Singapore - international vs local school

[charlottemont]

Hi all,

My husband and I just decided to move to Singapore for a few years to be closer to his parents, as they are having health issues. He is a Singaporean citizen and I’m British.

We have twin toddlers, and are trying to figure out the best route in terms of education. Given that our children are Singaporean citizens, they are eligible to go to a local school; alternatively, we could go the international route. My husband went to a local school before moving to the UK at 8 and thinks that academically, the local route is superior. In terms of pastoral care, however, we both feel that the international schools are preferable and are both therefore leaning that way.

We hope to move back to London before the end of primary, so a British school would be ideal if we end up deciding on international school. Right now, we are primarily looking at Tanglin Trust and UWC - are there any others that you’d suggest?

Alternatively, if people think local is preferable, we could certainly be convinced. Cost is not a massive concern for us, although it is obviously a consideration.

Thank you so much in advance; this move came about sooner than anticipated so I’m just trying to wrap my head around the many changes!

I’m sure you know, but as Singaporean Citizens it may be hard for your children to attend international schools. In fact, I’m not sure they’d be eligible to apply for UWC for example.

https://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/admissions/admissions-resources/information-for-singapore-citizens#:~:text=Singapore%20Government%20regulations%20require%20Singaporean,Ministry%20of%20Education%20(MOE).

You’d need to check the individual schools admissions guides.

In terms of international schools, for British curriculum, I’d look at Tanglin Trust or Dulwich College. If not either of them, then Dover Court (more inclusive) or NCLS (more academic). There are also smaller schools, eg Brighton College and The Perse School.

I think in your situation, I would go local.

I'm singaporean with british hubby and thinking of moving back to sg. As far as my research goes it is very difficult to get waivers for sg citizen children to go to international school. I've avoided sg citizenship for kids for this reason. if you do want to go to intl school you have to try to get waiver.

Are they eligible for international schools as Singaporean citizens? I studied at Tanglin and at the time Singaporean citizens had to use a local school.

My friend is Singaporean, husband not, and they have to get a waiver for their children but seem to have managed it so far up to late primary. Not quite sure how! As to why they do it, I’m not sure. I know that she went to a local school in her time. I can ask if that would be helpful.

Yes - your children may get a waiver to attend an international school but in your application you should state that your family is only going to be resident in Singapore to support elderly(?) relatives and it’s not a permanent relocation to Singapore.

Do you have sons? When I lived in Singapore a Singaporean friend of mine was married to a Kiwi (New Zealander) and they had two boys who attended Tanglin Trust School (where my son was a pupil).

As soon as their eldest was about to turn 11 years old they moved to New Zealand. They were aware that otherwise they would have had to pay a large bond to the Singapore government, which would only have been refunded when their son(s) returned to perform their National Service. I’d advise you to check the conditions imposed by the Singapore government for NS, but I think from the age of 11 or 12 they are registered within the ‘system’ for NS.

Also be aware that if your marriage ends and your family is resident in Singapore, you will find it almost impossible to relocate back to the UK with your children…..and I knew of some expat mums who were in this situation.

To @charlottemont - Just remembered; Singapore does NOT allow dual citizenship! Your children may have British passports but Singapore will not recognise them whilst your children are in Singapore.

Do look up www.ica.gov.so

Thank you all! I can’t apologize enough for my delayed response to everyone; life has been crazy these last few weeks (when is it not!). My children don’t have British citizenship; rather, they have permanent residency in the UK. Oh how I wish that Singapore allowed dual citizenship, but alas…. My husband and I hadn’t realized how difficult it was to get a waiver for international school - the majority of his Singaporean friends from NS went to international school so we figured it would be relatively easy. That certainly does not appear to be the case based on your responses / further research, so it sounds like local schooling might be the ticket for now unless we ultimately do manage to be granted a waiver. It’s all quite exhausting because my husband isn’t 100% sure whether the move will play out, so we are having to go through the process in London as well!

My husband has joked that Singaporean schools are not for the faint-hearted; he claims that his primary experience in Singapore carried him all the way to A-levels with minimal effort in the UK😂I’m not sure how seriously to take him, though, haha

@charlottemont it might be worth a try still if it’s really important to you. My friends say that they are planning on moving to Europe (and have been for some time) and they have the connection (as do you!) that one parent is European. The kids were born in Singapore.

You need to check whether your husband and children can move back to the UK after being away. Permanent residency (indefinite leave to remain) can expire after 2 years away.

Local schools in many South East Asia cities are not for the faint hearted, with lots of homework, tests and exams from an early age.

I know of Singaporeans who have managed to hide their dual citizenship from the government, but they didn't live there