Black, White
Yellow

Partner content

How a bespoke curriculum prepares young learners for
the future

Tanglin Trust School aims to be a dynamic learning community which nurtures and inspires every individual to be the best they can be. Located in Singapore, Tanglin Trust School has a long tradition of providing British-based learning with an international perspective. The school strives to make every individual feel valued, happy and successful. Responsibility, enthusiasm and participation are actively encouraged, and integrity is prized. Working together in a safe, caring yet stimulating environment, the school sets high expectations whilst offering strong support, resulting in a community of lifelong learners who can contribute with confidence to the world.


Tanglin students come from all over the world. They represent more than 50 nationalities — and, in inspecting Tanglin’s impressive track record of achievements, it’s easy to see why the school has global appeal. In the realm of academic results, the school has, in the last academic year, seen a 100% A Level pass rate, with 70% of students achieving an A or above; and 86% of those who took the IB Diploma scored 38 points or more, setting a 41 grade average across the school. This has resulted in 97% of students receiving offers from their first or second choice university.




Tower block, Urban design, Building, Property, Window, Infrastructure, Tree, Condominium, Biome, Neighbourhood

That’s not to distract from the school’s wide range of co-curricular activities. More than 300 co-curricular activities are on offer across the school to supplement every student’s learning in the areas of sport, the arts, outdoor education, academic enrichment, clubs and societies. These thoughtfully planned out co-curricular programmes not only support students in their academic journey but also equip them with passions, pursuits and interests that will bring them joy and well-being beyond school. It also enhances the development of students’ independence by encouraging them to make informed choices and organise their time.


With such diverse approach to learning and admirable academic results, it’s little wonder that Tanglin has repeatedly achieved “outstanding” grades from UK Ofsted British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections.


Venture around Tanglin’s campus and it’s clear that every inch is designed to give children the very best learning experience possible. In fact, the

Tanglin Centenary Building, a new 11-storey building, is set to open this year, where students can enjoy state-of-the-art facilities including an Olympic-length pool, new infant spaces, athletic development gym, music spaces, co-working spaces for parents and more.


Tanglin’s secret? Following the 5 Cs to success.

Hear from Tanglin students to see how this winning formula works




In today’s fast-paced world, there’s no doubt that critical thinking is a skill most students will be expected to develop by the time they enter university. Luckily, Tanglin integrates such skills into the very framework of their academics, teaching students how to analyse the available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form coherent ideas.


“Encouraging students to think creatively and critically is embedded within all curriculum subjects,” shares John Ridley, Tanglin’s Director of Learning. “Our 3-14 Framework uses a 'mastery' approach for assessment; right from the Early Years, we set expectations for deep learning rather than surface knowledge. Students are challenged to make connections between their prior knowledge, experiences and their current learning. Learning is interactive; young learners are listened to, to show that their ideas matter; questions are often answered with questions to encourage deeper thinking.”


This was instrumental for New Zealand born Head Boy, Matthew W. He was not only encouraged to participate in activities outside of his core academic curriculum, but was also encouraged to start a new club. He was an active participant in the World Scholars Cup – where he chanced upon the opportunity for NAQT (National Academic Quiz Tournament) and decided to co-found NAQT at Tanglin along with the help of some of his teachers.


Having brought this initiative to Tanglin, he became a student mentor to other team members and through plenty of hard work, he led the team to perform better. Tanglin eventually made it to the top 50 globally. Now in his final year at Tanglin, Matthew has handed the reins over to a new student leadership team but NAQT at Tanglin will forever be part of his legacy.


“Tanglin encourages us to think critically, to think laterally, to have a growth mindset and consistently take ourselves out of our comfort zone regularly, so as to create a wider comfort zone for ourselves,” he shares.


At the moment, he’s in the midst of his A Levels, taking a diverse range of subjects that require different skill sets. “All of my subjects interest me as they require me to take a look at the world around me through different lenses,” he adds.




CRitical thinking

People in nature, Smile, Plant, Green, Tree, Wood, Leisure
People in nature, Smile, Plant, Green, Tree, Wood, Leisure

For senior students at BISP, a strong start to the week is crucial. Marija begins her day at 6:30 a.m., has her breakfast and spruces up in time for the 8 a.m. bell. For her, class days comprise all six of her IB classes – Business, Biology, English B, Mathematical Applications and Interpretations, Lithuanian, and Art. Lunch, a brief break and a study period are integrated in between.

Once classes come to a close at 4:00 p.m., the High-Performance Swimmer puts on her swimsuit and heads to a two-hour training session with her coach.

Balancing academic rigour with athletic excellence wasn’t something she got accustomed to at her old school. “They figured since we would be Olympians one day, nothing else mattered. But here, we are treated as students first and foremost,” she says.

It’s undeniable that the skill of thinking outside the box is highly desirable in any student for the simple fact of how demanding this can be. Students at Tanglin, however, are trained from the get-go to find interesting and novel ways to solve the issues that have been put in front of them.


Students are encouraged to acquire new skills by trying out different activities. For example, the ability to express themselves can be derived through music; creativity can be explored in art; whilst a sense of curiosity can be fostered through specialist clubs and societies. All of these culminate into priceless life skills and soft skills that will enable Tanglin’s graduates to succeed as citizens of the world.




CReative thinking

Flash photography, Performing arts, Hand, Arm, Light, Sky, Purple, Entertainment, Gesture, Happy

For senior students at BISP, a strong start to the week is crucial. Marija begins her day at 6:30 a.m., has her breakfast and spruces up in time for the 8 a.m. bell. For her, class days comprise all six of her IB classes – Business, Biology, English B, Mathematical Applications and Interpretations, Lithuanian, and Art. Lunch, a brief break and a study period are integrated in between.

Once classes come to a close at 4:00 p.m., the High-Performance Swimmer puts on her swimsuit and heads to a two-hour training session with her coach.

Balancing academic rigour with athletic excellence wasn’t something she got accustomed to at her old school. “They figured since we would be Olympians one day, nothing else mattered. But here, we are treated as students first and foremost,” she says.

At Tanglin, open communication is encouraged. This ensures every student’s voice is heard. “Prior to Tanglin, I wasn’t the type to put my hand up to ask for help,” Head Girl, Maia S said. “Coming into Tanglin, getting involved in class and asking for help was always encouraged by my teachers and this positive culture at Tanglin has helped me to get over my fear of feeling judged when I didn’t understand a topic or concept. This approach has increased my confidence greatly. Eventually, there came a point where I started to help others and collaborate with my peers when they were struggling too.”


Matthew added: “Teamwork, communication, and collaboration are all skills that I developed whilst being on the Head Team,” he shares. “The members of the Head Team didn’t always agree on everything and having an environment where everyone could communicate their thoughts and opinions openly was crucial and led to many successful achievements and events led by the team.”


Such a spirit has also pushed Matthew to develop his other skills, such as public speaking and mentorship, especially in leading the World Scholars Club. “To be able to actively take control of classes, organise sessions and mentor your peers on topics which you have a passion for is an experience which I will never forget, and I can only sing its praises as an invaluable learning opportunity for Sixth Formers,” he says.


communication

Tower block, Urban design, Building, Property, Window, Infrastructure, Tree, Condominium, Biome, Neighbourhood

For senior students at BISP, a strong start to the week is crucial. Marija begins her day at 6:30 a.m., has her breakfast and spruces up in time for the 8 a.m. bell. For her, class days comprise all six of her IB classes – Business, Biology, English B, Mathematical Applications and Interpretations, Lithuanian, and Art. Lunch, a brief break and a study period are integrated in between.

Once classes come to a close at 4:00 p.m., the High-Performance Swimmer puts on her swimsuit and heads to a two-hour training session with her coach.

Balancing academic rigour with athletic excellence wasn’t something she got accustomed to at her old school. “They figured since we would be Olympians one day, nothing else mattered. But here, we are treated as students first and foremost,” she says.

Maia further broke out of her comfort zone by undertaking various other opportunities, such as tutoring younger students. She says this has been integral to furthering her passion for Mathematics — which she will be pursuing at UCLA — and improving her communication skills with people of different ages.


Tanglin students often work together, uniting their diverse ideas, thoughts, and opinions in a safe space. Matthew, as Head Boy, implements some form of collaboration in his everyday interactions, bolstered by the tight-knit, supportive community at Tanglin.


These endeavours have landed Matthew a spot at Brown University — proof of the high reputation of excellence Tanglin helps to cultivate in their students.


collaboration

Smile, Plant, Leg, Green, Sleeve, Wood, Tree, Travel, Leisure
Smile, Plant, Leg, Green, Sleeve, Wood, Tree, Travel, Leisure

Perhaps the most important thing for any student to learn is their responsibility to the world. At Tanglin, this is instilled from a very young age through the integration of Service Learning, in which opportunities for meaningful engagement with the local community and the world beyond are made available.


“In Year 12, I joined the United Nations’s Equality Project, where we split into small groups and chose one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to improve,” shares Maia. “Normally, this would be an external community service project. However, due to COVID, we had to adapt to the circumstances and work on improving something within the school.”


Maia’s group chose Goal Number 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production.” “We decided to start selling reusable coffee cups at the cafe to reduce single-use plastic,” she shares. “We spoke to the Director of Marketing and Communications and the Head of Food Services at Tanglin to organise this initiative and provide general feedback regarding the sustainability of food at Tanglin.”




citizenship skills

Outerwear, Table, Food, Selling, Customer, Sharing, Retail
Outerwear, Table, Food, Selling, Customer, Sharing, Retail
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow

Hear from Tanglin students to see how this winning formula works

A holistic approach to education

Insights from John Ridley, Director of Learning


Tanglin is dedicated to providing an academic framework that addresses the current and future needs of every student, from the youngest nursery child to the pre-university graduate. “The Tanglin 3-14 curriculum journey has been divided into five 'Milestones,’ with clear objectives for each area of knowledge at each stage,” says John. “Most excitingly, Milestone 2 straddles the Infant and Junior schools and Milestone 4 straddles the Junior and Middle Schools. This was done intentionally to ensure the best possible transitions between the schools.”


Above all, Tanglin aims to instil in students a learning experience beyond the classroom.


The result? Cohorts of socially responsible, all-rounded students and graduates who, like Maia and Matthew, are charting an exciting course for their futures.




“Whilst we believe in the value of dividing the curriculum into discrete disciplines, our overall aim to support students as they develop the attributes of our Tanglin Learner Profile transcends all of our activities.”
Dress shirt, Human body, Face, Forehead, Smile, Cheek, Chin, Eye, Tie

Discover more at Tanglin Trust School

Copyright © 2022  Study International, official representative of Tanglin Trust School

This article has been created in partnership with Tanglin Trust School