Confident, capable, and ready for what comes next

At BVIS Hanoi, academic achievement is only part of the story. What matters just as much is how students grow – in confidence, in character, and in their ability to lead with purpose.

Principal Paul Holyome has led schools around the world. What stands out at BVIS, he says, is how intentionally confidence is built into the way students learn.

“By the time they graduate, our students are able to speak about themselves, about their learning and about their passions in more than one language,” he explains. “They are confident, they’re caring and they’re articulate – and that sets them apart.”

Paul recalls recent graduation ceremonies with clarity and pride. “It’s always emotional,” he says. “The students leave us ready for university, ready for life. And you can see it in the way they carry themselves. They’re confident in interviews, confident when they’re speaking about their future.”

That outcome doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a school-wide approach that spans every year level and every subject.

“If you look at the curriculum model right the way through from early years through to secondary, we’ve got that one curriculum integrated with a unique vision to make sure that we have the English style curriculum alongside the Vietnamese curriculum at primary blended in to make sure there’s that international feel.”

That model of teaching the British curriculum in two languages, Paul adds, isn’t just about academic outcomes. It’s about character.

“Our students will leave with a set of values that I think we’re very proud of,” he says. “They will be confident. They will be thoughtful. They’ll be reflective. They will care about other people, and they’ll be young people that we’re very proud to say graduated from our school.”

For Assistant Head of Secondary Piers Roderick, that confidence starts when students begin making decisions about their own future. He describes how the school helps each student identify their strengths and interests – and align them with subject choices.

“What we do then is we get to know the child and we get to understand what they are good at and what they want to do in the future,” he says.

“And then we give them personal guidance as to what subjects they should be choosing so it doesn’t only just suit them for the following year but also in the following years as they move on to their universities and future careers.” Piers Roderick

This personalised approach builds steadily over time.

“We believe that by following the English National Curriculum pathway, then on to IGCSE and then the A-level curriculum pathway really does set up our students for the best future.” Piers Roderick

That journey – from early years through to graduation – is one that few schools offer with this level of continuity and care. At BVIS Hanoi, it’s what makes the difference.