There are some school facilities, programmes and creative learning spaces that will make you wish you were back at school again! From state-of-the-art music and film studios, maker labs and forward-thinking language, STEAM workshops and sports programmes, these top Singapore international schools are able to help kids learn about innovation and so much more.
The Greenhouse & STEAM workshop at Dulwich College (Singapore) School
Dulwich College’s purpose-built state-of-the-art campus is designed with a “student first” approach and offers the Dulwich community an array of outstanding facilities and programmes. This includes an IB centre, science and IT laboratories, design and technology workshops, STEAM workshops, a dedicated library each at Kindergarten, Junior and Senior schools, a Forest School, dining rooms and coffee shops. Every classroom is spacious, bright, well-furnished and conducive to collaboration and innovation in Singapore. For activities, there’s a Performing Arts Centre, playing fields and gyms, swimming pools, suites of music and art rooms, and roof-top green spaces including a herb and fruit garden.
In the last quarter of 2023, the College will complete the final phase of the campus development with the opening of The Greenhouse, a seven-storey state-of-the-art net-zero building. It will provide additional creative learning spaces for innovation in Singapore, including a 400-seat multi-purpose auditorium, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) workshop to accommodate the school’s SE21 (STEAM and Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century) initiative, a professional teaching kitchen, film and media suites, three additional black box theatres, IT rooms and more. The STEAM workshop is an excellent way to develop students in different disciplines. The building will also house a vast two-storey IB library, workspaces, study rooms and social areas for pre-university students.
In addition to conduction of STEAM workshops, The Greenhouse will also act as a living laboratory for sustainability. Here, students can engage with nature, forage for fruits and nuts, learn about sustainable food production, engage with cutting-edge technologies and explore solutions to global challenges.
Students, staff and all visitors to campus are also encouraged to rethink, re-use, reduce and recycle, to have a positive impact on people and the planet. This is supported through an onsite food waste composter and energy-efficient building management systems.
A word from the school
“An education must go beyond books, bricks and mortar. Instead, it must build a bridge to the world, with pioneering initiatives that enable our students to Graduate Worldwise.”
71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8
6890 1003 | singapore.dulwich.org
Tanglin Trust School’s new Centenary Building
In January 2023, Tanglin Trust School, one of the top Singapore international schools, unveiled the Tanglin Centenary Building. The 11-storey building now accounts for 25 percent of the school’s entire floor space and houses many state-of-the-art school facilities. These include:
- A 50m swimming pool with international-sized competition lanes, starting blocks, a lightning-proof canopy and more.
- A Gymnastics Centre with custom-designed areas and Olympic standard apparatus including a full-length vault track, tumble track and air track, sprung floor, and men’s high bars and rings.
- A 15m bespoke climbing wall designed by Walltopia, wall-makers for the IFC Climbing World Championship.
- Two levels dedicated to music with a new recording studio, individual teaching rooms, spaces for small group practice, two rehearsal halls and a 60-person recital room.
- New spaces specifically for Tanglin’s infants such as a dining hall, multi-purpose halls and two large music classrooms that double as small performance halls.
- New spaces for parents such as viewing galleries at the pool and new Gymnastics Centre, a larger cafe, additional lounge areas and a co-working space, a first for a Singapore international school.
Also housed in the Centenary Building is Institute @ Tanglin. It will work with external collaborators across different sectors and disciplines, bringing in expertise, programming and inspiring talks and discussions for students, faculty and the wider Tanglin community. Over the last term, the Institute has hosted speakers who are thought leaders on high-performance teams, athlete development, mental health and wellness, design and innovation in Singapore. It has also held a faculty research forum.
A word from Tanglin’s CEO
“The Tanglin Centenary Building not only acknowledges our past, but more importantly, it’s about the future – it provides opportunities for balanced and holistic education for future generations of students. The key school facilities will challenge our students’ physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth, helping them flourish as individuals. Our department heads were personally involved in the design of each of the spaces; from the size of furniture in the infant spaces to acoustic treatment on the walls of the music practice rooms.” – Craig Considine
95 Portsdown Road
6778 0071 | tts.edu.sg
Campus facility upgrades at Singapore American School
After several years of planning and school community engagement involving thousands of parents, educators and student voices, the campus upgrade project at Singapore American School (SAS) is now in full swing and scheduled for completion in Fall 2026. Over the next few years, SAS will put in place support aimed at empowering educators to deliver high-quality experiences, tailored to each student’s individual needs.
The campus facility upgrade project reimagines the role of classrooms and buildings in the learning journey: a flexible campus with international school facilities that will meet the needs of current and future students as education changes over time. There’ll be more space for learning, activities and new school programmes, and modular spaces that enable teachers to adjust learning spaces according to student learning needs. Parents can also expect innovative systems that not only support learning well into the future but also promote energy efficiency, meeting Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum standard and the WELL standard.
Learning communities at SAS are designed to create a sense of community, increase access to various types of learning spaces, promote student agency, and provide more opportunities for student and teacher collaboration. These new spaces enable educators and students to strengthen relationships and foster an inclusive culture. At the same time, they are focusing on high quality practices to plan, learn, teach and assess.
A word from the school
“One of my favourite parts of SAS is the learning communities. There’s a space for every learner and every situation, whether it’s a beanbag in the corner as a ‘cave’ for independent learning, or comfy couches and cushions arranged in a circle as a ‘watering hole’ for group projects and social learning. Most of all, the learning communities foster collaboration and build community through the shared space that’s designed for learners to feel safe, comfortable and heard at SAS.” – Anna Bruce-Quark, seventh grade
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
Australian International School’s purpose-built school facilities
The Australian International School (AIS) is a Singapore international school that is committed to fostering the holistic development of students aged two months to 18 years through purpose-built school facilities. The school prioritises creating a conducive learning environment where students have ample opportunities to explore, learn and thrive.
AIS school facilities are designed to support academic as well as athletic growth and innovation in Singapore. These include specialist classrooms with indoor and outdoor areas, a cutting-edge theatre, football pitches, swimming pools, libraries, gymnasiums, science laboratories, performing arts and visual art studios, design and technology workshops, tennis courts, and a high-performance Athlete Development laboratory.
A word from the school
“Swimming is an integral part of the Australian curriculum at AIS, which is why our school boasts two well-equipped swimming pools. We believe in instilling water safety skills from a young age. Our parent-assisted infant care school programme starts teaching swimming to children as young as two months. Starting early with swimming lessons allows our students to build confidence in water, develop essential motor skills, and foster a lifelong love for swimming and aquatic activities. It aligns with our commitment to holistic development, ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded education that includes physical fitness and water safety.” – Anna Ciezczyk, Assistant Head of Early Years
1 Lorong Chuan
6653 7906 | ais.com.sg
Music and drama school programme at Brighton College (Singapore)
As a leading Singapore international school, Brighton provides specialist music teaching to everyone, from Nursery upwards. Pupils are encouraged to immerse themselves in the subject and develop their musical talents. As they move through the school, they continue to put theory into practice, with each child learning the recorder and ukulele. This provides the foundation to learn a range of other orchestral instruments through one-to-one tuition, which is also available in school.
Each child also has the opportunity to perform in shows and concerts throughout the year. This helps to build confidence through music and drama. Opportunities for drama include a thriving London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art programme. The College has its own drama studio and access to superb school facilities on the College campus.
A word from the school
“The Performing Arts programme can be viewed as a testimony to Brighton’s commitment to the arts as a vehicle for learning. It’s a programme that’s founded on the child’s individual creative process and underpins the development of confidence. Performing Arts lessons at the school enhance and integrate self confidence and self esteem through an imaginative and creative curriculum providing each child with the opportunity to develop their communication and collaboration skills.” – Hollie Mayes, Dance & Drama teacher
1 Chuan Lane
6505 9790 | brightoncollege.edu.sg
XCL American Academy’s new school facilities and campus
Located in Yishun, a 20-minute drive from downtown Singapore, XCL American Academy (XAA) offers a safe, immersive and inspiring environment for students to learn, discover, interact and grow.
XAA’s new purpose-built campus is opening in August 2023 for the academy’s pioneer students. It will feature state-of-the-art school facilities. These include a three-story library called Pioneer Zone, a multipurpose gym and specialised classrooms equipped with the latest educational technology. The Pioneer Zone will offer a plethora of resources to encourage students in exploring their interests as well as research and collaborate with their peers.
Through the new school facilities, XAA hopes to provide the ideal setting for students to flourish. The school looks forward to welcoming students to the new campus.
A word from families
“At the moment, XAA is sharing the campus with XCL World Academy but there’s been no issue with this. There’s an all-weather Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 750-seat auditorium, tennis court, large sports field and a canteen helmed by a Michelin-starred chef with reasonable prices. We’re sure that our children will be amazed by the new school building when it’s completed in August 2023.” – Kang family
“The XAA curriculum is carefully designed with numerous specialist courses, extracurricular activities and meaningful celebrations. It’s an American curriculum based on AERO and Common Core standards, including various subjects that are taught in US-based schools, an Everyday Math programme developed by the University of Chicago, and the Pioneer Spirit character development programme that’s based on Second Step. Aside from these, XAA uses a unique PioneerTown programme to teach students business and operational processes. It’s pretty impressive as we can see this exposes them to the start-up mindset and entrepreneurship from a young age.” – Hamilton family
2 Yishun Street 42
6230 4222 | xaa.edu.sg
XCL World Academy’s new hub for innovation in Singapore
XCL World Academy has launched a new Innovation Hub in Singapore. This state-of-the-art multi-level building is purpose-designed with the latest in technology and specialised labs. It aims to enhance the learning environment for innovation in Singapore, catering to students in Grades 9 to 12. It will also be home to a digital multimedia lab, a top floor student lounge, specialist labs, fabrication and design thinking labs and a multi-use eSports arena. The latter is the first of its kind in an international school.
The focal point will be a Central Square. It features an eco-pond, meditation area, outdoor classrooms and a bouldering wall to facilitate interaction and community building. Designed to be environmentally friendly and with sustainability at its forefront, the Innovation Hub will include clean air filtration in all learning spaces. Several new sporting facilities are also under development at the school. These include tennis courts, cricket/baseball practice batting nets and a 550m athletics track.
A word from a teacher
“The Performing Arts programme can be viewed as a testimony to the school’s commitment to the arts as a vehicle for learning. This school programme is founded on the child’s individual creative process and underpins the development of confidence. Performing Arts lessons at Brighton enhance and integrate self-confidence and self-esteem through an imaginative and creative curriculum. This provides each child with the opportunity to develop their communication and collaboration skills.” – Hollie Mayes, Dance & Drama teacher
2 Yishun Street 42
6230 4230 | xwa.edu.sg
The Grange Institution school programme, outdoors and indoors
The first phase of the 1.5-acre green space expansion at The Grange Institution is scheduled to be finished in May 2023. The new development adds an open deck, obstacles, climbing mesh and ropes to the school facilities. By providing access to a green space that includes challenging physical activities, it allows students to learn and explore in a natural environment. It also fosters well-rounded development and prepares students for future challenges.
A word from students
“I spend most of my time during breaks in the garden area; I enjoy looking out for insects around the school garden. I also love to race my friends at the running tracks in the school. The school is expanding the backfield area, and I hope that a full-length running track can be included too so that we can have sports events there.” – Rowen Gow, Year 5
“I really like the new obstacle course as it’s challenging to balance on the beams and nets. I feel happy that I managed to complete it without much help. It’s fun to complete the obstacles with my friends as we can race each other.” – Rina Yoshiyama, Year 3
449 Yio Chu Kang Road
6817 3630 | thegrange.edu.sg
STEAM workshop & facilities at Nexus International School (Singapore)
Nexus is an Apple Distinguished School that has been recognised for its world-class facilities and emphasis on innovation in Singapore through STEAM workshops and more. Designed by teachers, the campus features open-plan learning hubs that cater to a diverse range of learning styles and interests. The state-of-the-art school facilities include a two-tier auditorium, large air-conditioned gyms that can be divided into teaching spaces, a full-size artificial turf field to the specifications of FIFA and World Rugby, a 50m Olympic-size pool with Omega touchpads and a weights studio.
Nexus is a STEAM school. The STEAM workshop and programme enhances innovation in Singapore, especially with access to multiple studios for ceramics and art, and maker spaces. Students learn to practise both art and Science skills in STEAM workshops. This integration is essential in Nexus’s education model.
Recently, Nexus revamped its outdoor garden with the addition of a new hydroponics farm. Learners can grow a variety of produce. At the same time, they witness the biological processes and appreciating the value of harvesting their own food. These gardening activities are incorporated into lessons. This development is in line with the school’s green push – it recently installed recycling bins for clothing, bottles and e-waste to make recycling more accessible to the whole school community.
A word from students
“My favourite facility is the music studios. I feel privileged to have access to such a wide variety of instruments and equipment. It’s nice to know that I can pick up an instrument any time I want to jam.” – Jack, Year 13
“The pool is definitely my favourite facility. We have a 50m pool with 30 blocks, which is an insane amount. I’ve trained in many pools and the Nexus pool is one of the best I’ve swam in! Being in the swim programme, I also get access to the aquatics and fitness gyms. I love being a part of the swim team, it’s like having a community within the Nexus community!” – Niels, Year 13
1 Aljunied Walk
6536 6566 | nexus.edu.sg
Read more about living in Singapore:
International schools in Singapore: Our huge guide!
Kids’ rugby clubs in Singapore
