As one of the best places to study in the world, Singapore’s reputation precedes itself when it comes to international school education. The country is home to world-class schools at every level, including XCL World Academy – a leading international school in Singapore offering a globally recognised IB curriculum. From primary school all the way to university and postgrad. Sending your child to study in Singapore means they can access challenging, high-quality education during their foundational years and beyond.
Singapore local schools, in particular, are known for being effective, with a strong emphasis on academic rigour and excellence. At the same time, international schools in Singapore offer students a well-rounded education and prepare them to lead, succeed and excel in the jobs of tomorrow.
So how do you choose between local and international schools in Singapore? In this article, we will have a look at various factors that may impact your decision, such as:
- Local vs. international schools
- Factors to consider
- Cost
- Admissions
- Curriculum
- Culture
- School Hours
- School Activities
- Academic Year
- When should you choose a local school?
- When should you choose an international school?
Local schools vs. international schools
Before anything else, it’s important to understand the differences between local and international schools in Singapore. While both provide world-class education, each type of school offers a completely different environment for students. Most local schools are primarily attended by Singaporean students, while international schools have a more diverse student population.
Let’s take a deeper look at the differences between local and international schools.
Local Schools
Local schools, also known as mainstream schools, follow the national curriculum set by Singapore’s Ministry of Education. There are four stages of schooling:
All classes are taught in English, but students must learn a Mother Tongue Language (either Chinese, Malay or Tamil) in primary school. This means most local school students grow up bilingual.
If you’re planning to enrol your child in a local school, you should also be aware that priority is given to Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) which leads to limited places for international students.
Additionally, the tuition fee varies depending on your child’s residency status. For more information on local schools’ tuition fees, you can check the Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) website or the costing table later in this article.
International Schools
As the name suggests, international schools generally offer other-than Singaporean programmes.
Many international schools follow country-specific curriculums, such as American, British, Japanese, etc; while others provide a more broad-based, globally-oriented and holistic framework of studies — such as the IB Primary Years (IB PYP), International Primary Curriculum (IPC), IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC).
Most international schools offer externally moderated examinations, such as the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in Grade 10 and/or the IB Diploma in Grade 12.
International schools are popular for their openness and multicultural diversity, with some schools having more than 50 nationalities represented within their student body.
If your child holds a foreign passport, you should have no problem applying directly to an international school. However, Singaporean Citizens (SCs) are not permitted to enrol their children into international schools unless they obtain special approval from the MOE.
Similar to other countries, international schooling can get quite expensive, with fees ranging from S$12,000 to S$50,000 annually. However, these fees also ensure that your child will receive access to the highest-quality education available, taught by experienced teachers from all over the globe. On top of this, your child will have access to world-class facilities — such as Olympic-sized swimming pools, state-of-the-art auditoriums, sports fields, visual art and music rooms, well-equipped libraries, and (in the case of XCL World Academy) an innovations suite, Esports arena, a contemporary design centre and more.
Many international schools also offer comprehensive homeroom and pastoral care programmes to promote students’ academic, social and emotional development. This ensures that every child receives a well-rounded education and allows them to achieve their full potential.
Factors to consider when choosing between local and international schools
Whether you choose a local or international school, international students in Singapore will need one of the following requirements:
- Student Pass (SP),
- Dependant’s Pass (DP),
- Immigration Exemption Order (IEO),
- or a Singapore Permanent Residency (PR).
Foreign nationals applying for international schools may directly apply to their school/s of choice, while those interested in applying to local schools will need to go through the MOE.
Other documents that both local and international schools may require include:
- Passports (applicant’s and parents’)
- Birth Certificate
- Email address
- Address in Singapore.
When should you choose a local school?
Singapore is known to have one of the best educational systems in the world. And for subjects like Mathematics and Science, their students have consistently topped the ranks. Local schools are typically hyper-focused on academics, which can be a pro or a con depending on the student.
With significantly more affordable tuition fees and quality education, local schools are undoubtedly a great option, especially for families who would prefer to immerse their children in the local culture.
The MOE sets a fixed calendar for local schools, which means holidays and exam schedules hardly ever change. On the other hand, international schools have more flexible timetables, which are often displayed on their websites. If your work follows the Singapore calendar, then the local school calendar might work better for your schedule. Alternatively, you can choose a southern hemisphere school that starts in January.
When should you choose an international school?
International schools are a popular choice for expatriate families because of the multicultural environment they offer. Moving into a new school and country can be a daunting experience for any child so it’s important for them to find peers they can relate to.
International school teachers are experts at helping children to transition into a new country, a new school and (possibly) a new way of learning with a new-style curriculum. And because the IBO developed their programmes with international families in mind, international schools like XWA, which offer the full IB continuum of studies (IB PYP, IB MYP and IB Diploma), are uniquely placed to assist transient, internationally-mobile families.
Students who wish to pursue their tertiary education in another country will find it advantageous to study in an international school with a compatible curriculum. This makes it easier for them to transfer and get accepted to their dream universities and schools.
Exposure to different cultures is possibly one of the best aspects of being in an international school. Having friends from various countries will help your child become culturally aware and open-minded.
An international school education focuses on a student’s holistic development, which means they won’t be cooped up in a classroom all day. Students are encouraged to learn through experience and develop their passions with the help of extra-curricular activities.
Why choose XCL World Academy
XCL World Academy (XWA) is a family-oriented international school that offers a world-class curriculum, empowering students to become the next leaders of their generation.
Starting from our nursery programme and continuing through the full IB continuum of studies, our students are encouraged to play an active role in their learning both inside and outside the classroom.
Our small class sizes and our personalised teaching programme ensures that our educators can focus on each student and customise their learning experiences to help them reach their maximum potential.
Our future-oriented approach to education will equip your child with skills in:
- Global Leadership & Innovation
- Technology and Digital Media
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability & Stewardship
With students representing approximately 50 nationalities and educators from over 20 countries, our community is truly international.
XWA believes in a well-balanced lifestyle. Our numerous extra-curricular activities and clubs, most included within the annual tuition fees, allow our students to discover new skills and develop their talents in a supportive environment.
The sprawling five-hectare campus is located in the heart of Yishun and is easily accessible from any part of Singapore. More than just a school, students can enjoy state-of-the-art facilities such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an all-weather FIFA-approved sports field, massive libraries, Esports facilities, innovation labs and so much more.
If you are a progressive parent that believes:
- 一所國際學校應專注於最佳的教學方法（而非一個世紀前的過時方法），特別是我們的孩子需要學習 如何 學習，而不僅僅是學習 什麼 ；並且
- 一所國際學校應培養學生具備在大學及未來取得成功所需的技能和知識，並了解他們未來將申請的大多數工作在今天尚未存在；並且
- 一所國際學校應透過了解每個孩子最佳的學習方式，並激勵他們發揮最大潛能，從而培養他們的才能；並且
- 您的孩子應在多元文化的環境中學習，同時慶祝自己的語言和文化，以及他人的語言和文化……
……那麼我們鼓勵您 今天預約參觀 ，以了解更多關於我們獨特的課程，並沉浸在我們美好的社群中。我們期待您的光臨！
