Exclusive Interview: Community Values of ISJ with Eileen Fisher

A school is a safe learning environment. However, students aren’t the only ones learning – teachers, staff, and parents continue their intellectual quest too. This mirrors Eileen Fisher’s days as an educator.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, eight-year-old Eileen was inspired by one of her teachers, who, to this day, Eileen finds “fantastic”, and became a teacher herself. This interest, along with her love of art and the English language, eventually prompted the start of her teaching career in the UK by the age of 22.

Eileen had the privilege of meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II twice through an outdoor education award, which she brought some children along to. The Queen also kindly invited her to her Annual Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. She also conversed with the current King Charles through a former student’s parent, who owned a rare breeds farm that she visited with the pupils, and the King was the patron.

Over three decades have passed, and Eileen decided to venture internationally as an educator. Regardless of where she is, directing a school’s direction takes the whole community. She encourages openness amongst all teachers, staff, parents, and even the students.

“As a headteacher, I am the guiding force behind my school’s success, and I strive to balance leadership, support, and vision to inspire both students and staff to reach their full potential,” expressed the Academic Director of The Independent School of Jakarta.

Having settled in the Indonesian metropolis, Eileen looks forward to swinging her golf club on the vast greens and discovering more destinations across Indonesia and Asia. Recently, she explored Yogyakarta and enjoyed climbing the Borobudur and Prambanan Temples.

Wonder what the community values of The Independent School of Jakarta are? Keep scrolling to learn more with Eileen Fisher.

You switched to an international career, away from your homeland. How did you end up in Indonesia, and what do you like about it so far?

China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asian countries have always been my targets for an international career. After 10 years as the Head of a Prep School in England, I was given the opportunity to become the Founding Head of one of China’s international schools around six to seven years ago. This marks the beginning of my international career, and I’m forever grateful for my lovely time in China. COVID hit, which meant travel restrictions came to light and propelled my relocation to the British International School in Cairo.

Call it fate – an opportunity to be back in Asia was presented in 2023. The Independent School of Jakarta ticked so many boxes of where I wanted to be now that I’m at my 10th school throughout 31 years of teaching. It’s very similar to the school in England – size-wise, ethos, and community feel.

I admire Indonesia’s cultural diversity, especially within this school, where there are Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Australian, and more nationalities seamlessly blending with one another. Jakarta itself is so far lovely. I like how friendly the locals are, as well as the exciting shopping mall culture.

Tell us more about The Independent School of Jakarta (ISJ).

ISJ provides exceptional British education for boys and girls aged two to 13 years; a safe and warm environment for children to grow and thrive. Our exceptional pupils are immersed and inspired by our broad and rigorous academic curriculum. They benefit from exemplary and dynamic teaching that preserves their joy in learning while also developing the discipline of study as they mature, as you would expect from one of the most effective independent schools in the world.

Our campus reflects our desire to provide a quiet, welcoming space for children to explore, and the facilities to support a world-class independent school education. Surrounded by nature in the heart of Jakarta, our Pondok Indah campus is developed to provide the space, facilities, and resources to support the educational objectives of the school. The school provides a welcoming physical environment that celebrates pupil achievement.

ISJ is close-knit. I'm at the gate every morning before the bell rings at 7:50 AM, welcoming everybody into the school. I know all the children's names and their backgrounds. It's a family meeting here, and I much prefer that.

Fill in the blanks: Students at ISJ are offered …… while parents simultaneously….

Students at ISJ are offered an exceptional education that nurtures academic excellence, creativity, and personal growth, while parents simultaneously join a supportive ISJ community that values collaboration and their child’s holistic development.

Exclusive Interview: Community Values of ISJ with Eileen Fisher

Does ISJ use the terms “Pre-Prep” and “The Prep School” to mirror British heritage? How does that serve as beneficial for students?

Yes, it does! It's essential to use all of the terminology available in the English National Curriculum as an approach to aid our teaching since all of our teachers were trained in the UK. As a British school following the English National Curriculum, it allows our exceptional students the opportunity to seamlessly engage with the British school system if they pursue their education further in the UK.

Describe the facilities students can immerse in at the school.

One of our strengths is our outdoor facilities. We provide a large, spacious environment that allows our students to explore and find their own adventures together. In fact, they highly favour playtime outdoors! Even if it's drizzling, they'll enthusiastically put on their rain boots and coats during break time.

Our dining hall also functions as a communal space, where our children have the opportunity to actively engage with staff. All children and staff have a hot meal in the middle of the day at their designated houses based on renowned English authors. It’s a social time where children can talk to each other and staff in an informal setting. We also promote independence amongst our exceptional pupils.

ISJ may seem smaller in scale compared to other schools, yet everything required to teach the curriculum that we teach is available. There’s a swimming pool, an art room, a STEM lab, and a sports hall.

What would you say are ISJ’s stand-out points in terms of curriculum and teachers?

ISJ follows the English National Curriculum. But we develop it to ensure that our students are exposed to both the British education system and the local Indonesian education. We celebrate diversity, and our teachers are all experienced in the UK education system. They’re qualified in the UK, trained in the UK, and have taught and gained experience working with the curriculum.

The English National Curriculum is exactly the curriculum taught in the UK. It's not PYP nor IB, but familiar with Cambridge and Pearson, for example. Hence, the approach is very much subject-based, plus hints of soft skills involved in our teaching. We ensure children have an equal balance of different subjects whilst celebrating their talents and passions so that they have other opportunities to explore. All of the skills, understanding, and knowledge children absorb by the end of Key Stage 3 will be filtered into Key Stage 4 (IGCSE or GCSE). The English National Curriculum, in short, provides a solid and stable grounding in all areas to prepare children for deciding what to pursue in the future.

Interestingly, ISJ instils one class in each year group. Why is that important?

We prioritise the personal development of all our pupils. Recent research showed that a certain academic attainment is the result of whether a child is happy and engaged or otherwise. Thus, personal development constitutes fifty per cent of the report, while the other half is academic here.

We are a family community; we know all of our families, and we are able to cater to all their individual needs because of our small size. We feel that building relationships with peers and adults is vital if a child is to grow academically.

You noted significant developments in pupil behaviour and academic attainment in your previous endeavour in Egypt. Is that your goal in ISJ, or do you have another in mind?

We aspire to be outstanding and excel as a school. We have a strong foundation, and we are privileged to be able to offer bespoke education for our pupils. As such, we aspire to be the best that we can be.

It's all about positive reinforcement. Rather than reaching a certain standard here, we want to try and take that standard to the next level. ISJ is a very special place to be.

In your view, do you think outdoor education could be attainable at ISJ, given its benefits?

Absolutely! We have great plans for our early years, where outdoor education is a priority. As a qualified Forest School and Beach School Leader, I understand how important it is for students to spend time outside. Outdoor play is vital for a child’s development and well-being, and it is also essential for their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Climbing was introduced in this term. You can see our climbing wall by the lobby for the little ones, as well as all sorts of different games and activities for them to do. If children haven't developed their gross and fine motor skills, they are going to find the rest of their education extremely challenging. A child gains dexterity in their fingers, legs, and the rest of their body by engaging in activities and outdoor play. Hence, we have a mud kitchen and an undulating landscape at the outdoor playground.

We also understand the importance of educational trips and residential visits for our students’ progress. Residential trips are currently in the planning process as a means for students to experience being away from home. Hopefully, an international trip to the UK will occur soon. We're always open to ideas, whether that's from our parents, the students, or our teachers.

What’s next for you and The Independent School of Jakarta?

ISJ started as a standalone school, but we are now part of an exciting group of schools called the Schools Trust, consisting of five schools. Expansion plans to Bali and Abu Dhabi are set to be realised this year. This will enable us to continue professional development with our teachers, strengthen our resources, and allow further career and educational development for our staff, teachers, and students alike.

As for me, because I feel more at home here, I hope prospective parents are aware that I'm passionate about the school and strive to make it the best school it can be. When I eventually do leave, which won't be for a while, it’ll be in good shape and the next person can revel in the school’s virtues.

How can our readers get in touch?

We would love to share with everyone our exceptional education and how we can inspire your children to excel! Please do contact our admissions team via email at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +62 811 1000 7672. Alternatively, do visit our social media channels to see our wonderful events and activities that both children and parents get to enjoy at ISJ!