School Advisor Articles

How Studying at Three International Schools Shaped Isabelle Leung’s Path to Law

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Jan 23, 2025

Studying at an international school is an exciting experience, offering exposure to diverse cultures and a global perspective. But studying in three international schools? That’s a whole new level. For Isabelle Leung, this was her reality. She spent time at elc International School, HELP International School (HIS), and Charterhouse Malaysia, each playing a unique role in shaping her educational journey.

The variety of environments and curricula provided Isabelle with a well-rounded foundation. These experiences gave her the confidence and skills needed to pursue her dream of studying law. Today, she is working toward her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Warwick, a step closer to her aspirations.

elc International School gave Isabelle a hands-on, sensory learning experience without using technology.

Starting at elc

Isabelle’s time at elc International School started when she was young and played a big part in shaping her into the law student she is today. The school created an engaging learning environment, focusing on hands-on experiences and limiting the use of technology in the early years. Visits to the library were regular, helping Isabelle develop a love for reading and writing, while the exercise books they used every year kept the learning process exciting.

"The subjects we explored were broad, from creative writing to science experiments, which continued into secondary school," she says. 

As she moved into secondary school, the academic challenges grew, with exams starting as early as Year 6. Though it was stressful at the time, it taught her how to manage expectations, a skill that helped her later with her IGCSE and A-Level exams.

The school also encouraged students to take part in extracurricular activities (ECAs). There were many options, from sports teams to crafting, and Isabelle made sure to try something new each year. She especially enjoyed the sports teams, where she was part of the school's football, basketball, swimming and athletics teams, as well as the crafting sessions with her favourite art teacher, Ms Yee Soo Shean. Music was another key part of her experience, with plenty of opportunities to perform on the violin at assemblies and in music plays.

One of the highlights of Isabelle’s time was competing in the FOBISIA games. She trained early in the mornings for various sports, including football, swimming, athletics and basketball, which helped her grow both physically and mentally.

Looking back, Isabelle is thankful for the teachers who supported and encouraged her along the way. "elc prepared me for the academic challenges ahead and nurtured my interest in learning and connecting with others on an intellectual level."

Isabelle's time at HELP International School was filled with unforgettable experiences and strong support from caring teachers, coaches, and staff.

Excelling at HIS

Isabelle’s time at HIS was short but memorable. She joined in Year 9, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. Before the lockdown, she enjoyed exploring the spacious Subang campus and especially looked forward to her food technology classes, which were held in a kitchen with professional stoves and ovens. Her homeroom teacher, Mr. Wen Hong Tong, played a significant role in making her feel supported. 

"He always offered advice and even board games from his closet. He was also my math teacher, and although I wasn’t always keen on math, he patiently answered all my questions and encouraged me."

Isabelle stayed active in sports, participating in a FOBISIA event with HIS, where she focused on football and swimming. The art department was another highlight, equipped with tools like sewing machines and woodworking gear. Her art teacher, Ms Jessica Ching, helped her develop a love for watercolours and sculpting, which she later incorporated into her coursework. 

Despite most of her time at HIS being spent online due to the pandemic, the teachers kept classes engaging and fun. Pairing that with a personalised approach made a big difference in her academic achievements. "The support from my teachers, the opportunities in sports and the arts, and the community spirit all contributed to a well-rounded and memorable experience."

The result?  She scored an impressive 5A*s and 5As in her IGCSE exam. 

Isabelle credits her success to the exceptional support from her teachers at HIS, particularly Mr Tong and Ms Jessica, who answered her questions late into the night and provided extra time for coursework. "I think most important was that teachers knew you and your abilities personally; they tailored their teaching to each class and students’ varying abilities."

At Charterhouse Malaysia, Isabelle helped establish the Law Society, took part in discussions and debates, and actively participated in open days, school tours, and inspections.

Isabelle’s Pivotal Years at Charterhouse Malaysia

Isabelle entered Charterhouse Malaysia with the explicit goal of studying law at university. From day one, she found unwavering support from her teachers and the pastoral team. The teaching style at Charterhouse stood out to Isabelle — her teachers didn't merely lecture; they made learning exciting and fostered a genuine love for the subjects.

One of the highlights of her time at Charterhouse was the opportunity to take on multiple roles. In her final year, she wore many hats, including Head of Arts for the Charterhouse Forum, Leader of the Chaoites house, and a member of the football team. However, what Isabelle cherished the most was her role as the co-president and founder of the Law Society. 

"We did weekly sessions, debating about law cases, like celebrity cases and law in different forms, such as football and F1, which other members led. I’d say our sort of ‘flagship’ event is attending the KTJ Oxbridge and Dato Bill Davidson Moot, which we won this year (2024), and it took so much hard work and dedication over a month for our team. "

The small class sizes at Charterhouse allowed for personalised attention, which was crucial for Isabelle, particularly in her essay-heavy subjects. The curriculum was rich with engaging projects, seminars and debates, supported by concise and practical resources like slide decks and Design Thinking methodologies. These elements made learning more interactive and helped her grasp and retain complex concepts, particularly in Psychology and Economics.

In her AS Levels, Isabelle studied History, Economics, Psychology, and English Literature, excelling particularly in Economics and Psychology with A* grades. Although she eventually dropped History, her memories of Mr. Jonathan Sutton's dynamic and debate-filled classes left a lasting impression. 

"Mr Sutton made an effort to always keep classes interesting, which I cherish. One time, I even drew some ‘sources’ in the style of historical comics, and we analysed them as a class; these types of small opportunities that the school and teachers give us I feel is what makes Charterhouse so special — you don’t get that kind of treatment in other schools."

Economics was a rigorous subject, but Isabelle thrived under the guidance of her teachers, who consistently reinforced content and provided thorough feedback on essays. Her psychology teachers, Ms Sarah Davey and Ms Esther Albert, engaged the subject through creative projects, such as designing treatments for celebrity phobias, which also served as effective revision tools.

Isabelle’s love for English Literature flourished under Ms Amy Candiano, Mr Gareth Tucker, and most notably, Ms Nikki Smith, whose personalised feedback and nurturing approach helped her achieve an A grade. 

"Ms Nikki is one of the best teachers I’ve had throughout my academic career, and she was the type of person you could go to for anything — assignments, life, university. She was the one who proofread my personal statement and wrote my reference for the UCAS application."

Isabelle is currently pursuing her law degree at the University of Warwick.

Exceptional University Application Support at Charterhouse Malaysia

Isabelle found the support for university applications at Charterhouse to be exceptional. Although her UCAS journey had its ups and downs, the guidance she received was invaluable. Led by Ms. Amy Candiano, the team at CHM provided comprehensive sessions and one-on-one meetings that were essential during application season.

As one of six students applying to Oxbridge, Isabelle appreciated the early and thorough preparation from CHM’s dedicated teams. A standout resource was the Oxbridge Bubble, a collaborative session where students from various schools gathered to exchange insights, particularly helpful for the interview process. 

"One of my classmate’s interviews at Cambridge for the law was even the same act we had read in the bubble session, so that was extremely lucky."

After participating in the KTJ Oxbridge Moot, Isabelle and her peers had the opportunity to engage with Mr Chris Lim, a prominent Malaysian lawyer. His discussion sessions were both insightful and excellent practice for their Oxbridge interviews.

In November 2023, a month after applying, Isabelle received an offer from Warwick’s Law programme. Today, she is a first-year law student at the University of Warwick, a top 10 Law School in the UK, according to The Times Good University Guide 2024.