General
Outstanding Academic Performance for Checkpoint & IGCSE
Since our school opened in 2012, our Cambridge Checkpoint students have consistently achieved excellent results, with some of our students rewarded with a scholarship based on their results. The school also achieved the best grades for IGCSE in 2018, where five students achieved at least 8A*/A in IGCSE tests. We achieved 100% pass rate again and 97% of candidates scored A* to C in 5 or more subjects.
50:50 Foreign and Local Teachers Ratio
The highest foreign teacher’s ratio comparing to the other similar range international schools in Penang. All Primary form tutors are foreigners and the Secondary teachers in major subjects are taught by the foreigners as well. 90% of our foreign teachers are from England so they are native English speakers.
A 5-star school rated by Ministry of Education
We are proud to announce that we received a 5-star rating from Ministry of Education based on the inspection result in various areas such as academics, our syllabus, teaching approach, administration, canteen operations and building management...etc.
Enterprise Project
We host Enterprise projects each year. These are carefully planned by teachers and students, taking into consideration a model that begins with the end of the project in mind, creating a driving question, planning, mapping and reflecting upon the experience. These opportunities offer a diverse array of skills that includes independent and group work, presentations, use of ICT, essay writing and more practical, art and craft based assignments.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL support is offered at SIS and includes approximately four hours per week of specialist parallel classes in English, based upon the Cambridge English curriculum. For those students with further requirements, SIS also provides an intensive after school development programme via the dedicated EAL department based at the school, which can add up to an extra two hours per week.
Technology-enabled Education and Development
Technology alone will not make a school smart. Powered by our people who are well-trained with enthusiasm and passion, the use of Google Classroom and Chromebook makes the teaching and learning processes easier, fun and creative. At the same time, it creates efficiency in every aspect of school administration. We also still remained focused on not losing the art of writing by hand or using textbooks.
Teaching and Learning
Learning is student oriented, and based around lesson plans that concentrate upon the discovery, application and discussion of knowledge. Learning also focuses upon the development of skills as much as the knowledge of content and it is part of the school’s ethos to drive the concept of project focused enquiries.
School Facilities and Services
The Staff Body
The Curriculum
The International Baccalaureate Programme is offered through the PYP, MYP and DP which are the Primary, Middle and Diploma programmes. SIS currently offers a combination of the British curricula and the Cambridge curriculum that moves from Primary Checkpoint to Secondary Checkpoint, onto IGCSE and eventually, our intention, the A Level.
At a good school, it is our experience that there is little difference in the qualities of the programmes. Both have their strengths and whilst many observers will state that the IB is more about a philosophy of learning whilst a British Cambridge Curriculum is more about academic rigour, this is too simplistic. Both afford opportunities for breadth of study and critical thinking, and good schools will find a way of supplementing learning in order to enable students to grow in many ways.
As a relatively new school, this is where SIS holds an advantage and we can build a programme that takes the best of both worlds.
Our Cambridge and British curriculum means that the A Levels are the culmination of a tried, trusted and very structured system that delivers students to world renowned qualifications in the IGCSE and A Level. At our school, we also offer alternatives to the IB CAS programme (Creativity, Action, Service) through our weekly activity portfolio and annual Challenge Week. Project Based Learning also offers an alternative to the IB extended essay, and it is our intention for students to study the Cambridge Critical Thinking course as an alternative to Theory of Knowledge, at the A Level stage.
Admissions
Student Welfare
The school is very strong in EAL, with dedicated teachers helping students whose English requires improvement. We offer EAL during School and after School depending on the English level of the student upon the entrance assessment.
The school also runs separate learning support for special educational needs with the requirement of parents hiring an external shadow teacher. Further information about special educational needs can be acquired from the Admissions department.
We currently offer academic challenge and support programmes through our co-curricular programme.
Each child has not one, but TWO form tutors in the Secondary school, one local and one overseas. This is done in order to give our students a greater opportunity to receive guidance and support, as well as someone who they feel comfortable to talk to. Children in the Primary school are taught primarily by their form tutor, creating a strong bond between themselves and their teacher.
We have leaders in the school who are very experienced in social and emotional development and we have a very clear sense of expectations at the school, which includes positive discipline and support.
The House system is strong, and there is a constant drive at the school to produce a community that cares for each other and listens to each other. This is a key part of the school.
Community Enrichment
The school runs the Challenge Week every 2 years which is compulsory for all students. This is a week off timetable for all and students take part in the following activities to develop soft skills such as independence and teamwork:
Early Years and Years 1-2 – a series of Penang based day trips.Years 3-6 – Overnight trips at within Malaysia.
Years 7-10 – Overnight trips at either within Malaysia or overseas.