Leadership Welcome
Surabaya European School
Welcome from the Senior Leadership Team
Since 2001, SES has provided an international education within a small, diverse and close-knit community. Our students come from many different national and cultural backgrounds, creating a school in which international mindedness is part of everyday life. Our size allows us to know our students well, support them as individuals and create a genuine sense of belonging. English is the language of instruction throughout the school day, and our talented local and international staff members combine their knowledge of educational systems from around the world to create an environment that draws on the strengths of diverse traditions and approaches.
Our motto is ‘Open Eyes, Open Minds, Open Hearts’. It reflects the qualities we want our students to develop throughout their time at SES: awareness of the world around them, curiosity and openness to new ideas, and empathy and respect for others. Our learner outcomes of confidence, respect, engagement, resilience and independence help us to put the aspirations of our motto into practice every day. The guiding principles that underpin all interactions at our school are that everyone has the right to learn, everyone has the right to feel and be safe, and everyone has the right to be respected. Together, these values help create the kind of inclusive, supportive and purposeful community we want SES to be.
SES is known not only for developing strong character in our students, but also for maintaining high standards of academic rigour and achievement. Our curriculum provides a clear and coherent pathway from the Early Years through to graduation, combining Montessori principles in our youngest classes with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and Cambridge programmes across Primary and Secondary. This internationally recognised framework provides students with strong subject knowledge while also developing the skills, independence and critical thinking they need to apply their learning with confidence. Our curriculum prepares students for success in tertiary institutions around the world.
Complementing our high-quality academic programmes, SES offers a diverse range of after-school activities (ASAs). Our ASA programme is designed to develop the whole child by providing opportunities to discover new interests, build confidence and develop skills beyond the classroom. We offer a broad range of activities across the following categories: Creative Arts, Sport & Fitness, STEM & Making, Life Skills, Languages & Culture, Nature & Sustainability, and Leadership & Service. We continually revise the programme based on the interests and passions of our students and the diverse skills and talents of our teachers.
We are a forward-thinking school that continually considers how best to prepare our students for a changing world. One of our current areas of focus is attention. How do we develop thoughtful, capable young people in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms designed to capture their time and focus? In a world of constant connectivity and artificial intelligence, we believe the ability to concentrate deeply, think independently and engage meaningfully with others is increasingly important. Technology has an important place at SES, but we use it purposefully, when it genuinely improves learning. Our small classes also allow us to give students something increasingly valuable. They provide the time, attention and human connection students need to be known and supported as individuals.
Our mission is to develop confident, responsible and ethical individuals who thrive in an interconnected world. We foster a respectful and inclusive environment that encourages innovation, collaboration and meaningful contributions to society. Ultimately, this is what we mean by ‘Open Eyes, Open Minds, Open Hearts’: young people who understand the world around them, are open to new ideas and perspectives, and have the character and compassion to contribute positively to it.
We invite you to come and visit SES and experience our community for yourself.
Kind Regards,
The SES Senior Leadership Team