School History

ISPP was started in 1989 by a group of families working for non-government organisations. The first six students, aged three to seven, met part-time in the home of one of the parents who was also the teacher.

In 1990, in a rented villa, ISPP took the first real steps to become a normal day school. A curriculum was developed and a Kindergarten to Grade 4 programme set in place. Student numbers increased at the start of the school year to 11. ISPP’s charter was written, establishing it as a parent-owned and operated non-sectarian, non-profit school. Parents and teachers revised the ISPP Philosophy-Mission Statement to crystallise its focus as an educational institution of “academic excellence and responsible global awareness in a caring, international setting”. A preliminary candidacy team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited the school.

In 1996, a formal learning support programme was developed and a full-time learning support teacher was employed. A strategic plan was also developed for the integration of technology into the ISPP curriculum.

In 1998-1999 the school presented for its final international accreditation with WASC following three years’ provisional accreditation. After a full accreditation visit, the school was notified that it had scored a full 6-year accreditation at its first attempt! Success meant that ISPP became the only fully internationally-accredited school in Cambodia at that time.

1999-2000 saw a number of other significant developments take place. A decision had been made by the Board to become an International Baccalaureate World School. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) carried out an authorisation visit and approved the school as an IB Diploma school.

In 2001 the school was also authorised to offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the IB and the IB Primary Years Programme authorisation was granted in September 2004.

During 2004-2005, ISPP was accredited by the Council for International Schools (CIS) and WASC, and five years later was re-accredited by both and re-authorised in all three IB programmes (PYP, MYP and DP).

In 2014-15, ISPP celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Secondary School moved to the new purpose-built campus in August 2014.

In 2015-16, the Early Years Centre and the Elementary School joined the Secondary School on the new campus. In November 2015, ISPP received extremely positive reports from its accreditation and authorisation bodies CIS/WASC and IB and gained full re-accreditation for the school.

Following a self-study and preparatory visit in 2020, ISPP hosted a virtual visit of representatives of CIS/WASC and the IB in October 2021. The visiting team reports were very positive and ISPP was successfully reaccredited/reauthorised for a further five years.