July 2020: What’s New in Singapore’s Schools?

2020 IB results are in!

Students at international schools in Singapore received their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and Career-related Programme (IBCP) results this week during one of the most extraordinary times in education.

Exams were cancelled but the IB results for the 2019-20 academic year were published as normal.

The 2020 cohort achieved a global average score of 29.90 points in the IBDP, staying consistent with the past three years’ scores ranging from 29.62 to 29.95. This year, the Singapore average DP score of 34.52 surpassed the global average of 29.90, with a pass rate of 93.62%. This is also very close to last year’s Singapore average of 34.48 points.

For a complete round up of IB results at Singapore’s local and international schools, click here.

2020 CBSE and ISCE results 

The CISCE has published the results of the ICSE and ISC examinations, which were held in February and March. Only one international school in Singapore offers the CISCE curriculum, DPS International School; the 2020 ISC and CISCE cohorts at DPS both celebrated a 100% pass rate, and all students passed in First Division. 

And, two days after the announcement of the CISCE results, India’s largest school board, the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), announced the 2020 Grade 12 results unexpectedly on its websites, www.cbse.nic.in and cbseresults.nic.in.

In Singapore, the CBSE is taken at GIIS SMART Campus, NPS International School and Yuvabharathi International School. One of the first schools to share their results was GIIS SMART Campus, which reported a 88.2% school average compared to 87.4% in 2019, and there were six top scorers.

Read more: A complete round up of the CBSE and ICSE results at Singapore’s international schools.

Chatsworth: Goodbye Orchard, hello Early Years Centre

It’s all change at Chatsworth International School, which has now closed its Orchard campus after the government ended its lease; the building was included in a heritage project by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to conserve three buildings on the site of the former Singapore Chinese' Girls School (SCGS) in Emerald Hill.

For the start of the 2020-21 academic year, Chatsworth will consolidate its popular Orchard primary campus at Bukit Timah. It will also open a new Chatsworth Early Childhood Centre at the site, offering Kindergarten 1 and 2 (three to five years old). This means that Bukit Timah will become one large, all-through school that children can attend from three to 18 years.

The new Chatsworth Early Childhood Centre is a purpose-built block of three classrooms located at the front of the school’s campus in Bukit Timah. Early years students will also use access facilities on the main campus, including the canteen, play areas and the library.

Read our updated review of Chatsworth International School.

ISS: Redeveloping its hilltop campus

For the start of the 2020-21 academic year, ISS enters a new era as an all-through school on one campus. The Paterson campus is now closed after the lease was not renewed by the government due to development plans, and all students will move to the Preston campus for the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Redevelopment of the school’s hilltop campus in Telok Blangah Hill Park is currently underway. There will be some modernisation – new music rooms and black box theatre for example – but these new facilities are being designed to stay in keeping with the natural environment; for example, there’ll be plenty of earthy materials, timber, and large windows to let in natural light. There are also plans to reconfigure underutilized spaces into larger classrooms and improve the existing sporting and arts facilities that look tired and run-down.

ISS will move its youngest students into a self-contained primary school with a dedicated entrance. Spread across a flat area at the bottom of the Preston campus, the school will have classrooms leading out onto play areas, a central courtyard, library and multi-purpose room.

Read our updated review of ISS International School.

Principals: Movers and shakers

A few international schools in Singapore will see a change in their leadership team at the start of the next academic year.

Alec Jiggins, the founding head of EtonHouse International School (Orchard), is returning to the UK. Dr Eric Sands has left his position as principal at Stamford American International School, and stepping into the role will be Dr Mark Wenzel.

Sukh Colebourne will take up her new role as principal of Melbourne Specialist International School (MSIS), a special education needs school in Singapore, this month. And at Dover Court International School, Simon Mann is the new temporary principal, replacing Chris Short.