Primary School, where curiosity finds its voice.
Years 1 to 6 at SBS Bangkok: the Cambridge Primary curriculum, our own SBS Inspire subjects, and up to three languages every week.
- Ages 5 to 11 Years 1 to 6
- Cambridge Primary curriculum
- 3 languages English, Thai and Mandarin
- Specialists for Art, Music, Computing, sport and Drama
Learning is not a spectator sport.
We strive to create an environment where students are encouraged to take risks, ask “why,” and see challenges as opportunities for growth.
Rachel Crossland
Early Years and Primary Principal
Three stages, one journey
Our spiral curriculum introduces ideas and then returns to them in greater depth, so understanding grows stronger every year.
Years 1 and 2
Ages 5 to 7, Cambridge Stages 1 and 2
Play becomes purposeful. Children move into subject lessons while keeping the hands-on learning of the Early Years, and weekly Library time takes them from learning to read to reading to learn.
- Mandarin with a specialist teacher from Year 1
- English, Maths, Science and Humanities with the class teacher
- A first, guided look at AI in Digital Literacy
Years 3 and 4
Ages 7 to 9, Cambridge Stages 3 and 4
Children choose their language pathway, go on their first overnight residential camp, and learn to speak with confidence in a weekly Drama and Oracy lesson.
- Thai or Mandarin as a second language
- Design Innovation in the Maker Space from Year 4
- A TED-style talk by the end of Year 4
Years 5 and 6
Ages 9 to 11, Cambridge Stages 5 and 6
Our oldest primary pupils take on leadership roles and mentor younger children, while lessons with Secondary teachers and facilities prepare them for Year 7.
- Leadership roles and mentoring
- Sport in international school leagues
- Mandarin towards HSK 3
SBS Inspire, taught by specialists
Alongside the Cambridge curriculum, SBS Inspire adds subjects of our own. Specialist teachers lead them, as they do Art, Music and Computing.
Design Innovation
Designing and making in the Maker Space: explore, create, share, try.
Physical Literacy
Two lessons a week, built on our Head, Heart and Hands approach.
Music
Weekly lessons with a specialist music teacher.
Mandarin
From Year 1, with progress measured against HSK levels.
Drama and Oracy
From Year 3, a weekly lesson in speaking, listening and performance.
Wellbeing
A weekly lesson built on five pillars: social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and physical.
Art and Design
Weekly lessons with a specialist art teacher.
Computing
Digital Literacy in Years 1 and 2, then Cambridge Computing up to Year 6.
Finding their voice
From Year 3, a weekly Drama and Oracy lesson builds speaking step by step, from one minute in front of the class to a formal talk with questions from the audience.
- Year 3
Show and Tell 2.0
One minute on a favourite object, with eye contact and a clear, confident voice.
- Year 3
The Storyteller’s Guild
A fable or poem recited from memory, with a different voice for each character.
- Year 3
The Pitch
Ninety seconds to persuade the class to buy something useless, like a pet rock.
- Year 4
The Newsroom
A short news report, written and delivered live in pairs.
- Year 4
The Great Debate
A formal team debate, judged by a panel of students.
- Year 4
TED-style Talk
Two to three minutes on a chosen topic, then questions from the audience.
English, Thai and Mandarin
All lessons are taught in English. In Years 1 and 2 every child learns Thai and Mandarin too, and from Year 3 families choose a language pathway with their child’s teacher.
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Eng
Cambridge English, or English as a Second Language. Children can move between the two as they progress. From Year 4, we also offer an Intensive English Course for students who need extra support.
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ไทย
Thai language follows the Thai Ministry of Education curriculum and the ISAT course, with Thai culture and history in Thai Studies.
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中文
Specialist teachers from Year 1, benchmarked to HSK 1 in Years 1 and 2 and up to HSK 3 by Year 6.
Life in Primary
Trips and visiting speakers are a regular part of learning, and from Year 3 children go on overnight residential camps.
See our school
Close to their progress
Three written reports and two parent conferences a year, with day-to-day learning shared on Seesaw.
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October
First progress report
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November
Parent conference
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February
Second progress report
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March
Parent conference
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May
End-of-year report
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Seesaw
Teachers share learning on Seesaw at least three times a week.
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The school day
Lessons run from 8.30am to 3.10pm, with Active8 activities until 4.30pm.
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Talk to the teacher
Day-to-day questions go straight to your child’s teacher, in English or Thai.
Questions parents ask
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Which curriculum does SBS Bangkok follow in Primary?
The Cambridge Primary curriculum in English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Art and Design, Music and Computing, with our own SBS Inspire subjects alongside.
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Who teaches my child?
The class teacher teaches English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Wellbeing. Specialist teachers teach Art, Music, Computing, Design Innovation, Physical Literacy, Mandarin, Drama and Oracy, and Thai Studies. There are 30 lessons a week.
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What if my child’s English is still developing?
Children who need it follow English as a Second Language. They can move between the two pathways as they progress.
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Which languages will my child learn?
In Years 1 and 2, English, Thai and Mandarin. From Year 3, English plus Thai or Mandarin, and a third block of Mandarin, English Extension or English Booster.
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How will I know how my child is doing?
Progress reports in October, February and May, parent conferences in November and March, and regular updates on Seesaw.
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Are there trips and residentials?
Yes. Trips and visiting speakers are part of the curriculum, and children go on overnight residential camps from Year 3.
Come and see Primary for yourself
Visit on a school day, meet our teachers and see the classrooms in action.
