School of the Arts (Singapore) Review
School of the Arts (Singapore) is one of a kind in Singapore. Here’s a specialist arts school that encourages secondary students to achieve both their artistic and academic potential. Managed by the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth, SOTA offers a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum that leads to the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) or Career-related Programme (IBCP).
SOTA follows the MOE academic calendar (Jan to Dec) and has a team of academic teachers and practising artists. The curriculum includes the core academic subjects, humanities, as well as media education, research skills, and an artistic programme of dance, film, integrated arts, music, and theatre. Local students must take the mother tongue language course, and international students can study a foreign language (Japanese, German, or French) at the Ministry of Education Language Centre. There’s also time devoted to community service, citizenship, and an experiential programme that includes adventure camps, sports competitions, and wilderness expeditions. The school does not offer any co-curricular activities as students “usually spend their time after school hours practising their art discipline or attending rehearsals”.
The majority of SOTA students take the IBDP, with a minority opting for the IBCP. While there’s most definitely a strong focus on the arts at SOTA, it also performs well academically; more than 80% of the 2017 cohort scored at least 35 points in the IBDP.
Founded in 2009, SOTA boasts a modern campus with several public performance venues and exhibition spaces including a concert hall, theatre, studio, and art gallery. Students apply for a place at SOTA through a Talent Academy, which includes a portfolio review, entrance tests, audition, and interview. While SOTA is a government-run school, its fees are more in line with Singapore’s most expensive international schools and range from $28,200 – $29,400.
A full review will be posted shortly.
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