Enjoy this short video snippet about Concord College International School from our 2025 Fall Osaka Expo.
Transcript
We spoke with Stephen Graham Bird (Director of Global Engagement).
ISTimes Global (00:02): Hi, this is the International School Times here at the Osaka Expo. And I’m here with Stephen Bird. Stephen, could you introduce yourself?
Concord College International School (Stephen) (00:10): Yes, sure. Thank you very much. Um, I’m Stephen Bird. I’m the Director of Global Engagement at Concord College International School in Malaysia. Let me just tell you a little bit about our school. Um, a sister school was founded in 1949 in the UK. That’s Concord College. And Concord College, Malaysia, opened one year ago in 2024. So we’re just into our second year. I think the big difference between our sister school in the UK and Concord College, Malaysia, is that in Malaysia, we offer education right through from early years, age three, through to A-levels, which means age 18. So, um, that’s, you know, we cater, we hope we cater for everybody. Thank you.
Academics
ISTimes Global (01:00): Awesome. Can you tell us a little bit about academics at your school? What’s that like?
Concord College International School (Stephen) (01:06): Academics. Well, again, our executive principal uh spent uh many, many years at Concord College in the UK. Uh he’s a graduate of um Cambridge University, um and is a mathematician. So, I think a very strong point for Concord College, Malaysia, is also mathematics and science. Um, we are a new school, but we are basing our um ethos and programs on the sister school in the UK. And one of the um, I say, uh how would you say, you would say one of the actual strengths of Concord College or what makes Concord College special is that they have in secondary, in senior school, that’s years, Key Stage 3 through to Key Stage 5, they have weekly testing. Don’t, don’t worry. Um, but the really positive thing about that is that children get to sort of check what they know and teachers can see. And actually, students I’ve spoken to say they like it. Um, and they can learn to love study through doing this. And of course, that’s why the school gets such excellent A-level results and so many students into um Cambridge and Oxford. Um and you only do that by getting A-stars in your A-levels. So, we’re following the same model of as the school in the UK. Um and obviously, we are expecting very, very uh good results and students getting into top universities. Thank you.
School Culture
ISTimes Global (02:42): It sounds great. How about the school’s culture? Can you tell us a little bit about uh what your school’s culture is like?
Concord College International School (Stephen) (02:49): Okay. Well, culture, I guess uh Concord College is founded on uh three things, uh which is rigor, um and um creativity. Yeah. And the other really important um point is kindness. So I think those are the three things um that really make up Concord College and make Concord College different. Um and we hope that Concordians are going to develop into into worldwide citizens that embrace, you know, all of those points and uh become well-rounded individuals.
Future Memories
ISTimes Global (03:27): Awesome. Lastly, could you tell us what you would like the students to take away from their time at your school? What do you imagine your graduates will remember about their time at the school?
Concord College International School (Stephen) (03:38): I suppose, obviously, we’re based in Malaysia. So I think one big thing is that in Malaysia you have many cultures coming together. Um so coming to an international school like ours, um you’ve got the Malay community, got Chinese Malay, got India Malay, Malay. Uh obviously, you’ve got the international students as well. Um and so it’s a fantastic opportunity, I think to connect particularly within Asia and Asian students. A very high level of education, which is equivalent or equal to what you would uh receive in the United Kingdom. Take away? Um, as I say, becoming worldwide citizens, really, that understand um the importance of connecting internationally and globally. Um, and that will obviously um thrive in the future. Um, be business leaders, uh or uh worldwide leaders, but at the same time, remember that human kindness is really, really important and that we need to treat people in the right way uh to succeed. It’s not all about financial gain. Um and that’s the kind of citizen that we would, we would hope that Concordians become. Thank you very much.
ISTimes Global (04:52): Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Bird.
Concord College International School (Stephen) (04:54): Thank you.
About Concord College International School
- Located in Malaysia with sister school in the UK
- Offers education from early years to A-levels
- Founded on rigor, creativity, and kindness
- Cambridge-linked academic leadership
- Strong emphasis on mathematics and science
- Weekly testing supports consistent excellence
- Modeled after Concord College UK programs
- Focus on developing well-rounded global citizens
- Encourages cross-cultural understanding in Asia
- Pathway to top universities worldwide
- Nurtures leadership with compassion and purpose
- Promotes academic excellence with empathy
