International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP) | |
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Location | |
Phnom Penh Cambodia |
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Coordinates | 11°32′59″N 104°55′41″E / 11.549588°N 104.928006°E |
Information | |
School type | Private, non-profit, co-educational. |
Motto | An IB World School Serving International Students in Phnom Penh |
Founded | 1989 |
Director | Barry Sutherland |
Principal | Anthony Coles (secondary school) |
Principal | Paula Baxter (elementary school) |
The International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP) is an international school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is a private, non-profit, English language, coeducational day school that offers an educational program from preschool (2.5 years old) through grade 12. The school was founded in 1989. At the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, enrollment is 693 students, representing 50 countries.
ISPP was started in 1989 by a group of families working for NGO's non-government organization. The first six students, aged three to seven, met part-time in a home taught by a parent.
In 1990, a villa was rented and ISPP took the first real steps to become a normal day school. A curriculum was developed and a Kindergarten to Grade 4 program was set in place. Student numbers gradually increased at the start of the school year reaching 11 pupils. ISPP's Charter was then written and approved, establishing it as a parent-owned and operated non-sectarian, non-profit school.
By 1995, the full-time expatriate faculty numbered 14 and the student body 230. In February, following in-service training, the school developed an innovative approach to effectively meet the needs of the EAL learners at ISPP. A Biology laboratory was established for the secondary school along with the continued expansion of the Computer Lab and the Media Center.
Early in 1996, a formal learning support program was developed and a full-time learning support teacher was employed later that year. A strategic plan was also developed for the integration of technology into the ISPP curriculum. A technology committee was established to facilitate this plan.
In 1998-99, the school presented for its final international accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) following three years' provisional accreditation. The full accreditation visit took place in March 1999 and in may, the school was told that it had received a full 6-year accreditation at its first attempt. ISPP had then become the only fully internationally accredited school in Cambodia at the time.
In 1999-2000, the decision to become an IB World School was taken. The International Baccalaureate Organization carried out an authorization visit and approved the school as an IB Diploma school. in 2001, the school was also authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the IB. The authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme was given in September 2004.