Thinking of living in Singapore? Finding the right school is one of the major decisions you’ll have to make, along with which house or neighbourhood to live in. This guide includes an overview and information on Singapore international schools, who will also help your family to settle in if you’re relocating.
Singapore international schools – an overview
Singapore international schools offer a multicultural environment and a range of curriculums. Some maintain a single-country programme, from the English National Curriculum to the Advanced Placement (US), to programmes from Japan, France, Germany, India and elsewhere. Others offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. In fact, approximately half of international schools there are IB schools, with as many as 30 offering the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). At some schools, you’ll find a mix of these curriculums.
Below is a look at some leading Singapore international schools with stats, general information and feedback from the schools on curriculum, languages and more.
XCL World Academy
Founded: 2014
Number of students: Approximately 900
Nationalities: Over 50
Grades: Nursery to Grade 12 (18 months to 18 years)
Dates: August to June
Location: XWA’s 5-hectare campus is within a green residential neighbourhood, just over 20 minutes from the city centre, with convenient access by car, public transport, school bus and a complimentary shuttle from Yishun MRT.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
At XCL World Academy (XWA), we believe every learner’s journey should be as unique as their potential. Rather than expecting every student to follow the same route, we offer different pathways designed around their strengths, interests and ambitions.
Students benefit from the IB continuum, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). In the senior years, students can also access Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a WASC-accredited High School Diploma, providing greater flexibility in building a pathway towards university and beyond.
Learning at XWA also goes well beyond traditional academics. Through our XCLerate Future Skills Programme and wider curriculum, students put learning into action through AI and technology, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, leadership, global citizenship, community action, arts, sports and real-world experiences.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
We offer multiple opportunities for students to develop their Mandarin, including our immersive English-Chinese Bilingual Programme from Pre-K to Grade 5. The programme integrates English and Chinese within the IB PYP, with two teachers working together to create an immersive dual-language learning environment. Students develop their language skills while exploring the same concepts, ideas and inquiries across both languages.
Mandarin is also available through the school’s wider language programme, alongside other languages such as French and Spanish. For students developing their English proficiency, we provide dedicated EAL and Foundational English support, helping learners access the curriculum and participate confidently in school life.
What support do you offer families relocating to Singapore?
Our Admissions Team supports families from their first enquiry, including those planning their move from overseas. With rolling admissions throughout the year, families have the flexibility to join when the timing works for them, rather than having to plan their relocation around the start of an academic year.
Our school offers personalised pastoral and wellbeing support, student connections and a close-knit community to help children settle into their new environment. With more than 50 nationalities represented on campus, new students join a genuinely international community where different cultures, languages and perspectives are part of everyday school life.
Support extends to parents too. Coffee mornings, community events, parent connections and family activities provide plenty of opportunities to meet other families and build a network for living in Singapore.
2 Yishun Street 42
6808 7300 | xwa.edu.sg
International French School (Singapore)
Founded: 1967
Number of students: Over 2,600
Nationalities: Over 70 different nationalities
Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 12 (3 to 18 years)
Dates: September to early July
Location: Situated along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 in a peaceful residential neighbourhood. The campus is minutes from public transport and major expressways.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
We offer a bilingual education in French and English, following the French national curriculum from kindergarten through High School. At the Secondary level, students can choose between the French Baccalaureate and the French International Baccalaureate, both of which are internationally recognised and designed to prepare students for global higher education. Additionally, students in Seconde (Grade 10) have the option to take the Cambridge IGCSE exams.
We have recently introduced the English International Stream (EIS), a dedicated pathway that combines inquiry-based learning and early multilingual exposure with no French prerequisite. The EIS is designed for families seeking a world-class English-language curriculum in Singapore.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
Students learn Mandarin at every stage of their education at the school – we accommodate both native and non-native speakers. From the 2025 academic year, Kindergarten students will receive up to three hours of Mandarin lessons per week. In Elementary School, Mandarin is taught for one hour each week, providing a strong foundation in the language. At the Secondary level, students have the option to join the ‘Mandarin section’. This offers three hours of Mandarin per week, allowing for deeper language development and also cultural exposure. It eventually leads to the Mandarin Culture & Civilisation programme in High School, which is five hours per week.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
For students who are new to the French language, we have intensive integrated bridging programmes such as FLSco and French Passerelle. There’s also direct support for students’ wellbeing. It includes a peer ‘Buddy system’ for immediate friendship, a dedicated Counselling Centre for emotional support and over 70 extracurricular activities that encourage building social connections through shared interests.
Simultaneously, we actively foster a strong sense of community among parents through a structured engagement model. This includes a Parent Committee and a Class Representative system, both of which explicitly encourage new and non-Francophone parents to participate.
Together, this holistic ecosystem addresses the key challenges of relocating and living in Singapore, helping new families and students to feel at home and thrive within IFS’s diverse community.
3000 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3
6805 0000 | ifs.edu.sg
Tanglin Trust School
Founded: 1925
Number of students: 2,850
Nationalities: Over 50
Grades: Nursery to Year 13 (3 to 18 years)
Dates: August to July
Location: On Portsdown Road, about 15 minutes from Singapore’s city centre; close to Holland Village, Dempsey and nearby Sentosa
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
Our academic traditions and approach to teaching are firmly grounded in an enhanced and rigorous English National Curriculum. However, there are many aspects of school life that have a global focus and are contextualised to the school’s location in Southeast Asia. Tanglin offers IGCSEs; we are the first school in Singapore offering both A Levels and the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form. This gives students the opportunity to choose the best pathway for them.
In the Senior School, students can learn French, Spanish, Latin and Mandarin. All are popular and many students choose to pursue them right up to IB and A Level.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
In the Infant and Junior schools, all children have Mandarin lessons twice a week and a linguist-in-residence programme operates in Nursery and Reception. The focus is on nurturing a love of language learning and encouraging children to develop confidence when expressing themselves in Mandarin. This moves on to reading and writing as they move through Years 1 and 2. The school also offers French, Mandarin, Japanese and Hindi Mother Tongue programmes for Infants.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
We work collaboratively with parents via the Friends of Tanglin (FoT) community group. The aim of this informal platform is for both current families and those who are new to Tanglin and Singapore to connect and find support from a nurturing community. FoT gives families living in Singapore the opportunity to engage with others and make friends around their children through appealing events. Parents can volunteer as much or as little as they like, since such roles are flexible and adaptable to one’s schedule. Parents who connect through Friends of Tanglin activities often form strong friendships, some of whom have continued to keep in touch even after they leave the school.
95 Portsdown Road
6778 0771 | tts.edu.sg
SJI International Preschool
Founded: 2024
Number of students: Over 100
Nationalities: 15
Grades: Early Years and Kindergarten (2-6 years)
Dates: January to December
Location: Set in lush greenery along Holland Road, offering access to vibrant indoor and outdoor learning environments. Easily accessible by both public and private transport.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
A bilingual, inquiry-based curriculum that is holistic, co-constructed and tailored to support every individual child.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
We offer a comprehensive bilingual English and Mandarin Immersion programme. Our programme ensures that children learn meaningfully and engagingly. It fosters their interest and builds their confidence in using English and Mandarin through their daily interactions and learning inquiries. Each classroom is staffed with at least one English and Mandarin-speaking educator throughout the day.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
Families joining our Preschool are welcomed into a nurturing environment that reflects one of our core values: Community. As a growing Singapore school, our team places great emphasis on building strong relationships with each family. We offer personalised support as children, and parents, settle into a new home and routine for living in Singapore.
49A Holland Road (previously Maris Stella Kindergarten)
6908 4520 | sji-internationalpreschool.com.sg
SJI International Elementary School
Founded: 2008
Number of students: Over 800
Nationalities: Over 40
Grades: Prep 1 to Grade 6 (4 to 12 years)
Dates: January to December
Location: The landscaped campus is centrally located in the Thomson suburbs, easily accessible by both public and private transport.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
Mainstream or Bilingual Programme, International Primary Curriculum, International Middle Years Curriculum, MOE Singapore Mathematics Syllabus, and The Virtues Project.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
Our Bilingual Programme accommodates both native and non-native speakers by fostering proficiency in both English and Chinese languages. It employs an alternating language teaching model that strategically divides instruction by subject area and time. This approach reflects our commitment to balanced language development in both English and Chinese.
For students in the Mainstream Programme, Chinese is offered as an additional language. Our Mandarin language and Chinese culture lessons take place daily for all classes. There are also further immersion opportunities for our early language learners.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
Relocating to any new country, Singapore included, is a significant journey, and the community at SJI International Elementary School understands this well. Many of our staff and existing families have navigated similar transitions, making them invaluable resources for newcomers. We foster a vibrant and welcoming environment where new families can easily connect with others through our Parent Support Groups and regular parent coffee mornings. These provide a space to share experiences, gain insights into local life, and build lasting friendships, ensuring a smooth and supportive transition into school life and beyond.
490 Thomson Road
6353 9383 | sji-international.com.sg
SJI International High School
Founded: 2007
Number of students: Over 1,300
Nationalities: Over 40
Grades: Grades 7 to 12 (13 to 18 years)
Dates: January to December
Location: The High School shares the same campus as the Elementary School (above).
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
In all Grades, we offer Chinese on three different pathways – as a first, second or foreign language – according to our students’ varying needs. Within each pathway, students are placed in ability sets best suited for their level of language competency.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
Families quickly discover the warmth and strength of our school community. This is an embodiment of one of our core values, Community. Many of our families and staff have themselves relocated to Singapore – they’re always ready to share experiences and offer support. Our active Parent Support Groups and regular parent coffee mornings provide natural opportunities to connect, gather advice, and feel part of school life. This shared understanding creates a welcoming, empathetic environment where new families are supported and quickly feel at home living in Singapore.
490 Thomson Road
6353 9383 | sji-international.com.sg
Singapore American School
Founded: 1956
Number of students: 3,975
Nationalities: Over 70 different nationalities
Grades: Pre-Nursery to Grade 12
Dates: August to June
Location: In Woodlands in the north region of Singapore. It’s near to Marsiling MRT station and close to several bus stops.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
The American curriculum.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
We host daily world language classes and also run our Chinese Immersion program from preschool to fifth grade.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
We offer a variety of supports for incoming families who are new to living in Singapore. These include counsellor-led orientation sessions, PTA organised “buddy families”, and a week-long programme called Jumpstart, specifically designed to help kids make friends, learn the school, and feel settled before their first day.
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
Overseas Family School
Founded: 1991
Number of students: Approximately 3,000
Nationalities: Over 65
Grades: Pre-K1 to Grade 12
Dates: August to June
Location: In Pasir Ris in eastern Singapore, close to Pasir Ris Beach and surrounded by residential neighbourhoods. The campus is easily accessible by car and public transport, with buses serving the school and an OFS shuttle service operating from Pasir Ris MRT.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
OFS offers the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) for Pre-K1 to Kindergarten 2, the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for Grades 1 to 5, the IB Middle Years Programme for Grades 6 to 10, Cambridge IGCSE for Grades 9 and 10, and the IBDP for Grades 11 and 12.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
Mandarin is available through our school’s language programmes. Students can study Mandarin as a Mother Tongue language, with Mother Tongue lessons integrated into the school timetable from Pre-K2 through Grade 8. Mandarin is also available as a foreign language option.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
OFS is designed to support internationally mobile families, with year-round enrolment and no entrance examinations. Students can join the school throughout the academic year, helping families whose relocation does not coincide with the start of term.
For students still developing their English, OFS offers its English Language Acquisition Programme, also known as the Study Preparation Program (SPP). This helps students build the language skills needed to transition into mainstream classes. Students can also continue developing their Mother Tongue within the school timetable, helping them maintain a strong connection to their home language while settling into a new school environment.
The Admissions Team supports families throughout the enrolment process and can also arrange campus visits before joining the school.
81 Pasir Ris Heights
6738 0211 | ofs.edu.sg
German European School Singapore (GESS)
Founded: 1971
Number of students: 1,700
Nationalities: 60+
Grades: 18 months to 18 years
Dates: August to July
Location: A green, spacious campus surrounded by greenery, with Dairy Farm Nature Park at the doorstep, and nearby Hillview MRT station and regular bus services connecting to the rest of Singapore.
A word from the team
What curriculums are taught at the school?
GESS is the only school in Singapore offering the full IB continuum, from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) right through to the Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP). This gives families a genuinely seamless educational journey from the early years all the way to university. We also offer the German Curriculum through to Abitur, reflecting our roots as a German European school and giving families the choice of two world-class academic pathways under one roof.
Whichever pathway a family chooses, the aim is the same: to nurture curious, confident learners who feel empowered to discover and own their future. With small, supportive class sizes, students are known as individuals, not numbers, and are encouraged to bring their own background and perspective into the classroom every day.
Are there opportunities for learning Mandarin?
We believe language opens doors, and Mandarin is one of the most exciting doors we open for our students, right from the very beginning. Children start learning Mandarin daily from just 18 months old, giving them a natural head start. Learning at such a young age means Mandarin becomes second nature, absorbed in the same playful, curious way a first language is.
What support do you offer to families relocating to Singapore?
Moving to a new country is a big step, and GESS wants every family to feel welcomed from day one. Each new student is paired with a student buddy to help them settle in; parents can also request a parent buddy of their own for extra support along the way.
Our admissions team provides personalised onboarding too, guiding families through enrolment and what to expect in the first few weeks, so nothing feels overwhelming. For families who are more comfortable communicating in Mandarin, a Mandarin-speaking member of the team will be on hand, too.
With over 70 nationalities represented on campus, newcomers quickly discover they are far from alone. GESS is a place where every family’s background is respected and celebrated, helping students and parents alike feel truly at home living in Singapore.
2 Dairy Farm Lane
6461 0852 | gess.edu.sg
Finding a spot in a Singapore international school
Given the strength and reputation of the school system in Singapore, some parents in Hong Kong worry that there might not be any places for their kids.
A few international schools in Singapore are always in high demand and are extremely competitive. However, local citizens generally don’t attend international schools so the schools have seats for expats to fill.
Another factor is the growth in the number of international schools in Singapore; new ones seem to open every year. While local education is also an option, with fees considerably lower than their international counterparts, there are some fairly strict admission obstacles for expats to get around.
It’s really about finding the best fit. That means doing your research and asking lots of questions before moving. If you’re not sure what to ask, read on!
Key factors to consider when shortlisting Singapore international schools
There are some obvious topics that parents will have questions about when starting their research. Fees is one. Common queries include, “How much are they?” “Do they increase every year?” and “Are they all-inclusive?” A school’s age and reputation is another. Many families want to know how long a school has been around, and also where the teachers are from and how experienced they are.
For a deeper dive into whether or not a school might be right for you and your family, you could also consider the following checklist of questions.
10 things to ask
- What is the curriculum, and will it suit my child’s educational needs and the future plans of our family? Finding the right fit with the curriculum can help minimise the impact of moving country and school.
- Where is the school located? Is it a manageable commute to the campus from home? What are public transport links like?
- What are class sizes like, and is there a high teacher-to-child ratio?
- What is the language programme at the school? Is there a compulsory second language, and is this an experience that will benefit my child?
- What kind of extracurricular opportunities are offered as a balance to my child’s academic studies and to help widen his or her educational experience?
- Can parents get involved at the school? This can be a great way to meet new people and also become a part of the community.
- What are the school facilities like for educational, sporting and cultural pursuits?
- What kinds of school excursions are offered? Might there be opportunities for visits to foreign countries for volunteering and community engagement? What about excursions on a local level?
- Does the term calendar vary from our previous school in Hong Kong? When does school start, and when are the holidays?
- What are the school’s methods of communication with parents? Can we follow newsletters and social media outlets to see our children’s learning experiences and hear school news?
Want to know more about schools in Singapore?
The Expat Living Singapore website has comprehensive guides to preschools and schools in Singapore. You’ll also find reviews from families, and features on campus facilities, extracurricular activities, specific subjects and sports programmes at Singapore international schools. In addition, if you’re planning on relocating here, there are loads of articles all about the process and living in Singapore!
Not thinking about relocating to Singapore? You can also find features about Hong Kong schools in our Kids section.
