Chaofah City
Chaofah City
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HeadStart Celebrates Outstanding Academic Achievements
We are thrilled to announce the results of our 2026 A Level and AS Level Cohorts.
August 11th and 13th were exciting days in the HeadStart community; the former being results day for our Cambridge A/AS Level and Pearson BTEC examination results and the latter concluding results for last year’s Year 12 and 13 students with Pearson’s A/AS Level Art and EPQ results. Leading up to results day is always stressful for all involved. Internal questioning from staff and students alike on whether the countless hours of studying, support and interventions have had the desired results. So, how did we do?
We are proud to announce that the 2026 A Level and AS Level results are, once again, incredibly impressive across the board. Before we share the headline figures, we would like to congratulate students, teachers and the wider school community for contributing to another academically successful year. Across all A Level and AS Level exams, our Year 12 and 13 students obtained an incredible 47% A*/A (the global average is 29%) with 90% graded A to C and a 100% pass rate. Meanwhile, our BTEC students excelled, with 100% of candidates achieving a Merit grade or above and an incredible 83% gaining a Distinction or Distinction*. Finally, out of the 13 Sixth Form students completing the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), we are thrilled to announce that all students obtained either an A* or A grade! These are truly incredible results and will be difficult to surpass for our new Year 13 students.
As usual we would like to end by congratulating each individual student who pushed themselves throughout the year to obtain the best grades they could. The attached graphics celebrate the accomplishments of our highest achieving students, but as educators we also want to celebrate and congratulate students who overcame hurdles to achieve their results and those that surpassed expectations.
In closing, we would like to take this opportunity to offer thanks to all of you for your contributions to these successes, whether they were large or small. Results like these can only be produced by a strong school community. The banner on this page showcases some of the highest-achieving students of this academic year, but all of our students deserve praise for what they have achieved.
New Facilities to Support Student Growth
Welcome back to the new school year and a beautifully upgraded HeadStart Cherngtalay campus! This school year, our Primary learners will no doubt love their brand-new playground. Located next to the Atrium and closer to the Primary building, this space maximises playtime and minimises transitions. Our Secondary students will also benefit from a new dedicated walkway straight to the Secondary school, ensuring our Foundation ILC remains a calm and welcoming environment for our youngest learners. And all our students will benefit from an increase in books at our ever-expanding library. We now have 9,000 library books and an additional 4,500 books in our Primary and Secondary classroom libraries. There's something for all ages as we look forward to a year of reading fun!
We are just as excited to open Building E, the new home for our specially designed Foundation swimming pool and fully equipped nurse's room. This new building also serves as a fantastic hub for parents: you can enjoy a much smoother morning drop-off thanks to a new one-way traffic system, covered walkways, and over 80 new parking spaces at the eastern end of the school site. Afterwards, relax in the expanded Nakita's Cafe, join Coach Jordi and her team for training sessions in our new fitness suite, or pop into our spacious new school shop to pick up uniforms, sports kits, and other essential items.
We trust that these campus improvements will contribute to yet another year of growth and community collaboration.
Get Moving with HeadStart Parent Fitness!
With a new school year come new opportunities to start afresh with our Parent Fitness community. Led by our very own Coach Jordi and her team of specialist practitioners, there's a daily schedule of fitness classes which are free for parents to attend. Registration is required at the Fitness Suite each morning on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out the schedule below as well as daily times when the gym facilities in the Fitness Suite are available for parent use.
- Monday & Wednesday: 7:30am to 9:30am, and 3:30pm to 6:00pm
- Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7:30am to 9:30am, and 2:30pm to 6:00pm
- Saturday: 7:30am to 6:00pm
A quick safeguarding reminder: Our students always come first! If a PE lesson or student activity is being conducted inside the gym, we kindly ask that all parents wait outside until the students have completely finished their class and vacated the area before entering. Thank you for helping us keep our learning spaces safe and secure for students.
Calling All Vendors! Next Friday Market on 11th September
There are still a few stalls left at our next Friday Market which will take place on Friday 11th September from 2.40pm. We are interested in home-cooked food and healthy drinks served in sustainable packaging (no plastic!), handmade products such as jewelry or gifts, and secondhand items that can be reused or repurposed. We also welcome child-friendly activity-themed businesses to promote themselves at this monthly event. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at this exciting community event, please contact Yann in our Admin office or reach out to him via email: [email protected]
Parent Identification Policy
It has been great to see so many parents displaying their Parent Identification lanyards this week. This is an important aspect of our Safeguarding policies that ensures the safety and wellbeing of all our students, teachers and support staff and we sincerely appreciate the efforts of our parent community to comply with this policy.
As a reminder, while parents are able to enter the school by scanning their finger at the turnstiles, we also require all parents and visitors to wear their Parent Identification lanyard around their neck at all times while on campus. If for any reason you forget your Parent Identification, you can simply speak with our security team at the main entrance and receive a red Visitr Pass for your visit.
We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in helping to keep HeadStart a safe and welcoming school.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Parent Committee Coffee Morning
Welcoming all parents, both new and returning, to join the HeadStart Cherngtalay Parent Committee for the first parent coffee morning of the new school year. Hosted at our brand new Nakita's Coffee Shop, this will be a great opportunity to forge new friendships and find out all there is to know about our woderful school community and the surrounding area. See you at Nakita's on Tuesday 1 September from 8:30am onwards.
Upcoming Meetings & Presentations
Parent Meeting: The Primary Curriculum and Homework at HeadStart
As Primary homeroom teachers begin assigning homework in Week 3, we invite parents to join our next parent meeting on Thursday, 3rd September at 8:30am in the Primary Hall (3rd Floor). During this informative meeting, members of our Primary team will introduce our key online homework platforms, demonstrate how to navigate them easily at home, and explain the educational rationale behind these digital tools. We will also share valuable insights into the HeadStart Primary curriculum.
This session is a fantastic opportunity to ask questions, connect with our team, and discover practical ways to support your child's learning journey. The presentation will be delivered in English, with members of our Thai team present to provide translation and support where needed. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
Meetings & Presentations
Extracurricular Activity Policy (ECAs), How to book and Parent Portal
The ECA Team was delighted to welcome a large group of new parents to our ECA Parent Meeting, where we introduced this year’s exciting programme, shared key updates, and walked families through the new booking tutorial.
The session was warmly attended, with parents engaging enthusiastically, asking questions, and gaining a clear understanding of the opportunities available to their children. It was a fantastic chance to connect, share information, and build excitement for the year ahead. The meeting also set the perfect tone for the ECA Fair that followed in the afternoon, where families had the opportunity to meet our fantastic External Providers and explore the wide range of activities on offer.
Parent Orientation
A warm welcome to our new families, and a huge welcome back to our returning parents and students! It was wonderful connecting with so many of you at our recent Parent Orientation meetings, including our dedicated Russian and Mandarin sessions. These gatherings are a vital part of our partnership and a great opportunity to align our goals for the year ahead.
During these sessions, we provided a core overview of school life, our shared values, and the essential daily routines designed to support your child’s wellbeing and academic success. If you have any questions about the topics covered, or if you need any assistance settling into the new term, please don't hesitate to reach out to our administration and academics teams—we are always here to help!
Russian First Language Parent Information Session
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting our Russian First Language Parent Information Session. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome both new and returning families to our school community, to share our vision for the Russian programme, including what we teach, how we teach it, and how we support each child’s language journey. As promised, please find attached the presentation with the key materials. We wish you a successful and inspiring new school year ahead!
На прошлой неделе состоялось первое родительское собрание, посвящённое преподаванию русского языка как родного. Мы были очень рады новым знакомствам и тёплой встрече с друзьями школы! В ходе собрания мы рассказали о подходах к обучению, о структуре занятий и о том, как выстраивается работа на уроках, чтобы каждый ребёнок чувствовал поддержку и интерес к языку, а также поделились планами на этот учебный год. Высылаем презентацию с основными материалами встречи. Благодарим за внимание и доверие. Желаем плодотворного и успешного учебного года!
Mandarin First Language Parent Information Session
This Thursday, we were delighted to host our Mandarin First Language Parent Information Session. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome many new families to our school community, provide insights into our First Language programme, and address parents’ key questions and queries. Please find the presentation slides attached for your reference. Thank you to all the families who attended for their warm engagement and support.
本周四，我校成功举办了中文第一语言家长交流会。我们非常高兴迎来了许多新家庭的加入。会上，教师团队详细介绍了学校的第一语言课程项目，并就家长们关心的热点问题进行了深入解答。本次会议的演示幻灯片已附于文末附件中，供您查阅参考。非常感谢各位家长的积极参与和对学校工作的大力支持！
Meet the Team
A warm welcome from our new Head of Foundation & Primary
Ed Marsden | Head of Foundation & Primary (Cherngtalay Campus)
I am delighted to join the HeadStart Cherngtalay community as Head of Primary and Foundation. After initially filling in at Chaofah City Campus in Term 3, I can't wait to get started here at Cherngtalay Campus. I bring nearly 25 years of experience in both UK and international education, most recently in Dubai as Primary Principal of an international school. Prior to that, I worked at a variety of outstanding schools in the UK independent sector before, in 2020, being appointed as 'Head of Prep School' at Ryde School on the Isle of Wight. I gained my first taste of combining my love of travel and teaching early in my career by becoming Director of Sport in a leading international British school in the Valencia region of Spain.
Throughout my career, I have served as a teacher, senior leader, head and school governor. I am deeply committed to empowering both students and staff. I have gone on to establish success in developing progressive curriculums, building dynamic teams alongside fostering inclusive, happy school communities. I have vast experience leading in both safeguarding and student wellbeing and have a holistic approach to education that prioritises the welfare of all students in my care. With expertise in digital literacy, curriculum design and parental engagement, I am excited about what I can add to HeadStart International School in the next stage of its development. Born and raised in Kent, UK, I hold a BSc (Hons) and PGCE from the University of Greenwich, London. I am also a Level 7 ICF-accredited leadership coach, supporting governing bodies and school leaders in their professional development.
We come to Phuket as a team of four. My wife Georgina leads the Learning Support Department at Cherngtalay Campus, and we have two sons, Albie (12) and Jonty (10), who both attend HeadStart. With a love of sport, music and the sea, we are looking forward to doing more scuba diving, travelling, sampling the amazing Thai cuisine and immersing ourselves in both island life and the HeadStart community. See you at the turnstiles!
Celebrating 15 Years of Outstanding Service
The heart of HeadStart International School has always been its people. As our community has grown from a single, humble campus to the thriving international environment we are today, we owe our success to the unwavering dedication of our longest-serving team members. These remarkable individuals have not only witnessed our transformation but have actively helped build the warm, supportive atmosphere our students and parents experience every day. This week, we celebrate two incredible members of our HeadStart family who have been with us for 15 years, sharing their journeys of professional growth, resilience, and lifelong learning.
Khun pan (pan kattamat) | housekeeping
Khun Pan has been part of the HeadStart family since 2011, when the school was still located at its original campus with only a few hundred students and a housekeeping team of just six people. Over the years, she has witnessed the remarkable growth of the school, transitioning to our current facilities and becoming a thriving community with more than 1,000 students and a housekeeping team of more than 20 members.
For Khun Pan, HeadStart is much more than a workplace; it is a family. It is a place where she has shared many years of challenges and memorable experiences with colleagues, supervisors, students, and parents. One of the things she appreciates most is the care and value the school's founding team has always shown towards its staff. This sense of appreciation and belonging has made her feel deeply connected to HeadStart throughout her journey. With two years remaining until her retirement, Khun Pan continues to feel a strong connection to the school. For her, HeadStart will always be a defining part of her life story.
Khun Nam (Porntip Pornpirom) | Accounting
Khun Nam began her journey with HeadStart in March 2011, a time when the school was laying the foundations for its future growth. Starting in the Purchasing Department when the team was small, processes were carried out manually, and everyone supported one another across different roles. As the school expanded and systems became more structured, Khun Nam grew alongside the organisation. From supporting documentation and payroll, she gradually developed her expertise and moved into the Accounting Department.
Over the past 15 years, she has experienced the transition from paper-based processes to the streamlined procurement systems we use today. Her journey has required immense dedication, accuracy, and resilience, especially when managing the demanding workload across both the City and Cherngtalay campuses. However, Khun Nam views every challenge as an opportunity to learn. Her commitment has been widely recognised, including receiving an Outstanding Employee Award. Today, as Accounts Payable Manager, she uses her 15 years of experience to guide and support her team. Khun Nam embodies the HeadStart motto, "Inspiring a Love of Learning", continuously using every experience to develop herself. With deep confidence in the future of HeadStart, she hopes to continue growing alongside the organisation until her retirement.
Welcome Back To School
A Colourful Start to the New School Year
It was great to see so many smiling faces and colourful house shirts as we welcomed back our students, teachers and school community for the first day of the new school year on Friday! There is so much to look forward to this academic year and we can't wait to share our stories with you!
ECA News
ECA Outside Providers' Fair
What a fantastic turnout at the HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus ECA Fair! Our External Providers, offering ECAs both on and off campus in partnership with HeadStart, welcomed hundreds of parents and students eager to learn more about the exciting opportunities available this year. From Dynamic Kidz and Formula Fun STEM Racing to LAMDA, Martial Arts, Dance, Robotics, and many more specialist programmes, there was something to inspire every child.
A big thank you to all of our providers, families, and students for making the event such a success. We can't wait to see our ECAs in action this year!
ACADEMY News
New School Year, New Sporting Opportunities
All HeadStart Sports Academies (Football, Swimming and Basketball) begin on Monday 31 August. Following the academy tryout sessions this week, all parents should have received confirmation of their child's place in their respective academies. For any students who did not make it, do not despair! Next week, on Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September, each of our academies will hold further tryouts for our Panthers Pathways and Aqua Cubs teams.
To learn more about our dedicated team of Academy Coaches and check the schedule for this term's sessions, check out the graphics below:
Success Outside of School
A New Year Begins: Flag-Raising & Celebrating Student Success
This week the flag was raised by Jina and Lara (Year 9).
We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding dedication our students have shown during the summer break, representing HeadStart with excellence in international music and martial arts competitions!
- Jasmine (Year 6 Yellow) achieved a phenomenal sweep of piano awards, including a Gold Prize (Age Group C) at the Ravel Award International Music Competition, 1st Prize at the Classical Music Stars International Competition, a Gold and two Silver Prizes at the Liszt International Piano Competition, and a Silver Prize at the Beethoven Award!
- Kevin (Year 1 Yellow) secured a fantastic Gold medal at the Judo China Open!
- Lev (Year 3 Blue) demonstrated incredible skill on the mat, earning a Silver medal at the China National Championships in Beijing, followed by a Gold medal (Boys U8) at the Thailand Judo Cup in Bangkok!
- Lea (Year 3 Blue) had an exceptional summer of competition, claiming a Bronze medal at the Japan National Championships in Tokyo, a Gold medal at the China National Championship in Beijing, and another Gold medal (Girls U8) at the Thailand Judo Cup in Bangkok!
As we kick off this new academic year, we'd also like to send a quick and warm reminder that we absolutely love celebrating our students' achievements beyond the classroom! Whether it’s a sports trophy, a music grading, a special talent, or an exciting community project, please don't hesitate to share your child's out-of-school success stories with us so we can feature and celebrate them right here.
Promotions from around the Island
Important Dates
Noticeboard
Parent Fitness
HeadStart provides complimentary use of the Fitness Gym for parents every weekday morning from 07:30-09:30 and in the afternoon from 14:30-18:00.
Classes run from 8:00-9:00am. To join, sign the list at the gym entrance or speak to a trainer. Available strictly for HeadStart parents only.
