Recently, the former Chestnut Drive Secondary campus at 58 Chestnut Drive in Singapore was selected as the new international school site.
The new school is expected to enroll 1,400 students and officially open on or before January 31, 2025.
The decision was made based on the need for international family education, as well as to enhance Singapore's competitiveness as a global business hub.
School Renovation and Sustainable Development
Singapore's Land Authority and Economic Development Board have announced that they will launch a tender for a brownfield site to be converted into a foreign system school.
This "reuse" approach not only helps to meet the educational needs of international families, but also helps to extend the life of buildings and reduce carbon emissions in the construction process.
This initiative is in line with the concept of sustainable development, emphasizing the balance between environmental protection and economic development.
Location & Facilities
Located in a private residential area, the former 31,863-square-metre building features eight three- or four-storey buildings and a variety of sports facilities.
此外，附近还有一所国际学校——新加坡德国人学校（German European School Singapore）。
In the past few years, Endeavour High School has undergone two mergers, first into Faga Middle School in 2016 and then with Qunli High School in 2023.
Tendering and cooperation opportunities
Interested parties can make an appointment to attend the presentation at the tender venue on February 7 to learn more about the details of the tender.
The tender is scheduled to close at 11 a.m. on Feb. 28 and the results are expected to be announced on May 28 this year.
The government also plans to launch more consultation campaigns to assist schools in foreign systems in acquiring long-term land. Currently, there are more than 50 international schools in Singapore.
The Singapore government's last tender was in 2017
The last time the Singapore government conducted a similar tender was in 2017, at the Pioneer Secondary School at 21 Jurong West Street 81.
Pioneer Secondary School was later merged with Boon Lay Secondary School in 2017 and its premises have now been converted into a branch campus of One World International School.
One World International School, Singapore
One World International School in Singapore (OWIS) is a member of the Global Schools Foundation (GSF), a Singapore-based foundation with a network of 20 schools in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India and the UAE.
The East Coast campus is specifically tailored for children aged 3 to 6 years.
The Nanyang Campus is surrounded by 32,000 square meters of innovative learning facilities and inviting outdoor spaces.
Following the Nanyang Campus in Jurong West and the East Coast Campus in Mountbatden, One World International School (OWIS) has opened its third new campus in Suntec, Singapore.
The Suntec City campus has a capacity of 270 students and a total area of more than 20,000 square feet. Within the 1,500-square-foot dynamic learning space, the maximum class size for the large digital device classroom is 24 students.
Impact and outlook
This tender will provide international families with more educational options to meet the growing demand.
By retrofitting an existing school building into an international school, the cost and resource consumption of the new school can be reduced, while protecting the ecological environment.
This will also inject new vitality into Singapore's education industry and promote innovation and development in the field of education.
Strengths & Features of International Schools in Singapore
As an important hub of education in Asia, Singapore has been attracting parents and students from all over the world with its excellent education system and quality educational environment.
Especially for early education, international schools in Singapore have always had a good reputation for providing children with a wealth of educational resources and opportunities.
01
More suitable for foreign students
In the context of globalization, many countries have established international schools because of the large number of expatriates from multinational corporations.
These schools not only meet the educational needs of expatriate families, but also ensure that their children continue to receive the same education system and culture as their home countries during the basic education years.
This way, when the children need to return to their home countries, they can easily connect to the education curriculum in their home country.
International schools in Singapore are unique in the global education sector. Their IB results have been leading the world for many years in a row, well above average.
Moreover, tuition fees are more affordable than those in Europe and the United States, making high-quality education affordable for working families.
In Singapore, the government has a clear rule on international schools: Singaporeans at the primary level are not allowed to attend international schools unless there is a special reason for doing so.
This policy ensures that Singaporeans have access to state-provided public education resources, while international students can opt for a more international and multicultural educational environment.
International Schooling provides an ideal educational platform for international students to have an enriching learning experience in this educational hub in Singapore.
For families who want to give their children an international education, international schools in Singapore are undoubtedly a quality option worth considering.
02
Admission requirements are lower
In the field of education in Singapore, international schools are in stark contrast to government schools.
Compared to government schools, international schools have relatively relaxed entry requirements, providing more opportunities for international students to enroll.
Due to the large number of international schools in Singapore and the independent admissions rights, students have a higher chance of successfully applying for admission.
These schools also differ when it comes to admissions exams.
Some international schools use internationally recognized common tests to ensure that students' academic abilities are in line with international standards;
Other schools conduct self-proclaimed entrance exams, including English, mathematics, etc., and the specific requirements need to refer to the official website of each school.
In order to ensure a smooth admission, parents and students are advised to carefully understand the admission requirements of each international school before applying, and prepare according to the school's regulations.
Although admission requirements vary from school to school, the entry threshold for international schools is relatively low compared to government schools.
In addition, international schools in Singapore place a strong emphasis on English education, and most schools will provide English language support programs to help non-native English speakers make the transition.
As long as students pass the regular exams, they can smoothly enter the mainstream class.
However, it is important to note that as the number of foreigners in Singapore continues to increase, places in top international schools are becoming increasingly tight.
Therefore, parents need to plan their child's admission application as early as possible to ensure that their child can enter the international school of their choice.
Overall, international schools in Singapore provide a variety of educational opportunities and high-quality educational resources for international students.
Whether you're looking for an international educational environment or a family looking to improve their English skills, international schools in Singapore are an option worth considering.
03
The teaching curriculum is diverse and advanced
The three main curricula of international schools in Singapore are:
International Baccalaureate (IB)
AP (Advanced Placement)
A-Level (Commonwealth Curriculum)
IB Programme:
The IB curriculum emphasizes the development of students' personalities and abilities, and is widely applied and is regarded as the highest level of curriculum in the world.
IB diploma holders are recognized by nearly 1,000 universities around the world, making it an excellent springboard for students planning to transfer to Europe and the United States.
It is worth mentioning that the IB results of international schools in Singapore are among the best in the world.
In the May 2023 examinations, Singapore's 1,894 IB students scored an average of 35.05, far exceeding the global average of 30.24.
Well-known international schools that offer the IB curriculum include United World College Southeast Asia, Canadian International School, etc.
AP Courses:
AP courses are the main reference standard for college admissions in the United States.
Students who choose an AP school can ensure that their teaching is consistent with primary and secondary education in the United States, which is ideal for students who plan to transfer or advance to the United States in the future.
Schools such as Stanford in Singapore and the American International School in Singapore offer AP courses.
A-Level Courses:
In Singapore, the A-Level exam is jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of Singapore and the University of Cambridge Examinations in the United Kingdom, and is an important test for local secondary school students after completing two years of high school education, and it is also a national unified standard for university admissions.
Singapore's bilingual teaching model is an ideal choice for students preparing for A-Level exams in the country.
Teachers in Singapore are bilingual and gradually increase the difficulty of vocabulary in the teaching process, which helps to develop students' critical thinking skills in English while avoiding excessive stress due to a completely unfamiliar language environment.
04
The campus is culturally diverse and excellent
As an educational institution for students from all over the world, International School's campus culture is distinctly diverse.
These schools not only provide students with a high-quality education, but also open a window to cultures around the world.
Whether students believe in a particular religion, have a strong interest in the cultures of countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, or want to have more opportunities for international education in the future, international schools provide an ideal educational environment for them.
International schools can be broadly divided into two categories.
One category is schools that are based on the education system of a particular country, such as the Singapore American International School and the Stanford American International School of Singapore, among others.
These schools follow the curriculum and educational philosophy of the country in which they are located, providing students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the culture of a particular country.
On the other hand, there are international schools that do not have a specific national background.
They admit students from different countries and regions, with a focus on cultivating students' international perspectives and multicultural experiences. In such a school, students have the opportunity to interact with classmates from all over the world and grow together.
For Chinese students, choosing an international school not only means improving their language skills, but also experiencing the cultural charm of other countries during the learning process.
This kind of cross-cultural exchange and learning will lay a solid foundation for students' future international development.
Overall, international schooling is a melting pot that brings together cultures and ideas from all over the world.
Here, students will not only learn a wealth of knowledge, but also gain an unforgettable cross-cultural exchange experience.