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Joining a new school or programme can be challenging in many ways. It takes adaptability and resilience to master demanding courses, especially when they’re comprehensive in preparing you for a rapidly changing world.
Youn Chaewon at first struggled in the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) programme at St Francis Methodist School. The senior certificate recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework has been offered at the school for 23 years, so they’ve built a well-versed curriculum that has prepared students for university and beyond.
She’d have to excel within a broad range of subjects, where the standards of literacy and numeracy are set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Western Australian.
“With support from my teachers and friends, I found a rhythm,” Youn says. “I’m proud of the progress I’ve made, especially in science subjects. The variety of assessments, like research projects and presentations, made learning more engaging.”
High school leavers with a WACE certificate like Youn often find they have many options as their qualification is versatile and is accepted by universities, industry, and other training providers in Singapore, the US, the UK and Australia.
SFMS provides experiential learning opportunities to engage you with the material. Source: St Francis Methodist School
At SFMS, that’s just the kind of growth that 550 students from over 21 countries are finding at the primary, secondary, and pre-tertiary levels. Located in Singapore’s Bukit Timah, this leading private school grows children into future global leaders with Christian values. They become graduates who flourish at universities in the UK, Australia, and more.
That sort of holistic development starts with the room SFMS gives to explore diverse learning pathways. Here, every student gets to personalise their route to university.
Every student gets to personalise their route to university by exploring diverse learning pathways — one of which is the WACE programme, designed for students in years 11 and 12. Over the span of two years, students will complete a mix of academic courses and student development. Think areas like Biology or Accounting and Finance with Student Leadership and Christian Education. As small tests are conducted throughout the year, students can track their progress and maintain consistent improvement.
The programme takes a practical learning approach that imbues the skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to excel in university, and that’s also what makes learning fun. Students present, conduct lab projects, collaborate, contribute to decisions, and more. It’s these hands-on learning opportunities that develop all-rounders with strong inquiry and writing skills.
Now, the school offers a WACE preparatory course for students in year nine and 10. It’s the chance to get a head start with coursework assessments, and the development of research and writing skills that’ll come into play when you reach high-level assignments in pre-tertiary years. Course offerings include First Language English, Chinese, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting and Finance, Business Management & Enterprise, Civics and Values Education, Physical and Health Education, Christian Education, Co-Academic Programme, and Student Service Learning & Leadership.
Parents looking for other academic pathways aren’t stumped for choice at SFMS. The school offers the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O Levels programme as well as the Cambridge IGCSE for years nine to 10 students heading into pre-tertiary education. In years 11 and 12, students can opt for the globally recognised International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
“The IBDP has been challenging yet immensely rewarding,” student Hwang Yuna says. “SFMS has offered a fulfilling environment for growth, and I would recommend it to any dedicated student ready for the IB’s rigorous demands.”
Educators at SFMS are certified by the National Institute of Education (NIE) at the Nanyang Technological University, so they’ve been trained by the best to teach the next generation of game-changers. The teachers here care about their work and will do everything in their mentorship to draw out the best version of each student.
St Francis Methodist School is part of Singapore’s world-class education system. Source: St Francis Methodist School
“There are also many CAS opportunities that allow students to explore interests outside academics, contributing to a well-rounded experience,” Hwang says.
Balance is key when it comes to learning, and children can’t build the skills they need in the real world by sitting idly in a classroom every day. Nor would they sow traits of compassion and responsibility to grow into well-rounded, open-minded characters either. SFMS knows this extremely well, which is why they give students seemingly countless opportunities to develop beyond the classroom and understand the world.
At SFMS, much of this is done by integrating students into their community within and beyond campus. Thanks to a multicultural campus, it’s easy to learn from students and staff with different perspectives, building a sense of global literacy. They can take part in community projects, like the high school students who travelled to Bintan, Indonesia to create a clean water system for a family in need, or the year ten and eleven students who joined in the Lions Befrienders Annual Flag Day, which is a fundraiser for senior citizens with little to no family support.
Going outside comfort zones is woven into the SFMS curriculum. Yes, students master core subjects like mathematics, the Chinese language, and more. But they have specialised programmes for students to explore passions as well, like geography and integrated communication technology — and that may just turn into an unexpected career pursuit. SFMS also offers co-academic programmes that let students enhance even more personal talents, such as performing arts, sports, and outdoor education.
Click here to learn more about SFMS if you’d like to become a part of their global family.
