The academic year consists of two semesters. The first semester starts in early-August and ends in December, with a one week break in October. The second semester starts in January and ends in June, with other holidays of about one week, usually centered around Chinese New Year and Easter. There are holidays for Vesak Day, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji.
Our faculty is a professional team of highly qualified and experienced international teachers. There is strong emphasis on academic excellence.
Assessment is seen as a tool to support and promote student learning and to accurately report student achievement. Students and parents are entitled to consistent, valid and reliable assessment information across all grades, subjects and classses. All parents can access their child's assessment information via their own confidential portal on the OFS website.
Happy students learn best. We therefore view imposed discipline as a failure of self-discipline. The focus of discipline at OFS is to teach students to take full responsibility for their own actions and self-discipline is a key part of this. We focus on strong peer-support, with student buddies for new students, and zero tolerance policy for violence. There is strong parent support for this approach.
OFS Curriculum is the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) Pre-K1 (2 years old) to K2 (5 years old), the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) Grades 1 to 5 and International Baccalaureate (IB) Grades 6 to 12.
At Overseas Family School, we believe that every child has a right to a meaningful education in an inclusive setting best suited to their individual needs. In addition to support with their learning, some students may also benefit from therapies such as Speech and Language or Occupational. For students experiencing social emotional challenges, support from a Nurture Specialist may also be beneficial.
We take student intellectual development seriously and have a team continuously researching ways to enhance the intellectual development of all students, commencing in Kindergarten.
Learn more about our Intellectual Development Program
Strategic thinking games promote intense intellectual focus. Research clearly supports the playing of games like Chess as boost to academic performance in all areas. All K2 to Grade 5 students have an hour per week of intense intellectual activity learning strategic games.
Coding develops mental discipline, promoting both sequential and structured thinking. There are numerous coding environments created specifically for young people and they provide a tremendous problem-solving environment for students. We teach coding for all students, from Kindergarten to Grade 8.
OFS has embedded MUN skills into its entire curriculum across Elementary, Middle and High School. Students research and debate global issues from the perspective a country other than their own. In addition to research, negotiation and presentation skills, students develop the ability to consider issues from the perspective of others. This shift in mindset is one that many adults struggle to achieve and we see it as an important step toward true international-mindedness.
OFS students may choose to receive Mother Tongue support for four hours per week within the school timetable.
OFS offers mother tongue instruction in 14 different languages, at no extra fee.
Proficiency in the English Language is not required. We have a world-leading English language acquisition program, which aims to maintain students at the academic level appropriate for their age.
Besides sports and ECA, OFS offers a separate Enrichment Program with a greater focus on individual teaching and coaching. Classes include a wide range or skills from mother tongue to sports to music.
