FAQs

We have created a bespoke, progressive curriculum from 3-14 which follows elements of the English National Curriculum that we then adapt to reflect our international setting and to celebrate our diverse community.

Our curriculum is taught through cross-curricular units of work, allowing children to explore different topics through a variety of subjects. This enables children to make connections between their learning in different subjects and provides a meaningful way in which children can apply their knowledge both in and out of school.

• Year 3 to Year 6 : eight classes of 24 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.

The core focus in the Junior School is on the essential English skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This ensures high standards in all other subjects.

All children have weekly Chinese lessons. In Years 3 and 4, we study Mandarin for 90 minutes a week, building to two hours in Years 5 and 6.

Chinese is taught in working groups of similar abilities and we have smaller groups of enrichment for native and near-native speakers, who meet the criteria of attending the group.The purpose of the programme is to provide children with more exposure and targeted learning opportunities in Chinese, to enable them to achieve the best of their ability in the language. 

We believe that learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom. In the Junior School, pupils experience day trips, residential visits and acts of social service.

Residential trips include:

• Year 3 - Zoo Sleepover (1 night)
• Year 4 - Pulau Ubin and Sentosa Trip (2 nights)
• Year 5 - Malacca Trip (3 nights)
• Year 6 - Sarawak Trip (4 nights)
• Perth Adventure Trip
• Switzerland Ski Trip
• Caring for Cambodia (JPAS)
• FOBISIA Music, Maths, Sports

These trips provide opportunities for children to develop essential life skills that just can’t be learned within the classroom setting.

Our excellent sporting facilities enable us to provide a range of competitive and non-competitive sport throughout the year. We teach the view that we play to win but learn to lose with good grace and humility. We participate in FOBISIA and Singapore based competitions.

We are incredibly proud of our comprehensive arts programme. We have specialist teaching for Music, Drama and Art that provides enriching experiences for our students and leads to every student achieving their potential.

In Music, we have created a rich and varied curriculum that employs a very practical approach, incorporating the key elements of performing, composing and listening. All our students learn a string, wind or brass instrument as part of their music programme. Beyond the curriculum, individual instrumental lessons are available to children during the school day, delivered by specialist tutors.

Specialist teaching and facilities enhance the children’s experience of Drama in the Junior School, along with regular visits from international theatre companies and theatre practitioners. Opportunities for all children to perform in both intimate and large scale performances support their progress in Drama. These opportunities are further enhanced by our commitment to the English Speaking Board (ESB) exams as part of our curriculum, and an extensive co-curricular programme including participation in ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association) Festivals and the Trinity Guildhall Arts Awards.

Art and Design is an essential part of our broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum. It is the formation and expression of ideas through a wide range of media and materials, and has a significant role to play in children’s personal growth.

Students use technology to inquire, communicate and safely take risks. We have a one-to-one iPad programme across the school. When students move on from Tanglin, they are confident users of current technology in a range of contexts, understanding the benefits, limitations and risks associated with its use.

Fostering a learning community is no new concept to the Junior School. Indeed, it is central to our school’s aims and values which state that, “We value teachers who learn and learners who teach”. With this in mind, the Junior School has been redesigning our thinking around traditional classrooms and the manner in which we engage our learners.

Our learning spaces have been designed to support deep collaborative learning by encouraging student and teacher interaction. The integration of technology to support students in sharing their learning with peers, both within and beyond the immediate learning space, is also vital.
 

We recognise the changing needs of our students. As such, we have a personalised learning team from learning support, precision teaching booster lessons to enrichment. We strive to ensure every child is supported and challenged appropriately regardless of their academic starting points. In addition we believe in finding every child’s potential which is why we have a broad and balanced curriculum with a quality sports and arts programme.

Our environment facilitates a holistic approach to learning where children have a real love of learning and personal development is an underpinning principle.

We seek to nurture our children whatever their unique and individual passion and talents; constantly striving for new ways to develop their potential.

Our school values of ‘respect, responsibility and purpose’ are fully embraced, ensuring that children develop into well-rounded, community-spirited and responsible, international young people who achieve high levels of academic success.

We are an accredited member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) so that we benchmark ourselves against the very best. We are incredibly proud of being the first school in South East Asia to gain the Gold UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award, demonstrating a commitment to embedding children’s rights throughout the school in our policies, practice and ethos. For more accreditation & awards information, click here.