With fees now topping $40,000 a year at some international schools in Singapore, a new crop of schools has opened up for expatriates looking for more affordable options. The latest is The Grange Institution. And, they are accepting applications for their inaugural class right now.
The Costs
An introductory full year’s tuition (for a limited period) at The Grange is $15,840, or $1,320 per month. The school is able to offer affordable international education, while not compromising on teaching and learning standards, by putting available school space to its highest use, says Ronald Stones OBE, Director of Schools at The Grange.
“We brought operating costs down by creating multi-functional learning spaces that are reconfigured to accommodate a variety of learning activities,” says Ronald. “We focus on the basics of what education is really about – literacy, reading and communication. Learning spaces are created to support our focus, and spaces which did not add value to learning were eliminated.”
What about hidden costs? There are no hidden module fees, says Ronald. All core modules and specialist modules are included in the tuition fees. The only other costs to consider include a $3,080 enrolment fee, uniforms, field trips and library bag. Bus transportation fees are optional.
The Size
The Grange says size is one of its greatest assets. To maintain a cosy community and nurturing environment, the school has only one class per year group. This allows for individualised attention and more opportunities for interaction among different year levels.
“At The Grange, we believe that every child has strong innate powers of creativity that can be nurtured. And being small gives us an advantage – we call it ‘The Grange Advantage’ – to provide the fullest attention for every child. Our village-like community lets every child enjoy academic, creative and socio-emotional growth,” says Ronald.
The Location
The Grange sits across a green belt on Yio Chu Kang Road. It’s located between Seletar and Ang Mio Kio, just off the Central Expressway (CTE).
The Staff
Along with Ronald, who previously led three prestigious international schools in Southeast Asia: Tanglin Trust School, British International School Jakarta and British School Manila, the teachers at The Grange, along with Principal Jennifer Worthington, hail from Australia and the UK. They bring experience from other international schools in Singapore, as well as international schools in the UK, Switzerland, Australia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
The Admissions Process
The school is currently enrolling for the 2018-2019 school year, which starts on 23 August. Applicants need to have:
- age-appropriate fluency in their Mother Tongue and a level of English that allows them to participate in The Grange’s learning environments;
- a positive attitude for learning;
- learning needs that can largely be met within mainstream classrooms and without significant additional adult support.
Interested in being a part of the pioneering class of students starting in August 2018? Want to find out more about The Grange’s unique “small is big” approach to effective primary education? Sign up to attend one of the school’s Open Days on 8-9 June and 22-23 June. To register, visit thegrange.edu.sg.
Written in collaboration with:
The Grange Institution
449 Yio Chu Kang Road
6817 3630 | thegrange.edu.sg
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