Co-curricular or extracurricular activities (CCAs or ECAs for short) are offered at most of Singapore’s international schools, and the choices are impressive! From sports and music to technology and science, students have endless opportunities to explore their passions outside classroom hours. We find out more about what CCA in Singapore the kids can get involved in.
Dulwich College (Singapore) – CCA’s and projects
CCAs are an integral part of the holistic educational experience at Dulwich College (Singapore). Through CCAs, Dulwich students try new activities, build passions, develop valuable leadership and interpersonal skills, and are an enhancement to students’ wellbeing. Students of all ages are encouraged to take part in CCAs, whether it’s in sports, performing arts, academic enrichment activities or service projects that can link to local and international needs.
There are over 300 CCAs to choose from across all three schools of Dulwich College (Singapore). Each term, new CCAs are added while old ones are retired; many are offered year after year due to popular demand. Students are empowered to choose and even propose their own, which results in many student led CCAs.
A word from a student
“The Ikigai Project was a co-curricular project developed by me and fellow Dulwich students in October 2021. It was set up to support the children’s cancer charity, Love, Nils, in response to the reduced number of enrichment activities available during the pandemic restrictions. The aim was to design and deliver engaging STEAM workshops to the children of Love, Nils to learn about STEAM and to have fun in the process. It was also an opportunity for both groups to make new friends. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to put my ideas into action and to have had the privilege to work with the children and families from Love, Nils.” – Lucy Campbell, Senior School
71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8
6890 1003 | singapore.dulwich.org
St Joseph’s Institution International – holistic CCA programme
The CCA Programme at SJI International encourages students to try new extracurricular activities, develop lifelong passions and hone leadership and collaborative skills. This enables them to enrich their lives, meet new friends and expand their horizons.
The Elementary School maintains a rich and holistic CCA programme. This includes Lego robotics, coding, chess, gymnastics, musical theatre, speech and drama, debating, sewing and textiles, multimedia, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, parkour and equestrian as well as a wide variety of sports including football, netball and basketball.
The school also offers orchestra and choir groups for students to develop their musical interests and talents further. Students are also able to learn an instrument through the Instrumental Teaching Programme. The High School Co-curricular Programme offers more than 160 CCAs each term. These range from sports to non-sporting activities, service learning, languages and creative art experiences.
The majority of CCAs are facilitated by the school’s passionate and experienced teachers, coaches and extended members of the school community, although there’s been a significant increase in the number of student-led service and non-sport offerings. Popular CCAs introduced this year include baking and cooking, hip hop, leading young women, captain’s ball and mindful crafts.
Some notable CCAs at SJI International
SJII students have the opportunity to go to the National Equestrian Centre for the equestrian CCA, where they learn horsemanship and basic riding fundamentals. Some other favourites include Brazilian jiu-jitsu and parkour, which sees children developing their balance and movement skills.
490 Thomson Road
6353 9383 | sji-international.com.sg
North London Collegiate School (Singapore) – challenging CCA’s
CCA programmes at North London Collegiate School (Singapore) are designed to provide sufficient challenge and rigour. This inspires students from KG2 to Grade 11 to be active and enthusiastic participants in various age-appropriate activities. Some of these include Amnesty International, archery, Art Attack, Applied Science and Scientific Enquiry, Biology Olympiad, Cooking Club, Environment & Sustainability Group, fencing, golf, horse riding, kayaking, rock band, scuba diving and Young Investors Club, to name a few.
Enrichment is one of the three core pillars of an NLCS education. It serves to support and enhance each student’s academic development as well as help shape their character and personality. NLCS (Singapore) also encourages self-initiated activities – some of the activities are managed and run by the students themselves, with teachers providing mentorship and guidance.
A popular CCA
Fencing has proven to be an extremely popular CCA at NLCS (Singapore). Children learn to focus, be intuitive, and stay in the moment both physically and mentally. At the same time, they build their confidence and social skills. Coach Wu Jie, who is a national fencer for Singapore, guides novice students through the basics of the sport and provides expert coaching for students who participate in fencing competitively.
130 Depot Road
6989 3000 | nlcssingapore.sg
Nexus International School (Singapore) – plenty of CCA’s
As part of the school’s inquiry-based IB programme, Nexus learners are encouraged to try new co-curricular activities and extracurricular activities. Some of the most popular CCAs among the learners at Nexus include beginner ukulele and violin, Little Master Chefs, London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, race car engineering, Fun Science, table tennis, board games and Singing Stars.
New CCAs include coding for girls taught by girls, papercraft adventure for nature lovers (Kinder to Year 2 and Year 3 to 5), and painting and drawing colourful botanicals and naturescapes for Years 6 to 10. A number of activities are led and assisted by older Nexus learners where they take on a leadership role.
There are also opportunities to compete. Over the past three years, Nexus learners have taken part in regional competitions for Junior Achievement with remarkable success, including the Junior Achievement Global Award Company of the Year. Nexus athletes have the opportunity to compete against other schools; this season alone, the school fielded 27 teams in the ACSIS conference for sport.
Two notable CCAs at Nexus
During the Introduction to Filmmaking introductory workshop for Years 4 to 12, students will acquire the basic skills necessary to create short films using a smartphone. These include basic scriptwriting, directing and cinematography as well as postproduction techniques with software.
In Laser and Light Tinkering CCA, students use the Vectonator app to generate graphics to design and laser cut crafts such as coasters or keychains and custom LED light display using acrylic, wood and upcycled Apple Pencil packaging. Students will learn basic soldering while understanding how to safely operate a laser cutter.
1 Aljunied Walk
6536 6566 | nexus.edu.sg
Tanglin Trust School’s co-curricular activities
CCAs at Tanglin start at Infant School with ball skills and gymnastics. At the Junior School level, the CCAs offered include MasterChef, badminton, football and musical theatre. Senior School activities include Model United Nations, choir, Minecraft Club and football. In 2022, an immediately popular Warhammer Society was started in Senior School while the Lego Robotics Club was very well-subscribed in Infant School upon introduction.
Tanglin students compete regularly in sporting activities internally, intra-school, nationally, internationally, in SEASAC, FOBISIA as well as international competitions, such as Dubai 7s and Brisbane Touch tournament. Tanglin debaters, Model UN, World Scholars and other academic style activities regularly compete in Singapore and the wider region. The school’s World Scholars group returned from the Bangkok round with the top team and top student.
A word from a staff member
“We’re certainly unusual amongst Singapore’s international schools in that we have our own set of instruments for the Gamelan Ensemble, which includes students from across the whole age range at the school. Freestyle wrestling is definitely not a normal item in a school’s co-curricular sport offerings, but this club provides children with the opportunity to learn fundamental wrestling skills such as throws and pins, as well as developing a high level of body control. Though this activity they learn the importance of discipline, resilience, and how to work in harmony with others.” – Michael Holiday, Director of Co-Curriculum
95 Portsdown Road
6778 0771 | tts.edu.sg
UWC South East Asia – hundreds of activities
There are hundreds of activities offered to students at UWCSEA, encouraging them to explore, experiment or to refine skills in an area of passion. Options include gymnastics and robotics in the Infant School, raising endangered rainforest seedlings and debating in Middle School, and music performance groups as well as casting and directing the annual High School Dance show. The programme is offered in four seasons across the year, providing choice and opportunity for all students, both after school and during break times.
The school’s extensive facilities provide the infrastructure to support students in pursuing their passions and developing skills in many areas from coding to fitness, from debate to performance. For example, within the umbrella of fitness and sports, facilities used by all students in the physical education curriculum provide opportunities for students to participate based on their level of skill and interest. Many recreational and development sports programmes also field teams in inter-school competitions across Singapore and the region.
A circus-themed activity
Unique to UWCSEA East is the Circus Service Club, now in its tenth year. This after-school activity, originally launched by a PE teacher with a passion for gymnastics and circus performance, brings together Junior, Middle and High School students to learn a wide range of circus skills. Every week, students build skills as they learn how to leap, dangle, catch and tumble. Older peers mentor younger students as they choreograph annual performances. They also collaborate with other activity groups to raise funds for Blue Dragon, a Vietnamese based NGO who also visit the College every two years for a special week of collaborative learning and performances.
Dover Campus: 1207 Dover Road | 6774 2653
East Campus: 1 Tampines Street 73 | 6305 5353
uwcsea.edu.sg
Marlborough College Malaysia – extracurricular activities outdoors
CCA and extracurricular activities at Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM) are rich and varied. They provide challenges as a part of a meaningful holistic education. MCM pupils are encouraged to engage in a broad range of CCAs and ECAs outside the classroom for one or a number of these to become a part of the pupil’s life. Popular activities include vex robotics, rock society, enterprise club, drama, football, rugby and netball.
The school recently introduced the Ivy House Leadership Award for Lower Sixth form pupils. This highly acclaimed award focuses on the nurturing and development of self-awareness, confidence, leadership, communication and interpersonal skills that will be used in school, university, business and beyond. Ivy House works with large corporations in the UK and throughout the world such as Sony, Deloitte and Google.
Some outdoor CCAs
Barton Farm allows MCM pupils to be responsible for the growing and caring for the plants and animals that are found on the on-site organic farm. From seedlings and stingless bees to fully grown banana trees and chickens, the pupils take ownership of the produce of the farm.
The school says that it’s best-kept secret is the lake. Hidden behind the Preparatory School, it accommodates a range of CCAs ranging from fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding. It’s a resource that allows students to take advantage of the abundance of nature and offer new challenges and experiences that feel miles away from the classroom but without leaving the College grounds.
Marlborough College Malaysia
Jalan Marlborough, Puteri Harbour, Johor
+60 7 560 2200 | marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org
Singapore American School’s extracurricular activities and sports
Students at Singapore American School (SAS) have access to a variety of after-school extracurricular activities and sports. Through the Eagle Athletics and Activities programme, they have the opportunity to try out different activities each term. The most popular CCAs include soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, chess, cooking, debate, robotics, and coding.
The afterschool co-curricular and extracurricular activities offered at SAS are core to the school experience and its emphasis on a culture of possibilities. Co-curricular activities allow students to learn important life skills such as determination and sportsmanship
Some notable CCAs at SAS
In the 3D Modelling and Printing activity, students are taught how to use 3D software. They also have opportunities to design and print innovative products that can be taken home. During the Climbing and Movement Obstacles CCA, students pick up wall-climbing techniques. They also come up with creative ways to navigate obstacles, such as nets, trampolines, mats, and foam shapes.
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
Astor International School – inclusive extracurricular activities
At Astor, extracurricular activities are included in the school fees. This gives students a wide choice from the range of ECAs offered by the school, which include sports, creative arts, foreign languages and skill-based activities. The school works with parents to ensure that the ECAs are relevant and popular with students; for example, they will introduce any foreign language that has demand from more than four students.
The top 10 extracurricular activities at the school include gymnastics, drama, tennis, dance, Forest School, basketball and music. Other popular options include football, arts and craft, coding, board games and photography.
Some of the activities are run by Astor staff while others are run by providers coming to the school, or students use a school bus service to go off-site for activities. The school ensures that the wide range of offerings each day caters to the different talents and interests of students.
Two notable extracurricular activities at Astor
In Kids Kitchen, children learn to cook something each week in a dedicated kitchen. They learn how to measure ingredients, and use kid-friendly utensils to cut and also taste the food they’ve made. Recipes they’ve made in the past have included apple cakes, pita bread pizza and salads.
In Lego Land, children are tasked to create with Lego, including building on projects over several sessions. Students can choose to work on their own or with others to create their pieces. At times, the task has been related to the current topic that they’re learning for the International Primary Curriculum. For example, during the Our Earth, Our Home unit, students were tasked to make an animal habitat using Lego.
1 Kay Siang Road, #05-01/02
6974 5700 | astor.edu.sg
Read more about the choice of Singapore’s international schools here and get ideas for the best things to do in Singapore.
