schools in and around Hua Hin

Discussion on schools, colleges, universities, educational facilities, teaching, and learning resources for adults and children.
faq2mfh
Member
Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:08 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by faq2mfh »

Very similar at Somtawin. At least it was a few years back. Problem I saw then was that the Thai teacher in my son’s class didn’t speak any English and wasn’t very friendly towards the English teacher. Therefore there was little or no communication between the two teachers. They kind of did their own thing… What I also noticed was that the kids didn’t speak English amongst each other and a few of the Thai kids couldn’t speak any English even after completing K1&K2 at Somtawin.
User avatar
JimmyGreaves
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2913
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 am
Location: HuaEireHin

Post by JimmyGreaves »

Any feedback on the new somtawin school 15 kms away from the old one?
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
terry+carmen
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 140
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:18 pm
Location: Hua Hin

Somtawin Schools

Post by terry+carmen »

My daughter has been in Somtawin English school for just over a year. Somtawin has two schools one Thai and one English. The English school is in a brand new building which opened in June last year. This year they added a swimming pool and will soon have to build more classrooms because of the school expansion.

All teaching is in English apart from one Thai period each day

Somtawin takes children from K1 to Grade 12 and offers [b]nine[/b] subjects at [b]IGCSE[/b] level which can be taken between years 10 and 12. Grade 12 students are 16/17 years old.

Mr Steve White is the headmaster you can contact him at steve@somtawin.com. Have a look at the website too [b]www.somtawin.ac.th[/b] I'm sure the head or deputy head Lisa lisa@somtawin.ac.th would be happy to show you round and answer your questions.

There were a few problems with the school a few years ago, some of them can be found on old HHAD posts. Following Steve's appointment as headmaster most of them have been resolved, teacher turnover is almost nil and additional staff have been recruited this year to teach PE and swimming.

The school also has an active PTA which works closely with the school to improve school facilities and communication between parents and teachers

My daughter and I are very happy with the school. If you want more information PM me and I will give you fees, uniform, book prices and a whole lot more.

.
kitechick
Amateur
Amateur
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:57 pm

Post by kitechick »

After reading this thread with keen interest to see the progress of the two main schools in Hua Hin I feel I have too, along with my husband put our two pence worth in. Our son has been studying at Somtawin School for the last 3 years and at the end of the last school year completed grade 11 he is now 17 years old. In the UK he should be sitting his GCSE exams, unfortunately after much promises on the schools part he was unable to take his exams through Somtawin. We ended up enrolling him at the British council in Bangkok where he could sit his IGCSE's and we are currently driving backwards and forwards there at least three times a week. We have done this with no help from Somtawin what so ever. Upon enrollment at the British Council we approached the teachers at Somtawin where our son was still studying for help with revision for his exams (as they were supposed to be studying the British curriculum) and were told that if we provided the school with the curriculum outline then they would be more than willing to help. After downloading and printing many different subject curriculum our son was told if you want help then you will have to pay for it. Needless to say we were annoyed.
After approaching the school we were informed that they were not allowed to teach the full British curriculum as they are still governed by the Thai Education Authorities, which have strict guidelines on what students may study.

During one of our recent trips to Bangkok for an exam we were informed by another parent who had attended the welcome back to Somtawin Parent Meeting that they would now teach the full curriculum to students wanting to take IGCSE's and gave them information on how to enroll students for there IGCSE's. I feel that the powers that be have been very lazy and have waited till someone else has done all the leg work and then offered a half hearted attempted at a proper education for the remaining students at the school.

I would like to warn all parents that the Exam Grades are only up to a grade C unless accompanied by course work which can only be submitted if the school holds international accreditation which Somtawin does not. You do have another option which involves taking an extra paper per exam to enable your child to receive possible A grades which certainly is advantageous to academically minded students it does not help students who find the practical way of learning to be their best bet at getting higher marks.

Lastly to all parents who are thinking of enrolling your children to sit their IGCSE's please remember the exams start in May and go through till June so you may need to get your child tuition for the months of March, April and May but don't hold out much hope if you ask the teachers of Somtawin for help as they are all in vacation mode and as most of them are not qualified to teach anyway they don't care if you need help unless of course your going to pay for it.
User avatar
JimmyGreaves
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2913
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 am
Location: HuaEireHin

Post by JimmyGreaves »

Thanks for that KiteChick

Looks like I need to find out exactly what academic level papers the school is aiming for. If it is IGSE then are we saying that the highest grade is only equivalent to a grade C UK GCSE unless an extra paper is sat? You can achieve an A or B grade but extra tuition is needed which is chargable. Do the school give this extra tuition and how is it delivered, home tuition? After hours? Are they setup to handle this?
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
terry+carmen
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 140
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:18 pm
Location: Hua Hin

GCSE

Post by terry+carmen »

A very well informed post, just one question did you put your concerns to the headmaster Steve and if so were you able to get any help?

I knew you had to apply to the Brisish Council but did not know about course work.

I will be faced with the same problem in due course and need as much imput as possible.

Do you know if other schools in HH offer GCSE?
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

All of you who think Yam Sa CRAP is in any way like Somtawin has their balls in the clouds.

I am a teacher, I WAS a teacher at Somtawin for 4 years. Please listen to this next statement....it will give you an idea of how things are .

YAM SA CRAP IS BILINGUAL!!!!

SOMTAWIN IS INTERNATIONAL!!!!

I now work in the biggest Bilingual school in Thailand. It is called Sarasas ( Google it numbnuts ). They have around 30 schools in Thailand and the director is the 7th richest man in Thailand. The Education is piss poor as it will be in Yam Sa Crap, but they will pass their exams as you are instructed to not let a kid fail. Somtawin holds a kid back a grade for whatever reason ( disruptive, learning disorder, academically not gifted ) and the parents hate that.

I could talk for ages about the difference in curriculum with the 2 main schools in Hua Hin, but I shouldn't have to. You are all grown up and should be able to judge for yourselves. If you can't that shows that you yourself has not passed your GCSE's ( a 16 year olds education ) because a Bilingual school does not come CLOSE to giving education worthy enough for the kid to pass their GCSE's at Mathiom 4!!!

As I said I teach at the biggest Bilingual school in Thailoand and am shocked... the money is great but the teaching is non existent. Easy, but not rewarding in any sense.

Come on dumbo's, it's not rocket science mate. If you can't see the difference between the 2 schools curriculums you should question yourself and your capability as a good parent!!!!
faq2mfh
Member
Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:08 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by faq2mfh »

SOMTAWIN IS INTERNATIONAL!!!!

When did that happen?
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

This post has been deleted by a moderator, it broke several Forum rules.
Last edited by GLCQuantum on Sat May 23, 2009 2:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

SOMTAWIN IS INTERNATIONAL!!!!

When did that happen?
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM YOU WALLY!! :roll: :roll: :roll:
User avatar
dtaai-maai
Hero
Hero
Posts: 14196
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
Location: UK, Robin Hood country

Post by dtaai-maai »

GLCQuantum wrote:This post has been deleted by a moderator, it broke several Forum rules.
Somtawin is NOT an international school because it has no international accreditation, as kitechick pointed out.

For somebody who works in a crap school where the money is good (how nice for you), but the teaching is non-existent (hmm), you have very strong opinions on the ability of parents to work out what's going on.

All I've seen on this thread are a number of thoughtful people discussing what's best for their kids. I don't think any of them deserve the name 'dumbo' (no apostrophe for a plural, by the way) or 'numbnuts'.

It sounds like you might have some decent advice to offer, but why you feel the need to hide it in a heap of abuse, only you know.
This is the way
User avatar
JD
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2303
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:50 pm
Location: Hua Hin.

Post by JD »

Image

GLC Quantum

At the bottom of every page you will see a link to HHAD's Terms and Conditions, please read them before you post again.

Pay attention to the parts headed:- PRIVACY POLICY and CONDUCT.
Per Angusta In Augusta.
-----------------------------------------------
http://www.facebook.com/huahinhamandbacon
www.hamandbacon.co.th
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

For somebody who works in a crap school where the money is good (how nice for you),
Another one who 'skims' through a post but does not read it.

Did you not see the last part of the sentence which said ..... IS NOT REWARDING. Did that not give you a tiny hint of the fact I DON"T like working in the school where I cannot teach properly due to various reasons ( class size, no materials, no input towards the curriculum, crap books etc. etc. ) because I am not a backpacker, nor a tourist, nor a man having an 'experience', but am here to teach to the best of my abilities with a concern for the childs education.
All I've seen on this thread are a number of thoughtful people discussing what's best for their kids. I don't think any of them deserve the name 'dumbo' (no apostrophe for a plural, by the way) or 'numbnuts'.


I do apolagize ( is that splet corretloy ? ) if my words were a bit offensive but you only have to look at the curriculum taught in each school to give a good idea on the level of the school.

BENEFITS OF A BILINGUAL SCHOOL

* Your child will pass through every grade without being challenged on their academic skills.

* Your child will speak better Thai than a child in an international school.

* Your child will get a good job fixing motorbikes when he leaves at Mathiom 4.

BENEFITS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ( Curriculum as I have already stated )

* Your child will have a very good level of English, the closest you can get without being in England, or any other English speaking country.

* Your child will have learnt visually ( ie. science experiments ) enabling them to have a better understanding of the concept/topic.

* Your child will have a 99% better chance of getting a job on the international scene as their comprehension of the English language will be far greater than that of a temple school, or Bilingual school.

* Your child will not be hit with a ruler.

* Your child will be challenged to their full ability, not learning at the speed of the rest of the class.

* Your child will be assessed weekly, determining his/her strong and weak points.

I could go on but I don't want to bore you.

At this time I have absolutely no connection with Somtawin or my friends who used to work there. All I am saying is I have seen the difference. I know the difference. And if I had a child in Hua Hin, yes Somtawin is not your big international school in Bangkok, but you are also not paying 500,000 baht a year, my child would be going to Somtawin without a doubt.
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

JD

Very sorry, hit a nerve I suppose. This is a subject where I will have a strong opinion.

Apologies.
GLCQuantum
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3583
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm

Post by GLCQuantum »

Could I ask JD, that normally you would just delete the name that I put into my post. Why has the whole thing been deleted?

I also know I am breaking the rules now for questioning your decision, that I apologise for, but there were 'some' things in that post which were beneficial to parents ie. why the GCSE program was not followed up on. Surely the whole post did not have to be deleted.
Post Reply