From 70 Students to 1,510: BSKL's Rise in Petaling Jaya

When the British International School of Kuala Lumpur opened in 2009, it was the first new British school to open in the Malaysian capital in over 50 years. It started with 70 students on a modest campus, offering a British curriculum to expatriate families in a city that had long been underserved by that kind of provision.

Origins

The school was founded by trustees John Ordovas and Darren Brown, who set out to deliver quality British education to expatriate children in Kuala Lumpur. The school opened under its current name, catering to students from Pre-Nursery through to the upper years, with the English National Curriculum as its backbone from the outset.

Campus and Growth

Within a year, the original premises were already too small. In 2010, the school moved to a purpose-built campus in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, roughly 25 minutes west of the Kuala Lumpur city centre. The campus grew into a 27,000 sq m site with capacity for more than 1,800 students. In 2016, a dedicated secondary campus opened on the same site, bringing modern breakout spaces, a 3D printing room, and a purpose-built environment for older students. That same year, BSKL welcomed its first A-Level cohort, completing the school's range from early years to sixth form.

In 2017, ownership and management of the school transferred to Nord Anglia Education, the premium international schools group. The transition coincided with a rigorous ISI inspection that year, which placed BSKL on a par with top UK independent schools. The school now operates as part of Nord Anglia's global network of more than 80 schools across 35 countries.

Curriculum and Accreditation

BSKL follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through to Year 9, before students move into the IGCSE programme in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in the sixth form. The school is an accredited examination centre for both Cambridge International Examinations and Pearson Edexcel.

On the inspection and accreditation side, BSKL holds a string of credentials that set it apart in the region. It was the first school in Malaysia to receive an 'excellent' grade in all areas of educational provision from the Independent Schools Inspectorate, the body that also inspects many of Britain's top independent schools. It was also among the first schools in Asia to receive the COBIS Patron's Accreditation from the Council of British International Schools. The school is additionally a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) and is fully licensed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.

Academic Results

BSKL's exam results have been a consistent talking point in the region. In 2022, every A-Level student passed, with 68% earning A* or A grades. At IGCSE that year, 80% of the cohort achieved A* or A. The school has held the best A-Level results of any Nord Anglia school in Asia for three consecutive years. A BSKL Scholars Programme offers merit-based bursaries of 10 to 50 percent of tuition fees for high-achieving students entering the sixth form.

Present Day

Today BSKL has 1,510 students from more than 60 nationalities on its three interconnected campuses in Petaling Jaya. Facilities include 20 music rooms, two drama and dance studios, a 600-seat auditorium, a dedicated STEAM corridor, three libraries, two swimming pools, a covered all-weather Astroturf pitch, and rooftop play areas. As part of the Nord Anglia network, students have access to Global Campus, which connects learners across 32 countries, and to partnerships with MIT, the Juilliard School, and UNICEF. A student-led conservation group, BSKL for Malayan Tigers, has raised more than RM100,000 for the critically endangered species, reaching 12 countries in the process.

Read the full British International School of Kuala Lumpur profile →