It’s well known that sport and physical activity are an essential part of a child’s education, and the benefits go beyond physical. There are loads of options on offer at international schools to suit all children; whether it’s football, badminton, rock climbing or swimming! Here, we find out about nine international school sports programmes in Singapore.
Nexus International School
Nexus offers a wide range of international school sports programmes for students, from swimming and netball to basketball and cricket. The Nexus sports programme is free and the campus houses two gyms, a 25-metre swimming pool and a grass football field. In 2020, the school will be moving to its new campus with even more sports facilities, including an aquatics centre.
Nexus is a member of the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) and competes both locally and internationally. Footballers travel to the annual British International School Soccer 7’s in Phuket. During the sporting season, teams train up to three times a week with weekly fixtures. Swimmers compete at FINA and benefit from free on-site coaching, nutritious team breakfasts, Olympic swimming clinics and personalised training programmes. The school also offers swim scholarships.
A student’s thoughts
“This is my fourth year training with Coach Ivan. We have a motto in our team: ‘Dream big, work hard’. Coach Ivan is supportive of our whole team and came to support me in one of my biggest international competitions in Cyprus. I’m really thankful to be a part of this team and for having such an amazing coach.” – Carmen, Year 10, National Age Group Champion
201 Ulu Pandan Road
6536 6566 | nexus.edu.sg
Marlborough College Malaysia
At Marlborough College Malaysia, sports are part of the school programme and held on three afternoons a week for the whole school. Sports on offer include rugby, netball, hockey, swimming and tennis. Every pupil in the prep school has two PE and two Games sessions each week, while every Senior School pupil has three scheduled afternoons of sport or activities and team sessions after school. Prep students have weekly swimming lessons.
Almost all the school’s sporting activities are included in fees, except scuba diving. Marlborough’s sporting facilities include six rugby pitches, four football pitches, an indoor climbing wall and two fully equipped sports halls. The school also hosts the Straits Tournaments annually, inviting schools from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur.
A student’s thoughts
“I love Touch Rugby because it’s a sport with little to no age boundaries. It embodies Marlborough’s three Cs: compassion, companionship and conversation. Marlborough is a family, more than a school. My coach Miss Nixon helped me to build my confidence and ability to lead on the field. Our coaches are committed to making us better and stronger players. They motivate us to do better, not just on the field but in the classroom too. I’ve had many opportunities to train with some of the best Touch and Rugby players in the world!” – Ella Halsall, Year 11
Jalan Marlborough, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
marlboroughcollege.my
Tanglin Trust School
With over 17 sports at Tanglin Trust School, including rugby, swimming, football, gymnastics, netball, athletics and basketball, there are many opportunities for students to take part. The vast majority of the sporting activities in co-curricular activity (CCA) programmes and sports and recreation club (SRC) programmes come at no extra cost. The school is a firm believer that sports develop students’ intellectual, physical, social and emotional wellbeing, while promoting healthy competition, the pursuit of excellence, social and cultural interaction, and the development of friendships.
Sports is an integral part of the curriculum from the Infants to the Senior School. The school has excellent coaches and extensive facilities including a world rugby-approved playing field, swimming pool, gymnasium, netball, badminton and volleyball courts. Students have the opportunity to travel overseas to train and compete, including at ACSIS, FOBISIA and SEASAC events. These trips offer students a chance to motivate and lead others and gain skills and talents that can be used across all fields of learning.
A student’s thoughts
“Tanglin has nurtured my passion to compete in a variety of sports. Playing for a number of teams has taught me humility, commitment and the ability to believe in myself.” – Former U19 Rugby Captain
95 Portsdown Road
6770 3480 | tts.edu.sg
Dulwich College (Singapore)
At Dulwich College (Singapore), students have access to both curriculum and competitive sports programmes run by dedicated sports specialists. The difference at Dulwich is that the all-inclusive programme allows any student that wants to play competitively access to do so – they do not believe in exclusive trials. The core curriculum includes sports such as rugby, football, netball, touch, swimming, basketball, athletics and cross-country. The College is a member of FOBISIA, giving students opportunities to compete across Asia and also runs multiple cross-college tournaments including the Olympiad this year in London at Dulwich College and Dulwich Junior Games at Dulwich College in Yangon, Myanmar.
The campus’s sporting facilities include indoor basketball and netball courts, a gymnastic centre, two astro-turf training area, three swimming pools, a fitness suit dance studio and an indoor climbing/bouldering wall. The College also offers the Student Athlete Support Programme (SASP) which is open to Senior school students who have high aspirations in sport or sports based careers. There are also additional niche sports on offer such as sailing, martial arts, fencing and scuba diving as part of its enriching CCA programme.
A student’s thoughts
“SASP has given me the opportunity to work on my technical and tactical skills in my core sport. It has taught me how to balance my school work and netball. I’ve made many friends across different year groups – we’re forming a community that feels very special.” – Maddie Roff, Year 11
71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8
6890 1003 | singapore.dulwich.org
Singapore American School
All students at the Singapore American School take part in the school’s sports programmes, which include volleyball, soccer, basketball, rugby/touch, swimming, badminton, track and field, baseball and fastpitch softball. Students benefit from top facilities such as the air-conditioned rock climbing wall, two batting cages, weight training rooms, a 1,000-seater stadium and fields.
Eagle Pathway sports are offered as a part of the after-school programme (four afternoons weekly) and are offered for fees starting from $55. Participation in PE programmes and co-curricular activities come at no cost. Elementary students are able to try sports in a low-risk environment (no try-outs!) while varsity teams have the opportunity to compete in IASAS tournaments twice a season and in the ACSIS competition locally.
A student’s thoughts
“Practice is something I get genuinely excited about. Although being an athlete requires a lot of physical and mental stamina and time, every minute is worth it because of the girls training alongside me! It is these relationships that I’ve built with my teammates, coaches, fitness trainers and athletic directors on and off the field that make me look forward to practice every day. I believe that winning is as much a reflection of these friendships as it is of our skills and technique.” – Willow Martin, Grade 12
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
Dover Court International School
As an inclusive school, Dover Court International School offers a variety of sports for different levels. These include football, swimming, netball, basketball, rugby, touch rugby, cross country and athletics. Students are able to make use of the school’s facilities such as the basketball court, running track and multi-purpose sports hall. All team sports that run as extracurriculars are included in school fees. Students also have PE classes twice a week – either one regular PE lesson and swimming lesson weekly (Nursery to Year 4) or PE once a week and swimming or PE once a week on rotation.
As members of FOBISIA, the school sends a team to the Primary FOBISIA Games and a team to the U13 FOBISIA Games in Thailand. The school also takes part in overseas swim meets and football tournaments with other Nord Anglia Education schools, and participates in tournaments locally with ACSIS.
A student’s thoughts
“I was initially nervous when I joined DCIS last year for Year 9, but the PE Department made me feel welcome from day one. I’m on both the netball and football team and take part in numerous sports events. The PE teachers helped me settle in and are very inclusive and accessible. They boost our confidence and are really easy to talk to.” – Oceane, Year 10
301 Dover Road
6775 7664 | nordangliaeducation.com
UWCSEA
UWCSEA offers a wide range of sports for students to take part in, such as swimming, gymnastics, football, basketball, rugby and touch, badminton, netball and volleyball. The school also offers other external sports such as golf and sailing. PE is part of the school’s curriculum until Grade 10, and students can benefit from extensive sporting facilities including a 10-lane 50-metre Olympic-sized pool, fully-equipped gymnastics centre and a CrossFit training room.
UWCSEA East is a member of ACSIS, SEASAC and other competitions, giving students many opportunities to compete. In addition, the Dover campus offers the examined GCSE PE certificate in Grade 9 and 10, and Sports Exercise and Health Science under the IB Diploma. The East campus also has links with partners in Singapore such as FastBreak Basketball and Dragons Rugby Club.
A student’s thoughts
“I discovered a passion for netball through school. In Grade 4, I tried out with absolutely no experience for the school team. I gradually learned the skills and was supported and nurtured by coaches who saw potential in me. After five years of hard work, I played on the U19 first team as a ninth grader, came second in Southeast Asia and represented a club team at a tournament in Australia.” – Isabella Duncan, Grade 11
UWCSEA Dover, 1207 Dover Road
UWCSEA East, 1 Tampines Street 73
uwcsea.edu.sg
Stamford American International School
Combining quality coaching and sports facilities, Stamford American Athletics Program commits to sport for all from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Stamford has over 60 specially chosen specialist coaches from all over the world. Through dedicated coaching, the school believes that student athletes will be nurtured to achieve their fullest potential. The Athletics Program has over 96 competitive teams in sports including basketball, soccer, touch rugby, swimming and track and field. Stamford students have access to facilities such as three swimming pools, two indoor sports arenas, a multi-purpose sports field, indoor golf studio center and two rock climbing walls. The school also has all year-round gymnastics, basketball, swimming, tennis, golf, volleyball and badminton academies.
Besides invitational sports tournaments, the U19 teams travel to SEASAC tournaments around the region. Stamford is a member school of ACSIS and SEASAC and takes part in tournaments with member schools in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Singapore. Stamford has over 350 after-school activities (CCAs) that help students to develop important social and life skills such as teamwork, integrity, sportsmanship and respect.
A student’s thoughts
“I like how supportive the school is in cultivating student athletes, giving me opportunities to pursue my passion in competitive swimming and balance the rigour of my academics. I also like the modern campus such as the multi-purpose sports field.” – Daniel Looi, Grade 11, qualifier of the FINA Swimming World Cup
1 Woodleigh Lane
6602 7247 | sais.edu.sg
GEMS World Academy (Singapore)
At GEMS World Academy (Singapore), sport is a key element of the educational approach. Sports on offer include rugby, touch, football and cross country. The school has loads of sporting facilities for students to enjoy such as the 15-metre climbing wall, all-weather learner pool and full-size rugby/football pitch.
The school’s sports programme is designed for a range of abilities; students can play for fun during PE lessons or choose to participate or compete in weekly extracurricular programmes such as the GEMS (Singapore) Performance Athlete Programme and Swimming Academies. The majority of extracurricular activities are run by faculty members, taught by professional coaches and are free of charge. Students have weekly PE and swimming lessons, while the school’s competitive sports teams take part in matches with the ACSIS league, competing in three seasons across the school year.
A student’s thoughts
“When I grow up, I want to be an Olympic champion in the Triathlon. I’ve had this dream since I was very little and I am determined to get there one day! I know GEMS (Singapore) will help me get there, and I believe I’m already on the right track!” – Emma M.
2 Yishun Street 42
6808 7300 | gwa.edu.sg
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