Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Branksome Hall Asia nurtures future-ready thinkers through purposeful education
Branksome Hall Asia students walk at the school's campus in Seogwipo City on Jeju Island. Courtesy of Branksome Hall Asia
By Jhoo Dong-chan
International school with IB program boasts top-notch education
Branksome Hall Asia draws promising students through an International Baccalaureate (IB) education that fosters conceptual understanding, creative problem-solving and the ability to connect ideas across disciplines.
Nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Jeju Island, the school is the only sister school of the prestigious Branksome Hall in Toronto, Canada, founded in 1903. It opened at the island’s Global Education City in October, 2012, accommodating students from junior kindergarten to Grade 12 under its education philosophy of “Love Learning, Shape a Better World.”
“Traditional teaching methods are becoming increasingly outdated,” the school said in a press release. “What matters is not just knowing the right answers but cultivating the intellectual curiosity to ask meaningful questions, synthesize knowledge across disciplines and apply it to real-world challenges.”
Jeju’s only full-continuum IB World School delivers education from the Primary Years Program (PYP) through the Middle Years Program (MYP) to the Diploma Program (DP). Each program is designed based on students’ age division: the PYP for junior kindergarteners to 5th grader, the MYP for 6th to 10th graders and the DP for students in upper grades who focus on college preparation.
Branksome Hall Asia students play ice hockey at the school's ice rink in Jeju. Courtesy of Branksome Hall Asia
It offers personalized counseling and mentorship for ninth graders and higher who explore their academic interests, select courses aligned with their career goals and build portfolios for university applications.
All Grade 9 students participate in a three-week educational trip to Canada, engaging in cross-cultural learning and environmental exploration alongside local students. They also compete in international sports competitions and assume leadership roles in diverse extracurricular activities, fostering positive change within the school community and beyond, the school added.
“My time at Branksome Hall Asia has allowed me to grow both intellectually and personally. The emphasis on community, ethics and challenge has made me a more confident and open-minded person,” a graduating student said.
“Branksome Hall Asia has been the foundation of my life. Through orchestra, the sports academy and arts-related clubs, I discovered new passions and grew as an individual.”
This year, the school celebrated the graduation of the first batch of full IB graduates, students who have attended Branksome Hall Asia from Early Years through Grade 12.
This year, Branksome Hall Asia's graduates received offers from over 100 universities worldwide, including top institutions such as Cornell University, Brown University, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, NYU, the University of Toronto, Imperial College London and the University of Hong Kong.
An aerial view of Branksome Hall Asia campus / Courtesy of Branksome Hall Asia
Campus
Branksome Hall Asia’s 25-acre campus offers cutting-edge facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool and ice rink, golf practice areas and a state-of-the-art design lab equipped with 3D printers, CAD/CAM equipment and extrusion machines with laser cutters.
The school’s college-level resources ensure students enjoy a diversified and dynamic learning experience, it added.
“Branksome Hall Asia offers some of the world’s finest spaces for science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as arts education,” the school said. “With its STEM-V center, a large performance hall and a black box theater, the school set a new benchmark for educational excellence, providing students with the environment and tools they need to thrive.”
Shift to coeducation
This year, Branksome Hall Asia has decided to accept male students into its senior course (Grades 9–12). Since its founding in 2012, the school had operated as an all-girls institution for Grades 6 through 12. The decision came after the introduction of male students in Grades 6 and 7 in 2023.
The male students are expected to join Branksome Hall Asia starting August.
To commemorate this transition, the school launched the Class of 2029 Merit Scholarship Program. Starting this year, up to ten incoming Grade 9 students will receive annual scholarships of $10,000 for four years. Selection is based on academic excellence, extracurricular involvement and a personal essay reflecting on growth and aspirations.
“Our goal is to identify exceptional students with outstanding academic abilities and leadership potential, and to nurture them into individuals who embody the values of collaboration, care and excellence,” said Branksome Hall Asia Head Blair Lee.
Experiential Program
The school has boasted its signature Branksome Hall Exchange (BHX) program offering senior school students a broader, more tailored range of experiences aligned with their passions and future goals through an annual exchange with its sister school, Branksome Hall in Toronto.
Branksome Hall Asia said it plans to expand the BHX program further, with plans including retreats in Vietnam’s Sapa region, trekking in the Himalayas, local service projects on Jeju Island and abroad, theater experiences in London and career-focused explorations in the U.S.
"Aligned with the IB philosophy of lifelong learning, BHX helps students grow as balanced, global citizens, offering experiences in outdoor education, service action, curricular expansion, well-being, cultural exploration and international exchanges,” the school added.
Branksome Hall Asia students perform a musical as part of the school's performing arts program. Courtesy of Branksome Hall Asia
It also offers differentiated design education stimulating both creativity and critical thinking. From Grade 1 through Grade 12, students engage in project-based inquiry, hands-on experimentation with cutting-edge technologies and the practice of empathy through design thinking.
The course allows students to explore areas such as 3D printing, laser cutting, coding, robotics and digital media design, equipping them with multidisciplinary skills essential for future careers in science, technology, business and the arts. The visual and performing arts are equally integral to the school’s vision. Through theater, dance and music, students strengthen focus, collaboration and emotional intelligence.
In 2021, Branksome Hall Asia won the International School Awards’ “International School of the Year” prize for its student-led projects and innovative learning strategies. The school’s BHX program also helped the school win the Initiatives to Support Students as Future-Thinking Innovators at the awards in 2020.
“With our full IB program, integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as arts, and a world-class boarding system, Branksome Hall Asia is proud to be evolving into a coeducational IB World School that champions diversity, inclusion and excellence,” Lee said.
“We remain committed to empowering students to love learning and shape a better world.”
Branksome Hall Asia students give a presentation during a class at the school's campus in Jeju. Courtesy of Branksome Hall Asia