GEMS World Academy (Singapore)

GEMS World Academy (Singapore)

Singapore's International School for Global Student (Pre-K to Grade 12)
Location
2 Yishun Street 42
Singapore 768039
in Yishun area
Singapore
Information
School type Private International School
Founded 1959
Founder Sunny Varkey
School number 6808 7300
Principal Head of School: David Edwards/ Seconday Years Principal: Jan Stipek/ Primary Years Principal: Neil White
Enrolment Open throughout the year
Education system IGCSE, International Baccalaureate
Classes offered Pre-K to Grade 12
Accreditation EduTrust Singapore
School fees $9,000-$33,000 a year, depending on age and grade
Phone +65 6808 7300
Website www.gwa.edu.sg

GEMS World Academy (Singapore), GWAS, is a award-winning Leading International School[1] in Singapore that is owned by GEMS Education, the world leader in Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education. The school offers Early Years, Primary Years and Secondary Years education . Early Years are from Pre-K to K2, Primary Years are from Grade 1 to Grade 5 while Secondary Years are from Grade 6 to Grade 12. 📖

GWAS is one of only a few schools in Singapore to offer all three International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes (Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma (DP)). As a certified Cambridge International School, Grade 9 and 10 students are required to sit to obtain a qualification through the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

History

Founded in 1959, GEMS Education expanded into Singapore market and opened its new IB world school, GEMS World Academy (Singapore) on September 2014, commencing from Pre-K to Grade 8. In 2015, it expanded to include Grades 9 and 10. In 2016, it added Grade 11 and it will become a full Pre-K to Grade 12 international school for the 2017 academic year.

Teacher-Student Ratio

Average class size: 20 students. Only international school in Singapore with 2 teachers for each of its early years and primary years class.[2]

Students Profile

American, British, Australasian, Indian, French, Japanese, Korean and more than 60 other nationalities. There is no dominant nationality or ethnic group and the largest nationality only represents 15% of the overall student population.[3]

Teachers

Its educators come from over 20 different countries. On average they have over 15 years of International School teaching experience.[4] Almost half of their teachers hold a Master’s degree or above.[5] Most importantly, their teachers are teachers because they think it’s the most important job in the world. In 2016, the school appointed Jan Stipek, a senior leader from the International Baccalaureate Organization, as their Secondary Years Principal.[6]

Facilities

The S$213 million,[7] five-hectare campus[8] in Yishun has facilities such as a 750 seater Auditorium, All-weather playing field, 50-metre Olympic-sized swimming pool with eight lanes,[9] Early years swimming pool, Sports hall with rock-climbing wall, Main Library, Grand lobby, Covered indoor play spaces[10] and Parents' cafe.[11]

Secondary Years (Grade 6 to 12)

GWA secondary years' students undertake International Baccalaureate (IB) certified study in the Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma Programmes (DP).

Additionally, as a certified Cambridge International School, its Grade 9 and 10 students are required to obtain a second international qualification through the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). This externally examined programme of study greatly enhances its Secondary Years programme, and ensures that students are being provided with extensive, globally recognised pathways.[12]

Middle Years

Middle years start from Grade 6 to Grade 10. At the end of Grade 10, students are required to sit for IGCSE certification in the subjects they have studied.

Courses Offered

Balanced Curriculum

GWAS values every subject equally meaning students are required to study every subject equally, Every week G9 and 10 students study 3/2:45 hours (45 min lessons on Fridays) hours of each topic including PE, English, Design, Etc...

IB Diploma Programmes

It is for grade 11 to 12 students. The IB Programmes at GWA (Singapore) provide students with extrinsic motivational tools.

In all IB classes, students get to choose the direction of their learning. Students do not have to follow a prescribed path to find the answer to a problem. Students have the opportunity to pursue interests to fit their learning style. Allowing students to utilise their own academic strengths gives them the opportunity to inherently find self-motivation in how they learn.

The IB Programme also has Service and Learning opportunities which are yet another way for students to get motivated about a particular cause or event. Students who appreciate the value of the work they are engaged in are more motivated to put forth the necessary effort to be successful.[13]

Courses Offered

Arts Programme

Every student at GWA Singapore must be involved in the Arts programme, covering the domains of visual arts, music and drama.[14]

Music

Early Years Students receive guided music learning provided by a specialist teacher each week. All students in Grade 1-5 are provided with either a violin or cello, with each student involved in an instrumental string programme.

In Grades 6 to 8, students have one lesson of Music each week (they also have one lesson each of Drama and Visual Art). In Grades 9 & 10 students choose one subject from the Arts (Music, Visual Art or Drama) and follow this choice over the two years with 3 lessons each week.[15]

Sports Programme

Early Years (Pre-K, K1 and K2) Students have one PE and swimming lesson a week inside their all-weather learner pool. It then increases to three lessons a week for its primary years (Grade 1 to 5) covering a range of individual and team-based sports including gymnastics, football, basketball, swimming, water polo, dance, softball, badminton, touch rugby, etc.[16]

Swimming is compulsory for all students from Pre-K through Grade 5 (Early Years and Primary Years), and every student has Swimming class once a week,. Secondary Years students in Grade 6 and above have Swimming once or twice during the school year as part of their Physical Education curriculum. .[17]

Language Programme

The World Language Programme focuses on four key components.[18] They are:

Accreditations

Other GEMS Schools offering International Baccalaureate

Southeast Asia

Singapore

Europe

Switzerland

Middle East

United Arab Emirates

North America

United States

References

  1. ↑ "2016 Icons of Learning Award Winners", Icons of Learning, 1 Dec 2016
  2. ↑ Singapore baby
  3. ↑ "GEMS World Academy (Singapore)", SassyMama, 1 Aug 2016
  4. ↑ "GEMS World Academy (Singapore)". Angloinfo Singapore. Angloinfo. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  5. ↑ GEMS World Academy (Singapore)'s Teacher qualifications
  6. ↑ GEMS World Academy's eNewsletter GWA Newsletter
  7. ↑ EuroCham
  8. ↑ IndiaseMedia.com
  9. ↑ SassyMamaSg
  10. ↑ SassyMamaSG.com
  11. ↑ GEMS World Academy (Singapore)'s Website
  12. ↑ GWA (Singapore)'s Accreditations
  13. ↑ GWA (Singapore) eNewsletter dated 23 Sep 2016
  14. ↑ "Arts Programme", GEMS World Academy (Singapore), 6 Oct 2016
  15. ↑ SassyMamaSG
  16. ↑ GEMS World Academy Sport Programme
  17. ↑ SassyMama - Swimming @ GWA
  18. ↑ Singapore Baby
  19. ↑ Honey Kids Asia
  20. ↑ Council for Private Education
  21. ↑ Committee for Private Education
  22. ↑ Council of International Schools

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.