CCAs & extracurricular activities kids will love!

There are so many amazing co-curricular and extracurricular activities (CCAs or ECAs for short) for students at Singapore international schools. Whether it’s competitive sports, performing arts, visual arts, STEAM or student leadership, they give students opportunities to try new things, or improve existing skills outside classroom hours.

Tanglin Trust School – holistic co-curricular activities programme

The Co-Curricular Programme at Tanglin lies at the heart of the school’s holistic approach to education. It aims to nurture students’ talents beyond the classroom while promoting confidence, creativity and encouraging contribution to the wider community.

The last school year saw students from Infants through to Sixth Form involved in a whopping 406 co-curricular clubs across sport, music, the arts, technology, service and leadership, with 96 percent student participation.

A distinctive feature of the programme is how the opportunities develop with the child. It begins in Infants, where young ones can get involved in activities ranging from Lego Robotics to Choir and Climbing, all of which encourage imaginative play. In Juniors, specialist teaching, residentials, overseas trips, sports and the arts introduce children aged seven to 11 years to experiences beyond the traditional curriculum, giving them opportunities to flourish and achieve their personal best.

In Senior School, pursuing a broad range of activities doesn’t mean having to choosee between academic rigour and creative, practical or sporting pursuits. Students can continue with music, art, drama, dance and sports alongside IGCSE, A Level or IB studies. Sporting pathways include inter-school competition and the IMPACT Programme for students balancing academic study with high-level sporting commitments. Talented musicians can progress through ensembles, performances and the Centenary Music Scholarship programme, which is now in its third year and open to students from Year 7 to 12.

Recent developments, such as the new Junior Arts Centre and the Tanglin Gippsland campus in Australia, further demonstrate the school’s investment in experiential and creative learning.

A word from the Deputy Head (CCAs) at Tanglin Trust School

“The school’s Co-Curricular Programme is where students discover passions, broaden horizons, develop confidence, character and leadership, and find purpose and belonging within our vibrant international community.” – Sophie Hawkins

95 Portsdown Road
6778 0771 | tts.edu.sg 

St Joseph’s Institution International – CCAs from Elementary through to High School

The CCA programme at SJI International is an integral pillar of the school’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded students from Elementary through to High School. The Singapore international school says this extensive programme is a vibrant platform for growth and skill development, preparing students for future challenges.

In the Elementary School, students choose from a broad offering of over 70 CCAs each term. The aim is to expose students to a variety of experiences that advance their skills and knowledge. Recent additions include Junior Investors, Portrait Painting and Rhythmic Gymnastics. To ensure quality, the school partners with leading providers such as Barca Academy for Football, Julia Gabriel for Speech and Drama, and the National Equestrian Centre.

The High School offers over 150 diverse CCAs each term. The school says that this robust programme is intentionally structured to underpin the core elements of the IB Diploma’s Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component. Under the guidance of dedicated teachers and experts, students refine talents through popular choices like Model United Nations (MUN), the World Scholar’s Cup, and creative initiatives including Boat Building and Crafty Crew.

Competition is a core component of CCAs and extracurriculars. The school’s teams have achieved notable success in the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) league and international events. Students also shine in academic tournaments and successful student-run TEDx events.

Other extracurricular highlights at SJI International

The school’s deep commitment to Service is evident through more than 60 service-focused CCAs. Strong relationships with community partners like Tan Tock Seng Hospital and TOUCH Home Care inspire students to make a meaningful difference, fostering a lifelong commitment to social responsibility and active citizenship.

490 Thomson Road
6353 9383 | sji-international.com.sg

Dover Court International School – abundance of extracurricular activities and CCAs

“The CCA programme at Dover Court is constantly evolving to reflect the students’ interests, strengths and aspirations, while also responding to the changing global issues that will shape their future,” says Sean Bashford, Director of Co-Curricular Activities.

With more than 500 activities available across the academic year, students have countless opportunities to explore new interests, build confidence and develop the skills they’ll need for the future.

Popular CCAs include Model United Nations (MUN), where students develop research, public speaking and critical thinking skills through debates on global issues. Other favourites include the Primary Musical, Investment Clubs, Dover Gardeners and a wide range of sports – from badminton and pickleball to taekwondo and volleyball.

Students also have plenty of opportunities to compete locally and internationally through programmes such as STEM Racing, where they design, build and race miniature F1 cars, as well as team competitions through ACSIS, FOBISIA and Nord Anglia Education events.

Other extracurricular highlights at Dover Court

As the only school in Singapore to collaborate with the Juilliard School, Dover Court offers a unique CCA, Juilliard Drama. “At the heart of Juilliard Drama is exploration, creativity and collaboration,” says Zoe Robinson, Juilliard Drama CCA Lead. “Children experiment with character, movement, voice and storytelling, building confidence, taking creative risks and discovering the joy of self-expression through drama.”

Another standout offering is Planet Protectors, a student-led sustainability group for Years 3 to 6. Members lead environmental initiatives across the school, including reducing single-use waste. As part of their mission, students pitched DCIS Wolves reusable mugs to the Principal, secured funding, and designed and distributed the mugs in all staff pantries. The group’s work has also contributed to the school’s Eco-Schools Bronze Award.

301 Dover Road
6775 7664 | nordangliaeducation.com/dcis-singapore

International French School – new extracurricular activities

The International French School (IFS) in Singapore offers a comprehensive extracurricular programme designed for diverse student interests and talents. Over 70 activities are offered each year, with the top 10 most sought-after options continuing to highlight an athletic focus. Popular choices among students include volleyball, football, rugby, climbing, swimming, gymnastics, parkour, table tennis and badminton.

Through the ECA programme, IFS students are provided with dynamic opportunities to test their skills both locally and internationally. While many thrive in the intensity of local football competitions against other international schools, for instance, the global AEFE network allows students to compete region-wide or overseas. On the international stage, IFS actively participates in tournaments abroad. For example, IFS will be hosting the Asia-Pacific Swimming Championship (Championnat d’Asie-Pacifique de Natation – CAPN) for the second consecutive year in April 2027, with over 300 participants expected to attend.

Some physical disciplines are reaching new heights of popularity. The school says that parkour has proven to be extraordinarily successful on campus, leading to its recent opening to middle-schoolers. Martial arts remain highly popular, too, and are present across all age groups. Elementary school students can also discover the art of fencing, one of the newest activity additions this year.

IFS also offers a rich selection of creative and performing arts. Activities like Musical Comedy continue to perform exceptionally well, alongside other very diverse options, like sewing and clay modelling. Visual Arts have seen a major boost in participation this year, with creative students exploring specialised areas such as Fashion Design, Mosaic Arts, Storybook Creators and Movie Making.

Other extracurricular highlights at IFS

Placing a strong emphasis on expanding its Sciences and Technology offerings, IFS has introduced Robotics and Coding. Students can discover or develop their skills in hands-on programming, computational thinking and engineering, preparing them for the digital future through challenges and team projects.

3000 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3
6805 0000 | ifs.edu.sg

Singapore American School – co-curricular activities and athletic programmes

At SAS, education extends well beyond academics, with co-curricular activities central to shaping well-rounded, purpose-driven learners who can thrive not only in the classroom but also on the stage, the playing field and in the wider world.

From elementary to high school, students at this Singapore international school are encouraged to explore their passions, develop new skills and challenge themselves in the arts, activities and athletics.

The intentionally structured pathway programmes provide students with opportunities to discover and deepen interests over time. Beginning at the foundational level in elementary school and progressing to competitive opportunities in middle and high school, these pathways guide students towards growth in the arts, activities and athletics.

Creativity flourishes at SAS through visual arts, music, dance, drama, theatre tech, speech, debate and Model United Nations. These programmes build confidence, critical thinking and global awareness. Equally strong is the athletics programme, with opportunities in cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, rugby and touch, swimming, tennis, badminton, baseball and softball, golf and track & field. Many SAS students proudly represent the school in the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) in both the arts and athletics. SAS student-athletes also have the opportunity to participate in ACSIS competitions and regional tournaments.

Other extracurricular highlights at SAS

Beyond sports and arts, SAS students engage in service, robotics, academic competitions and student advocacy groups. What is central to the SAS experience is the opportunity to learn, be challenged and model the school’s core values through co-curricular activities.

40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg

North London Collegiate School (Singapore) – from F1 to photography extracurricular activities

NLCS (Singapore) offers a wide range of academic, sporting and artistic enrichment co-curricular and extracurricular activities to cater to students’ diverse interests and talents. The most popular CCAs include Debating, Chess, Minecraft Game Design, Create Your Own Model, Sew Your Own Clothes, Pacha Club, Recreational Basketball and Maths Competition Prep.

Through their CCAs, the students also actively engage in a variety of competitions. These provide students with opportunities to hone their skills through training and healthy competition. NLCS students have taken part in F1 in Schools, MUN, World Scholar’s Cup, Interschool Chinese Debate Competition, Stratena Entrepreneurship Interschool SharkTank and FOBISIA e-Sport.

Students participating in F1 in Schools work in teams of three to six to design, test and race their very own miniature CO2-powered F1 car. They then compete at the F1 Singapore Nationals. In Stratena Entrepreneurship Interschool SharkTank, students hone entrepreneurial skills and present their project to a panel of seasoned investors in a competition that models the TV show Shark Tank.

The school has also introduced new CCAs recently. Options include NLCS e-Sports, Game Mechanics and Numbers, The Wealth and Finance Lab, The Curious Economist, Korean Culture Club and Calligraphy.

Other extracurricular highlights at NLCS (Singapore)

Vocabulous sees Senior School students support Junior School students in Malaysia to develop their English proficiency through this Service initiative.

Pyrography, which means “writing with fire”, is the art of decorating wood using controlled burn marks from a heated pen. In this CCA, students transform simple pieces of wood into custom artworks.

The Cheese Appreciation Society, meanwhile, is an interactive, hands-on programme exploring the science, culture and art of cheese. Students discover how cheese is made, explore taste and sensory perception, learn about cheese traditions around the world, and investigate the science behind ageing and flavour development.

130 Depot Road
6989 3000 | nlcssingapore.sg

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