
Imagine you’re a 7-year-old. Your teacher starts lecturing you about why chocolate is not an ideal snack to be consumed daily, in big amounts. As a child, you already know this, you get bored and stare outside the window or pretend to listen. You lose all the important details.
Because of the immense technological upgrades the world is experiencing, kids would rather be somewhere else, doing something else. It’s up to the educational system to rise to the occasion. And this is where the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) takes center stage.
Why IPC Curriculum?
Let’s go back to the chocolate topic. In the IPC, you have a chocolate unit. Sounds funny? Not sure your child will learn something? Think again. The discovery of chocolate, the circumstances surrounding it, and how it evolved through the years are discussed in history. For geography, they will check out countries that grow cacao and its impact on the localities involved. Are there any links between countries that grow it and the countries that are producing the final product? The packaging and design are talked about in art. And finally, for science, they will discuss energy values and the effects of heating and cooling.
This is just one of the many units in IPC. As with the example above, a unit can cover the following learning areas: Art, Geography, History, Language Arts, Science, Physical Education, Technology, Music, Society, and International.
Aside from engaging children aged 5 to 11, IPC aims to promote rigorous learning, global and intercultural awareness, and personal development. It has over 130 thematic units, and the units are designed to nurture children’s personal qualities and develop international-mindedness. It is based on the English National Curriculum but was adapted to cater to international schools, referencing the IB inquiry-based approach.
Low-cost quality, international education in Singapore? Too good to be true, isn't it? Believe it or not, it exists. With three physical locations in Singapore plus an online school option, Knightsbridge House International School fees are SG$12,000 annually. KBH doesn't fall short in any areas. With hefty extra-curricular offerings for children aged 5 to 11, your child can enjoy sports (Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket) and other activities such as Creative Arts, Coding, Mandarin, Learning Through Play, to name a few. Mandarin as a second language is also mandatory for all grades, though prior knowledge is not necessary. They also have an experiential learning program that cultivates outdoor learning for all students.
Knightsbridge House International School, +65 8028 3177, admissions@kbh.edu.sg, https://www.kbh.edu.sg/
Knightsbridge House Sentosa, 31 Ocean Way, #01 - 15, 098375, +65 6694 5256 Knightsbridge House River Valley Campus, 169 Jalan Bukit Merah, #02-15 (Tower 4) Singapore 150169, + 65 8028 3177
Knightsbridge House Phoenix Park, 304 Tanglin Road, Blk M #02-00, 247972, +65 8399 6449
Knightsbridge House Family (Online School), Launching Soon!
Founded by the De La Salle Brothers, SJI International is proud to be rooted in Catholic ethos and heritage. The curriculum for humanities and science follows the IPC, while they have the Singapore Mathematics program for math. For English, they use the English National Curriculum combined with the American System. They cater to children ages 4 to 18 and include a Chinese language class for all. Academically rich, the school ensures holistic learning with their beyond academics program - expeditions, service-learning, creative and performing arts, sports, and outdoor learning. There is an implemented House System to foster camaraderie and team learning. Another program is the SJI International Elementary School Television, which is worked on by their elementary students.
St. Joseph's Institution International, 490 Thomson Road, Singapore, 298191, +65 6871 5202 (Elementary), +65 6353 9383 (High School), https://www.sji-international.com.sg/
With two campuses in Singapore, one in Dempsey and the other in Centrium, Invictus offers the best of both worlds. Their Dempsey campus, which is surrounded by nature, accepts children aged 5 to 12. While their Centrium campus is right in the middle of the CBD and accepts children aged 5 to 18. The Dempsey campus offers only English classes, while Centrium has an English-Chinese Bilingual Program in the primary ages. IPC is offered in the primary years (5 to 11), International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) for ages 11 to 14, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) for ages 14 to 16, and for 16 to 18-year-olds, Cambridge International A-levels (Advanced Level).
Invictus International School Dempsey, 73 Loewen Road, #01-21, Singapore 248843, +656259 3877, info@invictus.edu.sg, www.invictus.edu.sg/dempsey Invictus International School Centrium, 320 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218108, +65 6271 6088, centrium@invictus.edu.sg, www.invictus.edu.sg/centrium
Unique does not even begin to cover what this school has to offer. They have the Cambridge Primary Curriculum combined with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for students aged 5 to 11. Plus, the school also has specialist subjects - Personal, Social, Physical Education, Art, Music, Technology, and Languages to complete their curriculum offering. The Grange is also the first school in the world to create proprietary Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) content for their Technology program. Their Cre8tors-in-Action© educational philosophy focuses on eight core competencies. One of which is the respect for the environment wherein your child will develop a genuine love for plants. Enrichment activities include nature exploration, capoeira, gymnastics, photography amongst many others.
The Grange Institution, 449 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 805946, +65 68173630, https://www.thegrange.edu.sg/
Named after a prominent Jewish civic leader in Singapore and imbued with the vibrancy of Jewish values, tradition and culture, SMMIS is a diverse community that welcomes students of all nationalities and faiths. The school combines the British National Curriculum Literacy and Singapore Maths with the IPC. In secondary school, students study for the IMYC then IGCSEs, with Mandarin and Hebrew taught as foreign languages. SMMIS is a smaller school, which enables it to tailor the learning experience so each child can reach their full potential. They have the facilities of a much larger school, including a 450-seater auditorium, 25m roof top swimming pool, astro turf sports pitch and indoor air-conditioned basketball gym. There is a diverse range of after-school activities: swimming, robotics, Russian storytelling and Kali Majapahit to name a few.
Sir Manasseh Meyer International School, 3 Jalan Ulu Sembawang, Singapore 758932, +65 6331 4633, smmis.edu.sg
With a max teacher-to-student ratio of 2:15, Winstedt specializes in differentiated learning. They have a team of specialists aiding the children in developing their strengths and discovering their gifts. They provide integrated therapy (in-house therapists working with teachers for individual support) and flexible core subjects that allow children to learn at their level. Aside from the IPC, they also offer IGCSE for secondary students and a SEED Programme to prepare students who are not yet ready for the mainstream curriculum. A special program for the twice-exceptional students, called Curie-Einstein Programme, is given to those gifted students with high potential but with learning disorders in other fields.
The Winstedt School, 1208 Upper Boon Keng Road, Singapore 387312, +65 6715 5373, https://winstedt.edu.sg/
With over a century of experience, Holland International School provides exceptional education for children aged 1.5 to 12 years. Embracing the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), the school offers both Dutch and English streams, creating a rich and engaging learning environment. Their holistic approach empowers children to become their best selves through ownership, collaboration, and critical thinking. Designed to be small, the school ensures every child has a voice and receives personalized support. The dedicated and skilled staff is committed to nurturing happy, confident, and competent learners, prepared for success in life.
Holland International School, 65 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289757, +65 6466 0662, www.hollandinternationalschool.sg
A part of the Nord Anglia Education Group, Dover Court International School offers the English National Curriculum in conjunction with the IPC. Subjects taught under the IPC include science, history, geography, design technology, and art. Their teachers for STEAM classes attend MIT workshops and bring back with them a wealth of activities and learning for the students. Plus, every spring, students get a chance to visit MIT and attend workshops as well. Music, arts, and drama are integrated into the curriculum, and Dover believes this plays a very important role in a child's development. Through their collaboration with The Juilliard School, their students receive the best quality education in this area.
Dover Court International School, 301 Dover Road, 139644 Singapore, +65 6775 7664, https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/singapore
A part of the EtonHouse International Education Group, Middleton International School has two campuses, one in Bukit Timah and the other in Tampines. Together with the IPC, they also offer Chinese, English, French, and Hindi as elective classes. Aside from these, the children also have Informational Communication Technology, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts classes. The school is also the mothership school in Southeast Asia for a US-based wellbeing curriculum and program, called The Contentment Foundation. Life Skills specialist room, a maker space, and an innovative design & technology studio are available in the Tampines campus.
Middleton International School, tampines@middleton.edu.sg, https://www.middleton.edu.sg/
Middleton International School Bukit Timah, 215 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588184, +65 6875 0089 Middleton International School Tampines, 2 Tampines Street 92 (S)528889, +65 6636 1155
With only 12 to 18 children in a class, Razum International School offers one of the lowest school fees in the country at SG$14,900 a year. The school operates on a 4-hour school day, setting them apart from other institutions. Shorter learning hours with a focus on the core subjects such as Mathematics and English make learning more efficient. Singapore Math and Singapore English are offered with IPC. Extra-curricular activities are offered as optional classes in the afternoon. Students can choose from foreign languages (French, Hindi, Mandarin), art, photography, drama, board games, sports, coding, nutrition kitchen, and Lego Land.
Razum International School, 1 Kay Siang Rd #05-01/02 Singapore 248922, +65 69745700, https://www.razum.edu.sg/
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