Tanglin Trust School Singapore, Singapore 3 - 18
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Tanglin Trust School
Singapore
1,400 pupils, ages 11-18 | Mixed | Day

Senior School

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Our View

The oldest British international school in south-east Asia, not-for-profit Tanglin Trust School does an excellent job of combining an English curriculum with a truly global outlook. Renowned for its strong academics and happy, confident students, it is well regarded in the UK both by schools and universities. For new arrivals in Singapore, it should be high on the educational hit list.

Where?

Close to expat residential areas such as Bukit Timah, Farrer Road, Wessex Estate and Holland Village, as well as the Dover Road ‘educational corridor’, all schools (infant through to senior) share the same 11.3-acre campus – and they make the most of every square inch of space.

The infant, junior and senior schools have their own building and sit on three sides to form a quad around a large Astroturf; on the fourth side is the Nixon Building, which houses the canteen, offices and large performance hall. In 2023, the much-anticipated Tanglin Centenary Building opened its doors. The 11-storey state-of-the-art building accommodates 23% of the total floor space on campus and houses a cross-section of facilities to benefit the entire Tanglin community.

The building is students’ and families’ first point of entrance when they visit the school. Highlights of the new building include new music facilities, enhanced sporting facilities such as an aquatics centre with an Olympic-length swimming pool, a 15 meter tall climbing wall designed and made by the Climbing World Championships wall maker, Walltopia, 1,300sqm gymnastics centre, an athletics development gym and a parent café.

All the walkways are covered (important in Singapore, where it rains a lot) but open and airy so the campus doesn’t get hot (also important in Singapore, where the sun shines a lot).

The school has an excellent and very well organised private bus network which criss-crosses Singapore - they even have two full time members of staff to ensure it all runs smoothly for families. Each bus has a 'Bus Aunty' who manages all pupils, from age 3 to 18, and there’s a designated drive-through area and drop-off for infant and junior parents. On the last day of the summer term all members of staff wave the children off on their final bus journey of the year, to the sound of the buses honking their horns!

Head

Since 2018, approachable Australian CEO Craig Considine has overseen Tanglin, upping sticks from the UK where he was head at Millfield School for a decade. He makes a big effort to be visible at coffee mornings and drinks evenings, and has earned the respect of the staff and community. He has also made slow but steady changes, moving the school towards being all-encompassing rather than solely focused on academics. Acting head of the Middle School is Peter O'Brian, head of the Upper School is Luke Hensman; overall Senior School head is Chris Seal.

Admissions

Tanglin has run at full capacity – around 2,800 students – for years. Families often use entry at Nursery or Reception (where it’s easier to get a place); the other way to bump your child up the list is through the Placement Rights scheme where parents make a significant contribution to the school in return for a Guaranteed (you get a place straight away) spot.

Entry is based on age-appropriate fluency in English (one parent must also be fluent in English so the school can communicate effectively), a positive attitude to learning, previous school reports and grades, an assessment, as well as the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. No bursaries – although some families can use the Tanglin Foundation for support with activities such as school trips. In August 2024, the school welcomed its first ever cohort of music scholars, with up to 10 per cent fee remission included. 

Academics

Pupils are supported academically at all stages of the school and how well-prepared they are for the next step of the journey. There’s a superb Personalised Options Plan (POP) programme for pupils in Year 11 to help students decide which direction to choose: the teachers make an assessment and rate each subject as to whether an individual is capable of taking it at A-level or IB (higher or standard level).

IGCSEs are offered in Year 11. Good range of subjects: maths is notably accomplished and further maths is offered at the same time to the best students and anyone looking to continue at A-level or higher level IB. Students are streamed for sciences and languages. Very few take two languages at IGCSE stage, but the school will try to accommodate where they can. Psychology, economics, business studies, computer science and film studies are all popular. Lots of support in the lead-up to exams, with subject clinics on offer at lunchtime and after school. In 2024, 77% of iGCSE students achieved A*-A, 99% achieved A*-C.

Co-curricular

Plenty of drama productions and music events to get involved in (Battle of the Bands is popular); around 450 students across the school are learning to play an instrument. The fabulous film suite attracts a lot of students at GCSE level – the Mac computers are loaded with packages including Final Cut Pro X for video editing, Cinema 4D for 3D animation, Adobe After Effects for compositing and motion graphics, plus there’s a Foley pit to create sound effects, a screening room and a film studio with green screen. 

Seen as a good school for sports, Tanglin sits in the top leagues both in Singapore and FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) and seniors regularly scoop up championship titles across disciplines. All teams are called the Tanglin Lions and there’s real pride among students at representing the school. Rugby, football and swimming are especially strong, and archery was recently added to the list of CCAs. The facilities might not be extensive, but the school definitely makes the best of the space they have – putting nets on top of buildings and utilising the many internal halls that can be used whatever the weather. 

As you’d expect at a school this size, there’s a vast range of co-curricular – from creative clubs to sport, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (it takes the place of the National Youth Achievement Award that has been run in previous years). There’s also the new Highlands Programme for Year 9s, who spend five weeks at the Tanglin Gippsland Campus in the heart of Australia’s rural Victoria. Alongside their studies, which focus on biology, geography, outdoor education, there are also academic field trips, community service and group problem solving projects. Mobile phones are put away and students write letters home to tell parents of their news. 

School community

Truly international. Although predominantly British, there are over 50 nationalities at the school and the parent community is solid, celebrating one another’s cultural diversity and customs. We love the sound of the parent ambassadors scheme where current parents show prospective families around. This works particularly well as expat parents understand the concerns of those relocating, especially first-timers. Each student is allocated a buddy before they start to help show them the ropes, and a house system runs through the whole school, with house events a key part of the calendar.

There is also the Tanglin Institute, a facility dedicated to looking at what the educational needs will be in 20 years and preparing students to be ‘future-ready.’

And finally....

Pastoral care is top notch - at the senior level, the support is there and children are encouraged to seek it out, either for themselves or friends if they feel it might be necessary. Excellent counselling team and workshops for parents on mental wellbeing.

Gallery See All

Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
Tanglin Trust School gallery image
  • Admissions

    Students entering the Senior School will be required to sit an assessment.
  • Academic results

    A-level % grades A*-B: 85%
    International Baccalaureate % 36-45 points: 69%
  • University Destinations



    The majority go to UK universities but some go to US, Europe & Australia every year. 96% of students go to their first or second choice university.
  • Sports

    Athletics
    Badminton
    Basketball
    Climbing
    Cricket
    Cross country
    Dance
    Golf
    Gymnastics
    Netball
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Swimming
    Tennis
    Volleyball
  • Fees

    Day fees per annum
    From 49,305.00 Singapore Dollars to 51,615.00 Singapore Dollars







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  • Transport Links

    Nearest underground station: One North MRT station (Circle / Orange Line)
    Nearest mainline train station: Buona Vista (Green Line)
    Nearest international airport: Singapore Changi Airport
  • School Updates

    • WATCH: Tanglin Trust Centenary Video

      Tanglin Trust School are celebrating their centenary year!
    • 2024 (I)GCSEs: Outstanding Results Across All Subjects

      A huge congratulations to the 186 Tanglin students who successfully passed their IGCSEs this year, with 91% of grades A*-B equivalent (9-6). These results are particularly impressive when compared to schools in England.
    • Tanglin Trust School Celebrates Outstanding 2024 A-Level Results!

      Tanglin Trust School is proud to announce its impressive 2024 A-Level results, marking one of the strongest performances in over a decade (excluding the COVID-19 exam years).
    • Tangin Highlands Programme Brochure!

      Find out more about the Tanglin Highlands Programme
    • Tanglin Lions IMPACT Programme

      The beginning of the academic year marked the launch of our IMPACT programme, a targeted approach to education and support for students in our sports performance squads, as well as those competing at a high
      ational level in their sport. Throughout the programme, we have been able to give students opportunities within the school day to access individual support and facilities.
    • The Tanglin Highlands Programme

      The Tanglin Highlands Programme is a five-week immersive learning journey at its Tanglin Gippsland campus in Australia and is the pinnacle of a Year 9’s Middle School education at Tanglin. Since Year 9 will be a formative year for adolescent development, the programme will focus on fostering three essential attributes: curiosity, confidence, and community.
    • New Issue of The Voice Published!

      Discover the latest news and stories from Tanglin in the newest issue of The Voice (Vol 41) magazine. The Voice is packed with fascinating stories from across the Tanglin community.
    • World Scholar's Cup Success in Bangkok!

      Just three weeks into the new school term, a team of Tanglin Scholars headed to Thailand for the 2023 Bangkok Global Round of The World Scholar's Cup.
    • Raising the Curtain on Tanglin's New Drama Spaces

      At the start of the school year, we welcomed acclaimed British choreographer, James Bennett, and West End Theatre star, Noel Sullivan, to the Tanglin Drama Department for a five-week residency.
    • First Foundation Drinks: A new era for the Tanglin Trust School Foundation

      Established in 2012, last week's event marked a new chapter in the history of the Foundation to support the mission of Tanglin to provide exceptional educational opportunities, beyond the curriculum.
    • Tanglin's Triumphant Trio Wins Poetry by Heart

      Poetry by Heart is a competition that requires students to memorise and perform poetry.
    • All Round Sporting Success for Tanglin Lions!

      Last weekend saw Tanglin Lions win and compete in three different sports, within two major school sports tournaments, across three different countries!
    • Tanglin Hackathon 2023: Perseverance, Enthusiasm, Problem Solving and Pizza Eating!

      On 9th September 2023, Berrick Hall was buzzing with over 100 students participating in Tanglin's annual Hackathon competition!
    • Another Year of Outstanding IB Results at Tanglin!

      Award-winning Tanglin Trust School is delighted to share that it has achieved another year of outstanding IB Diploma results.
    • View from the Top:

      Head of Tanglin Trust Senior School, Chris Seal on why expert University guidance is so vital in international schools.
    • TANGLIN CROWNED INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF THE YEAR 2023 BY ISC RESEARCH

      (Winner for Ethical Values Education and Finalist for Strategic Leadership Categories) Tanglin is pleased to announce that it has won the much-coveted International School of the Year 2023 by ISC Research. The school also won the Ethical Values Education Award, for embedding the rights of children into the school’s ethos and culture as part of UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools accreditation (RRSA). In addition, Tanglin was also the finalist in the Strategic Leadership Category.
    • UNVEILING THE TANGLIN CENTENARY BUILDING (brand new 11-storey building with state-of-the-art facilities)

      Award-winning Tanglin Trust School officially unveiled the Tanglin Centenary Building, an 11-storey building with state-of-the-art facilities, this week. The opening ceremony was attended by Guests of Honour; Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, as well as Her Excellency, Kara Owen CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Singapore.
    • Tanglin Senior Students Achieved 156 Awards by Pearson Education

      Award-winning Tanglin Trust School is pleased to announce that 145 students who sat for the (I)GCSE and A-Level examinations in 2022 achieved 156 awards by Pearson Education. ▪ 5 highest Mark in the World ▪ 7 Highest Mark in Asia ▪ 6 Highest Mark in Singapore
    • Tanglin Crowned School for Best UK Pathway and Most Future-Ready Students at the Singapore Education Awards 2022

      ward-winning Tanglin Trust School is pleased to share that it has been awarded Gold for two categories; School with Most Future-Ready Students and School for Best UK Pathway School at the Singapore Education Awards by HoneyKids Asia. This is the second year in a row that Tanglin was awarded Gold for Best UK Pathway.
    • TANGLIN ACHIEVES EXCEPTIONAL (I)GCSE RESULTS!

      Singapore, 26 August 2022 – Tanglin Trust School is delighted to share that it has achieved its best everset of (I)GCSE results.Of all grades achieved, 68% of Tanglin students achieved A* and 85% scored A* to A, more than twice the percentage in England.
    • Tanglin achieves another year of outstanding A-level results

    • TANGLIN ACHIEVES ANOTHER YEAR OF OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA RESULTS!

      Award-winning Tanglin Trust School is delighted to share that it has achieved another year of outstanding International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma provisional results.
    • TANGLIN RANKED TOP 5 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN SINGAPORE!

      AND TOP 20 GLOBALLY FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!
    • Tanglin Students Shine in Languages Competition!

      Tanglin Trust School is pleased to share that students from Year 5 to Year 13 were ranked remarkably in this year’s Education Perfect Languages Championships, continuing from the school’s success last year.
    • Four A and AS Level Tanglin Students awarded Top in the World!

      We are pleased to announce that four A and AS Level Tanglin students have been awarded Top in the World at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards (OCLA) for their exceptional performance. The prestigious award recognises those who achieved the highest standard grade in the world for a single subject.

Essentials

Address
95 Portsdown Road, Singapore 139299

Contact
senior.school@tts.edu.sg
(+65) 6770 3181

Website
tts.edu.sg/academics/senior-school

Fees

Term Dates

Open Days

Inspection report

Admissions




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