Edarabia had the opportunity to interview Avis Parker, Head of School of Epsom College in Malaysia, to gain insights into the school’s exciting plans for 2025, their approach to academic focus, anticipated challenges in education, and strategies to keep students engaged in learning. Mrs. Parker’s vision for Epsom College in Malaysia is to provide an exceptional educational experience that empowers students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Celebrating more than a decade of excellence, we have many exciting plans in 2025. We will continue to enhance our personalised support for students, placing a strong emphasis on both their academic and personal growth. Our goal is to offer more tailored learning pathways that meet the diverse needs of each student, including accelerated IGCSE programmes and pathways focused on STEM and business subjects.
We are also committed to expanding opportunities for our students through our world-renowned sports programmes. This includes prestigious academies like the Mouratoglou Tennis Programme, the ECM Golf Academy, and the LALIGA Academy Malaysia. These programs provide student-athletes with opportunities to excel both academically and athletically, ensuring a well-rounded and balanced experience.
In addition, to accommodate the growing demand for our full boarding students, we are pleased to announce the opening of four additional, purpose-built boarding houses on campus this year. These new facilities will help us continue to deliver the exceptional support to our students, with our award-winning pastoral care recognised by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) as one of the only six schools among 450 schools awarded a Double Beacon Status, both of the recognition in the realms of student welfare and leadership opportunities. While we are expanding the spaces, we will do so thoughtfully and gradually, ensuring the continued quality of our educational and program offerings.
As an accredited COBIS Training School, we are proud to actively contribute to the advancement of education across Southeast Asia. We have provided valuable insights through published articles and participated in the COBIS pilot programme for teacher training in the region. Through this initiative, a few of our dedicated educators have been trained to serve as a regional hub for face-to-face training.
We are also thrilled to host the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) AI Conference on our campus in April. As a proud member of FOBISIA, we are honoured to welcome this prestigious event, especially at such a pivotal moment in the evolution of technology. The conference provides an excellent platform to showcase our school’s commitment to inspiring young minds within the FOBISIA community, empowering them to lead tomorrow’s world by harnessing the power of AI and other emerging technologies.
Finally, our commitment to student success extends to fostering a culture of continuous learning among our academic staff. We invited renowned speakers and facilitators to better equip our teachers to guide our students in and out of learning and living spaces, and we will continue to invest in professional development, ensuring that our teachers are always equipped with the latest tools and strategies to support students in the best possible way.
Data-driven decision-making is a key part of how we shape our academic focus each year. By continuously tracking and analysing student performance, we gain valuable insights into areas where students are excelling and where additional support may be needed. This approach allows us to make informed decisions about curriculum adjustments, program offerings, and student support services. For example, through regular assessments and performance data, we can identify trends and tailor our learning pathways to better meet the evolving needs of our students.
With 65% of our students coming from 30 different countries, our data also helps us understand the cultural and individual diversity within our community. By monitoring achievement patterns across different groups, we ensure that our curriculum is responsive and inclusive, addressing both academic and personal needs. In 2025, we will continue to expand and refine our tailored pathways – whether accelerated programmes or specialised tracks in business, technology, and the arts – using data to guide us in creating opportunities that are both meaningful and effective for every student. This ensures that all students receive the right level of challenge and support, preparing them for a world that values global leadership and collaboration.
We focus on personalised programmes that are tailored to the individual, whether in academics or in their chosen sports pathway.
One of the biggest challenges in education will be preparing students for careers and industries that do not yet exist.
As technology evolves rapidly, new fields and roles are emerging, requiring knowledge and skills that are hard to predict.
This dynamic landscape presents a dilemma for educators, who must balance the current curriculum with the flexibility to teach students how to adapt to future job markets.
The challenge lies in fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills alongside a strong foundation in STEM to ensure students are prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Engaging, relevant, and meaningful lessons are taught by first-class teachers with first-class facilities.
Providing opportunities for hands-on learning and real-world applications helps students see the value in what they’re studying.
Creating a supportive, inclusive environment where students feel encouraged to take risks and ask questions can help reignite their interest in learning.
We are committed to providing diverse opportunities for all students, offering tailored support to help them reach their full potential, both academically and personally. Our academic and extracurricular programmes are designed with flexibility in mind, often offering tiered and customised support to address individual student needs. For example, while our English programme provides diverse tracks for students to focus on either literature or language, we also offer English as an Additional Language (EAL) through a tiered programme, catering to students at different stages of language development. This approach ensures that all students receive the right level of challenge and support to thrive.
Hands-on learning opportunities, such as our internship programme and Epsom Live Talk series, offer students invaluable chances to explore their career paths firsthand. The internship programme allows them to gain real-world experience, while Epsom Live Talk connects students directly with renowned global leaders, providing inspiration and insights into a wide range of professions.
Our boarding environment also plays a key role in motivating students. Living in a house full of peers, students experience the challenges and rewards of group living, often becoming role models for one another and sources of inspiration. The House System further enriches this experience by fostering interactions across different ages, nationalities, and year groups, creating a strong sense of sisterhood or brotherhood. In this supportive, family-like environment, students build meaningful connections and develop leadership skills that prepare them for success both academically and personally.
At Epsom College, we ensure that all students feel welcome and have equal opportunities to succeed by fostering strong, meaningful connections between staff and students. To support this, students are paired with buddies who share similar backgrounds, interests, or living spaces, helping to ease their transition and build initial relationships. This is particularly important as about 70% of our students live on campus, away from their families, and these connections provide a vital support system.
Our House system plays a central role in creating a close-knit, supportive environment where every student is known, valued, and encouraged to grow. It fosters a sense of belonging, offering students a space where they can thrive both academically and personally. We are committed to providing tailored support to help each student reach their full potential, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement needed to succeed in all aspects of their education.
The school has clear policies in place regarding student stress and bullying, which are consistently followed by all staff members.
Staff are trained to spot signs of stress and bullying early, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.
Student well-being is at the heart of everything we do. Our award-winning Pastoral Care programme is deeply embedded in the school culture, offering emotional and psychological support while proactively addressing bullying and stress. The well-being and safety of our pupils are our top priorities, and all staff, whether teaching or support, take pride in knowing each student personally and valuing their unique contributions.
At Epsom, we believe that high-achieving students need time to fully unlock their potential, boosting both academic and emotional intelligence (IQ and EQ). Preparation for top university admissions begins early, with a focus on nurturing each child’s unique strengths throughout their academic journey.
Our dynamic Super Curricular programme, including debating, essay competitions, and student-led societies, helps students demonstrate passion for university admissions. Leadership opportunities in academic societies and charitable initiatives further develop interpersonal and leadership skills.
Epsom’s Sixth Form students benefit from a personalised university support programme with an open-door policy for application guidance, including evenings and weekends.
With a strong track record of successful applications to top global universities, including Oxbridge and Ivy League universities, Epsom fosters future leaders who are principled, bright, and conscientious, focusing on holistic development beyond academic results.
Parent forums are held at least once per term, focusing on key educational and school-related issues to ensure open communication and feedback.
Parental workshops are organised throughout the year, covering topics like ‘How to best support your child at Key Stage 3 or IGCSE?’ and ‘What is boarding life like at Epsom?’ to empower parents in their children’s education.
The school actively involves parents and the community in events such as the school production and music concerts, fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration.
All parents of Epsom College students are automatically members of the vibrant and active Friends of Epsom College in Malaysia (FoE) group, which plays a key role in supporting the school.
The FoE plays a key role in leading impactful fundraising efforts and charity events, such as the annual ball, which raises funds to improve the school’s facilities, support local charities, and enhance the students’ educational experiences.
Our strong heritage as a UK boarding school with an excellent reputation naturally attracts exceptional talent. We have developed a strong community both onsite and beyond, with regular opportunities for staff to gather, share experiences, and build relationships. Some of our teachers were from Epsom, UK, and have joined us in Epsom Malaysia, further supporting the global goals and the continuity of development of Epsom College in Malaysia.
We offer excellent and relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, ensuring teachers have regular time to meet, collaborate, and share good practices.
By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where teachers feel valued and recognised, we ensure staff are motivated to stay and grow within the school.
“One Global School, Two Campuses” – 90% of our teachers are UK-trained, and two teachers are from Epsom School in the UK. We have continuity that helps develop the school from the UK’s long-standing perspective but with a localised approach to ensure it works for us in Malaysia.
We offer Associate Teacher roles, which provide opportunities for teachers to shadow and learn from those in leadership positions they aspire to.
These roles allow teachers to gain hands-on experience in leadership tasks, preparing them for future opportunities within the school.
We also provide mentorship and guidance to help teachers develop the skills and confidence needed to take on leadership roles in a variety of levels and areas.
We offer approximately 150 co-curricular activities per term, providing our students with a wide range of opportunities to explore their interests and develop new skills. Our sports academies, including the Mouratoglou Tennis Programme, ECM Golf Academy, and LALIGA Academy Malaysia, offer world-class coaching and leadership, allowing students to reach their full potential.
We place a strong emphasis on balancing academic excellence with top-tier extracurricular activities, teaching students the essential skills of self-management and time management. These skills are not only vital for success at university but will serve them well throughout their careers and lives.
All students have access to elite sports opportunities, including golf, football, and tennis, integrated within the Enrichment Programme.
We also offer international exposure through overseas trips, such as ski trips, visits to Epsom UK, and year-group trips to Hakuba for A-Level and IGCSE students. These experiences help shape young minds and provide a global perspective that is essential in today’s interconnected world.
Success in our school is defined as creating a thriving learning environment where students achieve academic excellence, develop emotional resilience, and demonstrate a strong sense of community and respect for diversity. It means fostering well-rounded individuals who are equipped with the skills, values, and confidence to excel in their future endeavors while contributing positively to society. Success is also reflected in the well-being and professional growth of staff, meaningful engagement with families and the wider community, and upholding an ethical and inclusive culture that supports continuous improvement and innovation.
“The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
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