Every mind learns differently: inside St Andrews Bangkok’s ethos of inclusion

At St Andrews International School Bangkok, our community is built on a powerful, foundational belief: every child belongs, and every student deserves an inclusive pathway to find their fit, grow in confidence, and achieve personal success in their own way.

On Dyslexia Awareness Day in October, our Sukhumvit Primary and High School campuses came together in a sea of vibrant red for ‘Go Red for Dyslexia', a global campaign to change the narrative. Since 2019, people worldwide have shown their support by wearing red, painting their nails, dyeing their hair, and taking part in activities that help make dyslexia more visible.

By turning the world red, Go Red for Dyslexia encourages a shift in perspective, recognising not what individuals with dyslexia find challenging, but what they are capable of achieving.

Daisy in Year 5 at St Andrews Bangkok, shared her personal journey with dyslexia. Her story offers an inspiring look at how our personalised learning support and compassionate environment help students embrace their unique strengths inside and outside the classroom.

Advocating that every brain processes nformation differently

For Daisy, having dyslexia means recognising that her brain processes information in a distinct, highly creative way.

"So, my experience with dyslexia is I find things tricky like reading and writing, but I'm really good at thinking about creative things in my head." — Daisy, Year 5

To mark Dyslexia Awareness Day, Daisy was excited to wear red because red is traditionally associated with mistakes and corrections (like red marks in a book), and ‘Go Red for Dyslexia’ turns red into a colour that symbolises empowerment and pride. 

She even dyed her hair red—a proud statement of self-expression, individuality, and belonging.

"What makes me really proud is that everyone wore red for Dyslexia Day. I dyed my hair because it just brings out most of my personality and creativity, and I like to be really goofy sometimes."

Orton-Gillingham (OG) Multisensory Literacy: specialised pathways in Bangkok

At St Andrews Bangkok, creating a truly inclusive learning environment means providing structured pathways, evidence-based interventions, and expert pedagogical practices so no student is left behind or unchallenged.

Our specialised Learning Support Department works alongside teachers to implement multi-sensory techniques and tools tailored to each child's learning profile. As part of this approach, Daisy participates in the school’s Orton-Gillingham (OG) multisensory literacy programme, which breaks down linguistic structures to build sustainable reading confidence:

"Reading is really tricky for me, and I use different types of rulers so the words don't go all over the pages and it just stays where it is. I have OG, and it helps me read and write better. I've learned how to split up big words, and it's really helped me to read better."

Watch Daisy’s video:

Reframing challenges and celebrating individual success

Real learning flourishes when students feel happy, safe, and supported without the fear of failure. When we reframe learning differences, students gain the mental fortitude and self-belief to turn challenges into growth and achieve success on their own terms.

When asked what advice she would share with other international school students navigating dyslexia or learning challenges, Daisy offered an inspiring message:

"I would say to never give up, because just because you have dyslexia doesn't mean you can't do something really great. I'm really proud that I've taught myself how to be creative and not just keep ideas in my head, so I can really express what I'm thinking."

Cultivating belonging across our St Andrews Bangkok community

Celebrations like Dyslexia Awareness Day reflect St Andrews Bangkok’s school-wide commitment to personal growth, empathy, and mutual respect. By honouring each student's learning journey, we help all learners build essential life skills: resilience, self-advocacy, and the confidence to thrive in an interconnected world.

We celebrate Daisy and all our extraordinary students who remind us every single day that diversity in thinking makes our entire St Andrews community stronger, richer, and more inclusive.