Admissions FAQs

Below are some of the frequently asked questions we receive from families thinking of applying to Tanglin. If you cannot find the answer to your query, please email our Admissions Team.

Admissions Policy

Is Tanglin Academically Selective?
Academic achievement is a factor that will be considered in older year groups and we will continue to require diagnostic assessments to be completed as part of the application process for Year 7 and above. Further online assessments and/or written papers may also be required for Middle School, Upper Senior School and Sixth Form applicants. Interviews may be conducted with applicants to any year group.

Tanglin’s provides learning support. A base level of individual learning, emotional and social needs that can be met within the mainstream classroom and current learning support provision is still required. In the younger years, there is no further prioritisation beyond this base level. Tanglin remains committed to welcoming all children who can access our curriculum, and providing the same levels of support, precision teaching and nurturing, to ensure all Tanglin students become the best learners they can be.

Timeline of Annual Offers
All Nursery offers will be made towards end of January, and most offers for other year groups will be made towards end of April, for commencement in August. A small number of offers may be made from the prior November in exceptional circumstances. Those who do not receive an offer will be notified their application is unsuccessful. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply the following year. A small number of applicants will be invited to remain in the wait pool for places which may become available during the year.

The Importance of Early Entry
Tanglin’s primary intake is at Nursery with 160 places available. An additional 32 places are added in Reception however, beyond this, place availability relies fully on withdrawals. We strongly encourage all families wishing to pursue a Tanglin education for their children to apply for the major Nursery intake. Tanglin’s renowned Early Years Foundation Programme, developed over its 95-year history, provides an invaluable foundation our students build on throughout their educational journey at the school.

Does the school apply for MOE Waivers for Singaporean Students?
Due to current limitations on our number of Ministry of Education (MOE) waiver applications for Singapore citizens, Tanglin is only able to apply for waivers for students in the following prioritised groups (subject to availability):

Children of staff
Applicants with sibling(s) who already have an MOE waiver and have already been enrolled in the school for at least one term
Children of alumni

Whilst MOE waivers are currently not required for Singapore citizens to attend pre-P1 levels (Nursery and Reception) at Tanglin, any Singaporean enrolled in pre-P1 levels must obtain an MOE waiver to continue at the school once they reach P1 age. Singaporean applicants must note that admission to a pre-P1 level at Tanglin does not exempt the child from having to obtain an MOE waiver, nor does it guarantee that an application will be made by the school or that the MOE will grant the application if made.

School Information

What is your school's mission?

Tanglin Trust School Singapore has a long tradition of providing British-based learning with an international perspective. At Tanglin we strive to make every individual feel valued, happy and successful. Responsibility, enthusiasm and participation are actively encouraged and integrity is prized. Working together in a safe, caring yet stimulating environment, we set high expectations whilst offering strong support, resulting in a community of lifelong learners who can contribute with confidence to our world. See our Mission, Vision and Values here.

How is the school governed?
Administered by a Board of Governors, Tanglin Trust School is a non-profit company limited by guarantee and is registered as an educational charity. It is dependent on school-fee income and all revenue is devoted to the provision of education.

Under the School's Governing Instrument and Statutory Regulations, there shall be not less than 10 and not more than 15 governors. Board members are appointed by invitations, which is followed by a formal vote, and serve without remuneration. The Board of Governors elects its own Chair and governors are invited to serve based on the professional skills they can add and on their connection to the school.

In partnership with the school's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the board is responsible for finance, staffing, premises, enrolment, commissioning regular independent inspections and ensuring that the school operates in accordance with relevant regulations in Singapore. See Board Sub-Committee details for more information.

How is the school accredited?
British Schools Overseas (BSO), Edutrust (CPE), Infant School Accreditations, Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS). Click here for further information on inspections and awards.

Admissions

What is the student demographic?
The students at our school are made up of 50+ different nationalities with an approximate 50/50 split on gender.

Does Tanglin have a waitlist?
We no longer have waitlists at Tanglin. Applicants in the applicant pool will be reviewed and assessed each year by the relevant Head of School and Head of Admissions. The outcome of the annual application process may be: a) an offer of place in the school, b) allocation to the waitpool for consideration for places which may become available during the academic year applied for, or c) the application is unsuccessful. Please refer to our Conditions governing Enrolment and Admissions for further details.

What are Placement Rights?
Tanglin Trust School has a programme of Guaranteed Placement Rights, designed to offer accelerated access to a small percentage of places in exchange for a significant contribution to the school. Guaranteed Placement Rights offer a guaranteed place at the school. For more information, click here.

What is the age requirement for students?
Students are placed in their age appropriate year groups according to their date of birth. We take account of students' age as of the 1 September, and it is our policy not to place students out of their age appropriate year groups. Nursery is the entry point for our school and students must be 3 years of age as of 1 September in the year of entry, turning 4 within the school year. Click here to see the age appropriate year group table.

Do you offer boarding?
Tanglin does not provide boarding facilities and students must be living in Singapore with at least one of their parents.

My child is currently in Year 10 and we will move to Singapore for my child to complete Year 11, is this possible?
No, we do not accept any new students into Year 11 as it is the second year of a two year (I)GCSE programme, where students write exams at the end of Year 11 based on studies and coursework completed over Years 10 and 11.

My child is currently in Year 12 and we will move to Singapore for my child to complete Year 13, is this possible?
No, we do not accept any new students into Year 13 as it is the second year of either a two year A Level or IB Diploma course, where students write exams at the end of Year 13 based on studies and coursework completed over Years 12 and 13.

How much notice is required if I wish to withdraw my child from school?
As outlined in the Terms and Conditions Governing Admissions, withdrawal notifications must be submitted by the stated withdrawal deadlines to the Admissions Team in order to avoid financial consequences. For further details, click here.

School Life

What are the school hours?
Information on school hours can be found : Infant, Junior, Middle, Upper & Sixth Form

What are the class sizes and how many classes do you have in each year group?

Nursery: eight classes of 20 students
Reception to Year 9: eight classes of 24 students
Years 10 & 11: eight tutor groups of 24 students. Class size of 20 students in option subjects, and 24 students in set subjects
Years 12 & 13: 12 tutor groups of 15 students. Subject classes are a maximum of 15 students, but may run for as few as five students.

Please note that the maximum class size may be exceeded on occasion due to extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Head of School with the support of the CEO.

Will my child have to wear uniform? Where can I buy the uniform?
Yes, all students from Nursery to Sixth Form wear a school uniform. The School Shop stocks the full range of school clothing including swimwear, bags, hats, sportswear and House shirts. School shoes are not sold in the shop. Click here for the opening times of the School Shop.

How do parents stay informed about what their children are doing at school?
Each school reports to parents and actively involves parents in their children’s learning. Parent Teacher Conferences/Parent Teacher Student Conferences are also held throughout the year and Infant parents can access their child's Interactive Learning Diary.

The school's Parent Portal includes useful documents and information on upcoming events. Parents also get a weekly newsletter, InTouch, plus a school magazine, The Voice, twice a year. The Voice is a celebration of our community, including sporting achievements, academic success, events and ensembles, thought leadership and charitable work. We also have the ParentWise programme which runs a series of free workshops and presentations for parents.

Can parents volunteer to assist in the classroom?
Yes. Volunteering is one of the many ways parents can support the school and students' learning. Others include work experience, careers fairs, specialist speakers and community events.

Does the school have a canteen where my child can buy lunch, or are children expected to bring their own lunch?
There are several canteens throughout the school. Junior and Senior students can choose to buy lunch and snacks or bring in their own. Infant children bring in their own snacks and lunch.

Click here for more information on food and catering, including the types of food available.

How do students get to and from school?
Our students travel to and from school in a number of different ways; some are dropped off by parents, some travel by MRT (One-North is the nearest station a five minute walk away), and many use the popular door-to-door school bus service. Click here for bus information, including routes, arrival and departure times.

Do you have a school nurse on campus?
Each school has its own health centre with fully qualified registered nurses. The nurses are onsite in case of accidents and they also accompany students on school trips.

Curriculum

Which curriculum do you follow?
Tanglin's 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 our location in South East Asia. We are proud to be the only school in Singapore offering both A Levels and the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form, giving our students the opportunity to choose the best pathway for them.

Teaching and Learning

Do you offer English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme?
No, Tanglin does not provide any special programmes to teach students for whom English is an additional language and who are at an early stage of acquiring English. Students wishing to enrol in the school must have an age appropriate fluency in English, and one parent is required to be fluent in English to ensure effective communication between school and home.

Do you offer Learning Support?
At Tanglin, we are an inclusive learning environment and believe that each child is entitled to a curriculum that facilitates their individual development and support which allows them to achieve their full academic potential. Most of the time, the learning needs of our students can be met by class teachers. However, at certain stages along their learning journey some students may need curriculum modification or specific intervention. Please see the following links for school specific information: Infant, Junior, Middle & Upper.

What foreign languages can my child learn at school?
Our aim is to develop languages through carefully planned programmes for all students from Nursery to Year 11, with options to continue through to Year 13.

Chinese (Mandarin) is the core MFL studied in the Infant and Junior Schools. Chinese, French and Spanish are offered in the Senior School, with the vast majority of students studying two of these languages in Year 7 and 8, before specialising in one MFL to study for GCSE. Many of our students live in bilingual (or multilingual) households and we encourage those students to continue to develop their mother tongue languages alongside English; support for a number of languages is available through after school activities and private tuition on site.

Are students required to bring in their own laptop or other personal computing device to school?

From Nursery to Year 6, students will use Tanglin facilities in school.

The Senior School (Year 7 - 13) runs a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) programme with the proviso that it is pen-enabled and as such, all Senior School students must have a pen-enabled device.

For more information about device requirements for specific year groups, click here.

Where do your staff come from?
Our community is a diverse mix of professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Of the staff, 260 are teachers and 350 are from administration, operations and business support. Teachers are British or Commonwealth trained and experienced.

Where do most of your students go to university?
Many students secure places, including scholarships, at top universities around the world. Tanglin students have gone on to follow their passions, studying in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. For a list of university destinations and courses, visit the University & Careers Counselling page.