one or two friends. She taught them by means of a correspondence course and assessed by the South Australian Correspondence School. The numbers grew quite rapidly and by 1970, the school moved to a site provided by the Brunei Government at 34 Tapak Kuda. The school was then established as a department of the South Australian Correspondence School, known locally as the Supervision School. The school was a two-storey blue and white painted wooden building, situated on a horse-shoe shaped road.

By February 1971, there were 30 kindergarten pupils and 31 primary students. The enrolment continued to grow and by 1974, it had reached 160. In 1976, it was decided that the school should convert to a fully independent private preparatory school, employing trained teachers. The principal then, Mrs Bennett, adopted an education based on the UK primary school principles.

On 1st December 1976, the International School (B) Bhd (ISB) was established as a not-for-profit school and a limited company. For the first time, the school had Board of Directors elected from the membership of the company. At that time, the Chairman of the Board, Abdul Razak Haji Muhammad, congratulated the school for living up to its name:

“ ...by admitting pupils, regardless of race, religion or colour, surely a notable contribution to the cause of international goodwill and understanding...”

We remain committed to these principles today and have added to it by admitting pupils of any ability as we are an inclusive school.

The school continued to thrive and had outgrown the Tapak Kuda premises. A new site was considered necessary to provide the facilities and quality education in line with the aspirations of the Board of Directors and the school community. A new site was sourced and acquired in Berakas in 1978. Funding for the new building proved challenging but through a combination of vigorous fund raising, debentures, bank loans and community support, the Berakas campus was eventually attained and ISB was able to move to its new location. It was officially opened by Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna binti Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien on 9th March 1986, eight years after securing the lease.

Funding for the continued development of the school was a perennial problem and had it not been for considerable support from an anonymous donor through the setting up of a trust under the chairmanship of Mrs Meggie Leong, development would have been much slower.

In 1993, ISB extended its education to lower secondary students. In 2001, ISB achieved full stature when it was authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to offer their prestigious Diploma programme. In 2006, ISB opened a branch Primary school in Kuala Belait.

In 2015, ISB relocated to our current site in Sungai Hanching, with purpose-built buildings and facilities for a positive learning and teaching experience for students and staff alike. Being true to its ‘green’ philosophy, we engaged environmental specialists in the design of the campus, and a vision for ISB to become the first complete educational campus in Brunei to be built according to the BCA Green Mark requirements was realized. We are proud that ISB achieved this goal and is now the leading ‘green’ school within our community.

ISB, a not-for-profit school, has developed a strong eco focus in its curriculum and extracurricular activities, and this focus will continue into the future whilst being true to our green philosophy.