Vietnam is where history and modern life meet. Festivals, temples, and markets anchor a culture that prizes family, community, and connection. Educating young people in this context means pairing global competencies with respect for local heritage, so students grow with awareness, empathy, and pride in their roots. Dwight School Hanoi embraces that balance, igniting the spark of genius through personalized, innovative learning and a deep respect for the Vietnamese language, traditions, and community. Students pursue rigorous academics, creative exploration, and global experiences, while the school honors Vietnam’s heritage and the diverse cultural identities of every learner.
Proudly Local. Unmistakably Global.
As part of the global Dwight network of schools, learners connect with peers across campuses, New York, London, Seoul, Dubai, and Shanghai, and through Dwight Global Online, opening doors to exchanges, collaborative projects, and university guidance that extend well beyond Hanoi.
The Power of a Global Network
Being part of the Dwight network gives Dwight School Hanoi students opportunities few schools can match, including direct pathways to global exchanges, joint projects, and unique events spanning academics, arts, leadership, service, and sport. Through Dwight Destinations, a unique global travel program, students travel to fellow Dwight campuses and select partner programs, building skills and friendships around the globe.
Each school brings a signature experience: Dwight London hosts ChoirFest in London’s West End; Dwight Dubai stages an annual Model United Nations; Dwight New York presents a biennial Global Music Concert at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center; and Qibao Qibao Dwight Shanghai hosts week-long trips that immerse students in Shanghai’s business hub and its leading universities. Students also have the opportunity to train with professional coaches at the Manchester City Football School in England. Beginning in 2026, Dwight will welcome students to Vietnam to explore history alongside teachers and peers from across the global network.
Collaboration runs year-round. Cross-campus projects link learners in New York, Jersey City, London, Seoul, Dubai, Shanghai, and Dwight Global Online, with Sparkathon as the flagship global innovation challenge.
University Guidance and Career Planning is robust, with counselors collaborating across campuses to expand students’ visibility and readiness for higher education, while the broad alumni network adds real-world insights and connections. Families relocating between schools benefit from a shared mission, aligned IB pathways, and consistently high standards. The network truly functions like an extended family.
A World of Opportunity Awaits
This year’s calendar, spanning performance, diplomacy, culture, sport, and leadership, is a standout, compelling for families seeking a truly global education and building the global Dwight alumni network.
Igniting the Spark of Genius in Every Child
At Dwight School Hanoi, the mission to ignite the spark of genius in every child is lived every day. Students have countless opportunities to discover where they shine, from math and poetry contests to visual arts competitions, and are encouraged to explore their interests, take smart risks, and reach their personal best.
Arts, athletics, and innovative learning sit at the center of campus life, supported by world-class facilities. Students create in a ceramics studio, perform in a black box theater, rehearse in fully equipped music rooms, and record in a professional sound studio. They train in two multipurpose sports halls and swim year-round in a depth-adjustable pool. Cutting-edge learning environments further spark curiosity and creativity: three makerspaces, a dedicated Robotics Studio, a Machine Learning Lab, and state-of-the-art Science Labs equipped with the latest technology for experimentation, research, and discovery. These environments support Spark Tank, Dwight Schools’ signature incubator program, where students take their passions and ideas, ignite them into action, and develop real-world innovations.
A school dojo develops focus and well-being, while a rooftop greenhouse and learning gardens bring science and sustainability to life. In every corner of campus, there is something for every learner to ignite their spark of genius
.jpg)
Personalizing Every Student's Journey
At Dwight School Hanoi, personalized learning is one of their three pillars, and personalization starts with knowing each student well. Teachers and advisors understand strengths, needs, languages, and interests, then adjust pace and approach accordingly. Assessment is used purposefully and used to see exactly where students are and what they need next, so goals are realistic, ambitious, and student-specific.
Learning looks different from room to room and day to day. Classrooms flex: seating shifts, tools change, and students choose how to show understanding, an analytical essay, a lab investigation, a performance, or a working prototype.
The campus is designed for this flexibility, with quiet study nooks, collaboration zones, and technology-enabled spaces. When students need more, the Quest program provides tailored enrichment and support, offering extension when they’re ready to stretch and scaffolding when they need it, so everyone moves forward from where they are. English language learners receive targeted instruction aligned to IB MYP Language Acquisition phases to accelerate progress.
Personalization extends beyond academics. A structured Advisory and Wellbeing program builds executive function, reflection, and social-emotional skills. Leadership pathways and student-run clubs let learners shape their experience, serving as Student President, ambassadors, and club founders. From Grade 9, a four-year University Guidance and Career Planning program helps Upper School students map courses, activities, and applications to their goals, so by the time they enter the Diploma Programme they’re making informed choices and heading toward best-fit universities with confidence.
Bringing the IB Curriculum to Life
Dwight School Hanoi delivers the International Baccalaureate from Early Childhood through Grade 12, blending academic rigor with creativity and real-world application.
In the Early Childhood Division and Lower School, learning is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary, aligned with the IB Learner Profile. Units of Inquiry revolve around six broad themes that connect subjects; for example, a sustainability unit might weave together science, social studies, literacy, and art. Homeroom and specialist teachers (creative arts, music, physical education, and the Manchester City Football School) work in concert. Vietnamese is offered to all students, mother-tongue development is encouraged, and division-specific makerspaces enable differentiated, hands-on learning.
In Middle School, the IB Middle Years Programme emphasizes concept-driven, skill-based learning through interdisciplinary projects and service. Eight subject groups provide a strong foundation, while Approaches to Learning: communication, research, self-management, and critical thinking, are built into daily practice. Global contexts and interdisciplinary units help students see how subjects connect. English language learners receive targeted support until they transition to IB English B in Grade 9. Middle School makerspaces further spark creativity and collaboration across STEM, the arts, and assessment.
In Upper School (Grades 9–10), MYP study deepens subject mastery and culminates in the Personal Project. Dedicated makerspaces fuel innovation, problem-solving, and rapid prototyping, while photography, film, digital arts, and sound recording studios open pathways into specialized disciplines.
In Grades 11–12, students enter the IB Diploma Programme, selecting six subjects across the IB groups, typically three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, alongside the core: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity–Activity–Service (CAS). Ongoing university and career planning guidance runs parallel, preparing students for global opportunities. Advanced makerspaces and specialized facilities continue to support design, visual arts, digital media, and beyond, allowing learners to pursue their passions at the highest level.
Beyond the Classroom Walls
Extracurricular life at Dwight School Hanoi mirrors the depth of its academics, giving students many ways to explore and grow their passions. After-school offerings rotate by term and span a wide range of sports, football with the resident Manchester City Football School coach, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, swimming, and tennis, alongside a lively arts program featuring choir, orchestra, rock band, dance, theater, and improv. Visual arts are equally active, with photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and crafts.
STEM clubs make full use of the makerspaces, while language clubs and special-interest groups, podcasting, the school newspaper, meditation and yoga, fitness, baking, gardening, and coding, provide outlets for creativity, wellness, and leadership. Many of the activities are student-led, and learners are encouraged to propose new clubs and initiatives, ensuring the program evolves with their interests
Building Character, Empathy, and Responsibility
Another pillar of Dwight School Hanoi is Community, and it’s tangible the moment you walk in. There is real camaraderie across grades. Students and adults know one another, and shared values guide daily life. Empathy, self-awareness, and ethical responsibility are woven into academics and activities. The IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning are explicitly taught and reinforced. Service as Action (MYP) and Creativity, Activity, Service (DP) turn learning into sustained action for others. IB milestones, the PYP Exhibition and the MYP Personal Project, center human-focused goals, ethical research, and responsible decision-making. Academic honesty and ethical inquiries across subjects, together with a schoolwide culture of integrity, make principled behavior visible.
Community practices put these values into action. Classrooms co-create Essential Agreements. Across campus it is clear that Vietnamese language and culture are honored, which grounds students in respect for local traditions and viewpoints. Student Council and ambassador programs offer authentic leadership roles that learners take seriously.
Environmental stewardship is equally visible. A rooftop greenhouse and several learning gardens are tended by students of all ages. Harvests are shared in the dining hall or taken home to families. Digital citizenship receives the same care. Media literacy, online conduct, and privacy are taught throughout the year. As a Creative Commons school, Dwight Hanoi helps students understand copyright, licensing, and responsible content use. The school is also pursuing certification through the Responsible Use of AI License (RAIL) program to equip staff to guide students in ethical approaches to emerging technologies. Parent workshops on well-being, behavior, and online learning keep home and school aligned. The result is a community where everyone belongs and contributes.
The Architect of East-West Learning
Brantley Turner, Head of School at Dwight School Hanoi, has helped build the school from the ground up. She is a distinguished leader in global education with more than 25 years of experience in China and East Asia. As the founding American Principal of Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School, the first and only independently operated, Ministry-of-Education-approved Sino–U.S. high school in China, she guided the school from its launch through 2022 and continues to serve on its governing board.
Today, as Director of East Asia Education for the Dwight Schools, she helps shape the group’s regional vision and growth, drawing on deep expertise in international education, strategic school development, and East–West academic integration. Widely regarded as an educational visionary who stays ahead of the curve, she anticipates shifts in pedagogy, assessment, and technology, and turns them into practical, student-centered innovation. A graduate of Brown University, with advanced study at the Johns Hopkins Nanjing Center, Moreland University, and the International School of Management in Paris, Brantley blends academic rigor with a passion for creativity and joyful learning. Above all, she is committed to cultivating environments where students and educators feel safe, inspired, and energized by the power of learning.
The Heart of Dwight
At Dwight School Hanoi, “good enough” isn’t good enough. The school hires educators who are deeply student-centered, mission-aligned, and relentless about learning. Strong pedagogy is a must, with IB experience preferred or clear readiness to train into the IB. Inclusive practice is non-negotiable: teachers differentiate effectively, support English language learners, and work closely with learning support staff so every student moves forward.
Communication and partnership with families are equally important. Faculty are chosen for cultural competence and genuine respect for the Vietnamese language and culture, ensuring the school’s values are lived in every classroom. Dwight seeks team players who are reflective and growth-oriented, colleagues who lead after-school activities, take on advisory roles, and contribute to campus life.
As a young, fast-growing school, Dwight School Hanoi needs educators with tenacity and adaptability, people who handle curve balls, go the extra mile for students, and lean into the work of helping the community grow. Technological fluency is also expected to support innovative, data-informed teaching and learning.
Serving the Local and Global Community
Dwight School Hanoi is committed to impact, both in Hanoi and across the Dwight global network. The school has already convened workshops in Middle Years English Language Arts and Advisory for Hanoi schools, and will extend this work through reciprocal classroom visits and resource exchanges that help educators learn from one another in real time.
Campus facilities are opened widely to the community through programs such as Making at Dwight, Summer at Dwight, and youth football clinics and camps, with participation set to grow. Service learning is a cornerstone: students lead initiatives that respond to authentic needs, designing projects that are thoughtful, sustained, and measurable.
Partnerships with embassies, NGOs, and corporations support relocating families and advancing community causes. Dwight School Hanoi is also emerging as a regional hub, hosting major gatherings such as the International Schools Services (ISS) Teacher Recruitment Fair in December 2025 and the International Association for College Admission Counseling (International ACAC) in April 2026. Innovation remains central: the school is opening its ample campus to the VEX IQ Northern Regional Qualifiers and the VEX Vietnam National Finals, underscoring its role as a leader in forward-thinking education and collaboration.
Laying the Foundations for Excellence and Care
In its early years, Dwight School Hanoi was focused on two essentials: delivering outstanding IB learning and sustaining a caring, inclusive community. Priorities include deepening personalized learning, recruiting and developing exceptional IB teachers, and weaving Vietnamese language and culture more fully into a program rich with global opportunities.
The school is also expanding co-curriculars and community outreach, building on flagship initiatives such as the Manchester City Football School, adding new competitive sports teams, and broadening the Dwight Destinations program. The graduation of the school’s first IB Diploma Programme cohort next year will mark a milestone and ignite the graduates’ next spark.
Also check out our other editions of Education Excellence Magazine
