Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #39, 27 June 2025
Important Dates for your Diary: Academic Year 2025-26
End of Year Message from our Headmaster, Mr Adam Drew
This has been another year of continued growth and excellence with our two campuses leading the way for education in Phuket. The community that continues to develop, welcoming new members from near and far, has been outstanding. The ‘HeadStart Family’ goes from strength to strength while maintaining the atmosphere and culture that have been the hallmark of our school for many years.
In Cherngtalay, we have seen exceptional growth, doubling the size of our Foundation and Primary departments and adding a brand new Secondary school, with an additional class being added from Reception to Year 6 (a move to 3-form entry) next academic year. Together, our burgeoning school community has enjoyed a myriad of events in a packed school calendar, with International Day standing out as a testament to our celebration of diverse cultures.
Throughout the year, our sporting academies have excelled, with our footballers competing at the highest level in a range of events and winning a number of competitions. In swimming, our Aqua Panthers Invitational proved highly successful, hosted for the first time at the 50m Olympic pool at our Cherngtalay campus, and our swimmers brought home medals and personal bests while competing in Phuket and Bangkok. Our basketball academy continues to grow, with many teams having competed against more experienced opposition in a number of competitions.
Our Performing Arts students continued to wow us with incredible performances in Evita, Peter Pan and the Dance Recital, while our Dance Academy took its largest troupe of dancers to compete in the ATOD International Dance Competition in Bangkok, bringing home a first and second place trophy and a number of other awards. This year, the hard work, creativity, and dedication of the talented young artists from our Creative Arts programs was celebrated in a special exhibition at the Phuket Cultural Centre at the end of the school year.
As we arrive at the end of this academic year, our Year 11 to Year 13 students will spend their summer in anticipation of their IGCSE, A Level and BTEC examination results, which will be released on Tuesday 12th August (BTEC, Cambridge AS & A Level results), Thursday 14th August (Pearson A Level Art & EPQ results) and Tuesday 19th August (Cambridge IGCSE results) respectively. We look forward to celebrating more great achievements following last year’s success in the Cambridge and Pearson Learner Awards, including the most prestigious ‘Top in Thailand across eight subjects’ award, a Top in the World for Mathematics and a Top in Asia in Art & Design. Truly exceptional performances!
I look forward to continuing to work with you all moving forward, in what will continue to be an exciting time for many years to come as we continue expansion on both campuses. As we embark on a well-deserved summer break, let’s reflect on our achievements and return refreshed in August, ready to continue our journey of growth and success together.
Announcements
Facility Upgrades and Campus Expansion for Academic Year 2025-26
Over the forthcoming summer holiday break, our HeadStart Chaofah City campus will undergo a significant number of facility upgrades and expansion as we look to further improve the quality of our facilities to keep pace with our ever-expanding academic programmes.
The first significant improvement will see the creation of a brand new, state-of-the-art Primary Playground with increased capacity and quality of play structures to improve our Primary students’ playtime experience. This will include tunnels, climbing frames and the introduction of astro and EPDM rubber-infill (non-toxic) flooring to ensure our young students are able to enjoy their break and lunchtimes in a safe and secure environment.
While the Primary Playground is being reconfigured, we will take the opportunity to construct a new multi-sports pitch – the third at our Chaofah City campus – on the site of our current outdoor car park. This will provide us with additional space for our growing sports academies and Physical Education (PE) programmes. The multi-sports pitch will be linked to the main building by an elevated walkway, which will join directly with our Primary first floor (at the top of the access ramp next to the rooftop garden), and is due for completion in January 2026. There will also be a pitch-side toilet block.
The construction of our new multi-sports pitch will also facilitate the introduction of a more efficient one way drop-off and pick up system for vehicles doing the school run in the morning and afternoon. As a result, our main car park will move to the north of the site, with the completion of a new parking lot with capacity for 316 parking spaces. This will be connected to the school by a covered walkway that passes under our Sky Pitch building and directly to the main school entrance.
As members of our community will already have seen, we are close to completing the construction of 10 brand new Secondary classrooms in our Sky Pitch building. This will be home to our English and Humanities Faculties, who will join our existing Business & Commerce team in this area of the school campus. This development is allowing us to improve the quality of provision and expansion of programmes in our Science faculty, which remains over on the fourth floor of our main building. To find out all about the developments taking place in our science faculty, scroll down to the Secondary section of this update 👇
Eco School Update
HeadStart International School’s Eco School has been invited by the WWF Thailand to join a global network of Eco Schools. Congratulations!
Due to the work of our student-led Eco Committees over the last two years HeadStart Eco School has been recognised for its positive contribution to making HeadStart and Phuket more eco conscious. The work of collecting and recycling paper, turning waste plastic into products and eco bricks, campaigning to reduce plastic use and water, and working to improve air quality alongside information campaigns and undertaking monthly beach cleans is the start of much bigger things.
As we move into next academic year HeadStart Eco School aims to grow its influence, working with schools and organisations across the island. As an active member of the burgeoning Phuket Green League, championing Mangrove planting and Sea Grass regeneration, and creating new ways to educate those that visit our island, we seek to do more for our Phuket home.
All of this is possible thanks to the support of HeadStart students and the school’s leadership. Particular thanks goes out to the teacher coordinators, Matthew Stanbra and Aaron Dempsey, our CEO Jazon Edouard and our student leaders, especially Petr Drobotenko. Working with the WWF Thailand HeadStart Eco School will grow in strength.
So look out for our activities across the islands and HeadStart campuses starting in September 2025. Mr Gratton – Eco School Coordinator
HeadStart Summer Camp 2025 @ Cherngtalay Campus
There is still time to sign up your child for our HeadStart Summer Camp. Taking place over three weeks of summer – starting Monday 7th July through to Friday 25th July – you can choose to sign up for individual weeks or all three.
A 25% discount is applicable for HeadStart students while you can receive discount coupons for 2nd and 3rd applicants if non-HeadStart pupils.
📍 HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus
🗓️ Week 1: Monday 7th – Friday 11th July; Week 2: Monday 14th – Friday 18th July; Week 3: Monday 21st – Friday 25th July
🕒 08:00-15:40 daily
To find out more about our Summer Camp or register, visit our website: https://headstartphuket.com/summer-camp
Summer Football Camps @ Headstart Chaofah City Campus
Our Summer Football Camp offers an incredible opportunity for players to tap into their football potential, enhance their skills, and enjoy a fun-filled experience at HeadStart International School, all within a vibrant and energetic environment! The Football Camp starts at 09:00 (drop off after 08:30) and finishes at 14:00 with lunch provided!
Players will be split into the appropriate groups, depending on their age and abilities. Expect high-quality coaching, lots of fun and medals to be won!
Week 1
📅 August 4th – 8th (5 Days)
⚽︎🏃🏻♂️ School Years 2 – 6 Only
Week 2
📅 August 11th – 13th (3 Days)
⚽︎🏃🏻♂️ School Years 3 – 7 Only
To sign up, please contact [email protected]
Once you have signed up, please look out for an email from Coach Frost nearer the time to confirm access arrangements to the school site.
Summer Swim Camp @ HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus
Our Summer Swim Camp offers a fantastic opportunity for swimmers to keep up their training routine, develop their strokes, increase their stamina and enjoy a fun-filled experience at HeadStart International School, all within a vibrant and energetic environment! The Swim Camp starts at 09:00 (drop off after 08:30) and finishes at 12:00!
Swimmers will be split into appropriate groups, depending on their age and abilities. Expect high-quality training and lots of fun!
📍 Cherngtalay Campus
📅 August 4th – 8th (5 Days)
🕒 09:00 – 12:00
🏊♀️ School Years 4 – 13
To sign up, please contact [email protected]
Meetings & Presentations
Welcome to Parent Orientation on Thursday 14th August 2025
We’re thrilled to have you join us as we kick off the 2025-26 academic year. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our dedicated teachers, explore our refurbished school campus, including our brand new astro-pitch and Sky Pitch classrooms, and prepare for an exciting year ahead. An email will be sent to all parents to confirm times for each school phase (Foundation, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Secondary).
House Winners Prize – Terms 2 & 3
Green Dragons Celebration Day!
On Friday 20th June, the Green Dragons, winners of the Term 2 & 3 House competition, celebrated their well-earned victory with a day full of fun and excitement! Students in Years 1 to 4 stayed on campus for a pizza party and a screening of the animated classic “How to Train Your Dragon” in the secondary hall. Meanwhile, Years 5 to 13 headed to Central Festival for a private cinema screening of the brand-new remake of “How to Train Your Dragon”, complete with popcorn and plenty of excitement.
After the movie, Years 5 and 6 enjoyed a delicious lunch and desserts at Sizzler, while our Secondary students had their fill of tasty pizza at The Pizza Company. It was a fantastic day of celebration and a well-deserved break for the Green Dragons. A huge thank you to all the teachers and staff who helped make it such a success!
Congratulations, Green Dragons – your hard work and team spirit paid off!
PE & Sports News
Visit from Carey Bloedorn – Tottenham Hotspur Player
What a fantastic experience for our young players! Carey Bloedorn a professional footballer from Tottenham Hotspur came by to share his journey and skills with our aspiring footballers. His involvement in the goalkeeper session was certainly a highlight! Thank you, Carey. Coach Frost – Head Football Coach
Academy Tryouts for the 2025-26 Season
The countdown to the next football academy tryouts has begun! Whether you’re a returning player or new to our academy, we want YOU to join us this August! No need to sign up—just come ready to play and show us what you’ve got! Let’s make next season the best one yet! Coach Frost – Head Football Coach
Languages Department
Spanish Food Tasting Event to Finish Up the Year
What a fantastic way to wrap up our ECA Spanish at HeadStart! We enjoyed a wonderful morning filled with delicious flavours, cultural exploration, and Spanish language practice. Our students had the unique opportunity to taste the most authentic Mexican cuisine, generously provided by Lucha Cantina Phuket. Their dishes, crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Mexico, are the work of Executive Chef Luis “Quique” Villa, originally from Colima, Mexico.
Learning Spanish opens the door to a whole new world—not only through language, but also through food, music, and traditions. Spanish is spoken by over 500 million people across the globe, and discovering its beauty through fun, real-life experiences like this one makes the learning journey even more meaningful and enjoyable. On this day, our students experienced how tasty, diverse, and vibrant Latin cuisine can be—full of colors, spices, and love. From quesadillas to burritos, every bite was a lesson in culture. We’re sure that more than one family will be tempted to visit Lucha Cantina again at one of their two locations in Rawai or Chalong! https://luchaphuket.com/
¡Gracias y hasta pronto! Ms Maria – Spanish Teacher
Chinese Language Students Explore Traditional Calligraphic Artwork
In the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting class, students try writing Chinese characters with a brush, experiencing the beauty and structure of the script. They learn basic brushstrokes and enjoy the traditional way of writing. In addition to calligraphy, students explore Chinese painting by creating artwork in traditional styles such as bamboo and flowers. Through these hands-on experiences, they gain a deeper understanding of Chinese art and culture. Ms Fang Hengkun – Mandarin Teacher
Foundation
Reception Graduation 2025
Our Reception Graduation was a truly special celebration, one filled with joy, pride, and more than a few happy tears. A huge thank you to our incredible children for everything they’ve achieved this year. Your smiles, curiosity, and resilience have made this journey unforgettable. To our wonderful parents, thank you for your constant support, encouragement, and trust. And to our amazing teachers, your dedication and care have made all the difference. It was a beautiful moment to reflect on how far each child has come and to celebrate the start of their next adventure. We couldn’t be prouder of our little graduates! The Reception Team
📸 Please find a full album of photos here: Reception Graduation 2025
Primary
Primary End of Year Awards Ceremony 2025
Congratulations to all of our Primary end of year award winners!
On Thursday 19th June, we had the pleasure of celebrating the outstanding achievements of our Primary students at the annual Primary Awards Ceremony. It was a truly special event, filled with pride, joy, and recognition of the hard work, progress, and talents that have flourished throughout the school year. We would like to extend a huge congratulations to all of this year’s worthy award winners. Each recipient was carefully chosen by their teachers for consistently demonstrating the values, effort, and excellence that we value at HeadStart. From academic achievement to creativity, sportsmanship, leadership, and personal growth, our students continue to impress us in so many ways.
It was wonderful to come together as a community to celebrate not only the winners, but the fantastic achievements across Primary. We are incredibly proud of all of our students and all that they have achieved this year. The Primary Team
📸 Please find a full album of high quality photos of our award winners here: Primary Awards Ceremony 2025
Secondary
Secondary End of Year Awards Ceremony 2025
Congratulations to all of our Secondary end of year award winners!
As we reflect on yet another remarkable year that has passed, I am immensely proud to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our HeadStart Secondary Students. Once again, our students have demonstrated unparalleled talent, creativity, and dedication across various facets of school life. This year’s Academic achievements have matched our sporting and creative & performing arts success, with many students excelling in competitions and examinations in several subjects.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all HeadStart Secondary students for their outstanding accomplishments and for making this year, my last at HeadStart, so memorable. Your dedication, passion, and talent have enriched our school community and set a high standard for excellence. As we look forward to the future, let us strive for greatness and embody the values of kindness, perseverance, inclusiveness and integrity. – Mr Richard Lukats, Secondary School Principal
📸 Please find a full album of high quality photos of our award winners here: Secondary Awards Ceremony 2025
Investing in Science at HeadStart: Building for the Future
At HeadStart, we believe that a world-class education must be supported by world-class facilities. As part of our ongoing commitment to academic excellence, we are proud to share some of the major developments taking place within the Science Faculty, developments that will directly benefit our students’ learning experiences and help prepare them for the demands of the modern world.
One of the most significant investments this year is the construction of three brand-new, fully equipped science laboratories, bringing our total number of labs to seven. This expansion is not just about capacity, it’s about quality. By ensuring that all science lessons are taught in laboratories, we can fully embrace science as a practical, investigative subject. Students will have hands-on access to specialist equipment, including an expanded supply of heating apparatus, glassware, and precision tools, allowing them to develop the practical skills that are essential for deeper understanding and long-term success in science.
This move is particularly important as we continue to grow. With the recent transition to a five-form entry in Year 10, we are now able to offer more places to students pursuing science at an advanced level. This has allowed us to increase access to the Triple Science pathway, a rigorous and specialist course for students with a strong interest in biology, chemistry, and physics. Alongside this, three coordinated science classes are now grouped by ability, allowing for effective differentiation and personalised support to ensure that each student is challenged appropriately.
To support this expansion, we are also growing our team. New science teachers are being recruited to maintain small class sizes and ensure every student receives high-quality instruction. This includes specialists in both traditional academic subjects and applied science.
We are also delighted to announce the introduction of new Level 3 qualifications: BTEC in Applied Science and BTEC in Engineering. These courses, which are equivalent to A Levels, offer a more vocational route for students with a passion for science and technology. To support these programmes, we are investing in specialised equipment and resources that will allow students to explore real-world applications of science, from analytical chemistry to engineering design.
The increased investment in Science at HeadStart is focused on expanding opportunities, enhancing learning environments, and raising academic standards. These improvements reflect our mission to provide a future-ready education and ensure our students have access to the tools, experiences, and guidance they need to succeed, both in school and beyond. The Science Faculty
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