Campus confidential: What kids are really learning in SG schools

“In Drama, it was fascinating learning about the seven levels of tension”

Fave lesson and why?
Science, because of my teacher, Dr. Riley. He teaches in a way that really clicks and keeps me hooked. When we learnt about gravity, for example, he took us through various websites that explained how mass and speed influence gravitational pull.

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt recently?
It was in Drama, where I learnt about the seven levels of tension, relating to improv. Discovering how I can display different levels of tension using just my body or my voice was fascinating.

Best school memory?
Coming into my new advisory at the beginning of the year, and seeing that I had really nice and good people in there, and a caring advisor.

Biggest school challenge?
The competitive nature of auditioning for the Middle School play felt intimidating. Having a few friends also auditioning helped me overcome this, as I practised the entry monologue with them at lunch and with my dad before bed.

40 Woodlands Street 41, 738547
sas.edu.sg

“I’d like to invent a class debating topics currently in the news”

Fave lesson and why?
My IB theatre lessons. Theatre provides a refreshing change in my school day, and it’s also a great passion of mine. 

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt recently?
In History we’re learning about Italy’s origins which I’ve found fascinating as most of it is new to me. History is one of my favourite subjects.

Best school memory?
Performing in the school musical last year. My experience in that cast gave me some friendships and experiences I’ll never forget. It’s also a testament to the amazing theatre department at Tanglin. 

Biggest school challenge?
My parents are British, but I was born and raised in Australia, so when our family moved to Singapore I was in Year 9 and it was a big challenge for me to adjust to a different curriculum. Preparing for my IGCSE exams last year required focus and persistence, but the support of my teachers and friends made all the difference.

Top place to hang out at school?
In the Sixth Form M Cafe. It’s a nice, relaxed environment where my friends and I eat lunch every day, surrounded by our peers.

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
Something centered around debate and discussion on topics currently in the news to ensure students are aware of events occurring in the world today.

95 Portsdown Road, 139299
tts.edu.sg

“We had to create music for a silent movie scene, and make it come to life”

Fave lesson and why?
Music. It allows me to collaborate with others and be creative at the same time. Recently, we had to create music for a silent movie scene, and I was amazed at how my friends and I managed to really make it come to life. 

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt recently?
This year in English we’ve been studying the play ‘An Inspector Calls’. Learning about capitalism, socialism, and social hierarchies challenged me to look at our world from a different perspective and see how our thoughts and beliefs influence almost everything around us. 

Best school memory so far?
Touch rugby matches! Everything from the adrenaline on the field to the friends I have made. 

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
It would let students take a school subject and play with it. It could be a science experiment, or something from a book like Animal Farm, or a big moment in history. We’d show our ideas in creative ways – maybe through art, a group performance, or even a fun rap battle.

1 Chuan Lane, 554299
brightoncollege.edu.sg

“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is overcoming failures”

Fave lesson and why?
P.E. Being able to leave the classroom and move around is awesome! Learning lots of sports, understanding different strategies, and taking a break to focus on one thing is something that only P.E. allows me to achieve.

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt this year?
It’s not really a theory or method, but I’ve realised how good it feels to figure something out on your own. When you keep trying, and suddenly everything clicks, it makes all the hard work worth it.

Best school memory?
My friend’s birthday. We were sitting around the lunch table at school and started singing “Happy Birthday” to her. The next thing we knew, the whole hall had joined in. Everyone was smiling and laughing – it was so much fun.

Biggest school challenge?
I think it’s overcoming failures. What helps me is facing something that has knocked my confidence head-on. I try to look at what went wrong, asking why, learning from it, and then preparing for the next challenge feeling like I’m ready to tackle it.

Top spot to hang out?
The quad. Every lunchtime my friends and I, no matter where we are, always find our way there.

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
One where we’d be taught how to properly prepare for the future. We’d learn basic life necessities, like organising finances, or cooking good food, so we can learn how to live life a little bit easier when the time comes.

71 Bukit Batok West Ave. 8, 658966
singapore.dulwich.org

“I built a working jet engine!”

Lesson you most look forward to?
Honestly, all of them! It’s great to specialise this year. Physics and chemistry are really fun, especially since we’re diving into more complex material than in 10th grade.

Best school memory?
For my MYP Personal Project last year, I actually built a working jet engine! I got help from a CIS design teacher (thank you, Mr Ocaña!) and a professor at Nanyang Technological University, and learnt loads about the physics and maths behind it.

Biggest school challenge?
Finding time! Morning Huskies swim practices, three instruments in the jazz band and string ensemble, mentoring the CIS Robotics team, captaining Quiz Bowl A team, running lighting for the school musical – plus schoolwork – is busy!

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
Technical Theatre. There’s so much interesting science and design behind lighting, sound, and set construction. It’s basically physics meets art.

7 Jurong West Street 41, 649414
cis.edu.sg

“Mental Wellbeing classes would  support kids going through tough times”

Lesson you love most?
Humanities, because I like learning about different places, cultures, and people from around the world.

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt recently?
I recently learnt that Velcro was inspired by the burrs Swiss engineer George de Mestral found on himself and his dog!

Best school memory?
The G6 Halloween Disco. Everyone looked so different wearing rags and plastic crowns. We just laughed the whole time.

Where do you hang out?
The Dover Campus library. I’m a bookworm, but also I love the rainbow staircase leading up to it.

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
Mental Wellbeing. Many students don’t realise how much their words can affect others. Having a dedicated subject would help build more understanding and give support to kids going through tough times.

Dover: 1207 Dover Road, 139654
East: 1 Tampines Street 73, 528704
 uwcsea.edu.sg

“PE allows me to understand how I can train better for Australian Football”

Fave lesson and why?
Physical Education as an IGCSE subject. I play Australian Football and swim, so it helps me to understand how to train better. Plus it ties in science and biology.

Best school memory?
Winning the Science Fair last year. My group investigated which natural oil best kills bacteria in dirty water. Our teachers were so impressed they even talked about getting extra funding to make it a real project.

Where do you hang out at school?
The basketball court, every time. I meet my friends there at lunchtime where we play basketball before eating.

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
One that covers real-life skills for the future like taxes, home-buying, and finances. Basic skills, as sometimes not everyone has parents who can always be there.

 1 Aljunied Walk, 387293
 nexus.edu.sg

“Our expedition to Sea Gypsy Resort on Pulau Sibu is a standout memory”

Fave lesson and why?
P.E. because I really enjoy sports. I also like being part of the ACSIS programme and taking part in fixtures with other schools.

Most surprising thing you’ve learnt recently?
We did ‘A Play in a Day’ at Centre Stage. The hardest bit was learning all our lines in one day, but somehow, we managed it!

Best school memory?
Our expedition to Sea Gypsy Resort on Pulau Sibu. I loved stand-up paddleboarding and getting to spend lots of time outdoors.

Biggest school challenge?
Mastering chords and song sequences on the acoustic guitar. My guitar teacher is patient though, so I’ll get there!

If you could create a subject, what would it be?
Virtual Reality (VR) lessons. We tried VR in class once and I loved exploring space and seeing things from new perspectives.

 490 Thomson Road, 298191
 sji-international.com.sg

“My best memories are laughing so hard my sides hurt”

Fave lesson and why?
P.E. This year I’m the Fitzroy House Captain, so it’s important that I lead by example, like participating in lots of different sports and P.E. lessons. It really helps that I love doing this anyway.

Most surprising thing you’ve learnt this year?
That Singapore’s history goes back thousands of years to when it was just a fishing village. I learnt this on an excursion to Parliament House and walking through Boat Quay. 

Biggest school challenge?
On my first day, I didn’t know anyone, and I was nervous and shy. But I tried to be brave and talk to the girl next to me. Now she’s my best friend and I’m so happy that I took a risk. 

If you could create a subject at school, what would it be?
Home Economics so that we can cook and bake delicious food. 

 1 Lorong Chuan, 556818
ais.com.sg

“The library is a great environment for me to keep on track”

Most surprising thing you’ve learnt recently?
Urbanisation. Seeing how much planning goes into Singapore’s development is amazing. I love data and comparing things like population charts to spot patterns and understand what they mean.

Best school memory?
Playing on the school sports teams.  I’ve met great people and learnt so much over my three years here.

Biggest school challenge?
Some weeks can get intense, with two summatives a day. When that happens, I meet up with friends after school to study. Teaching someone else helps me to really understand a topic.

Fave school hangout?
The library is a great environment for me to keep on track. It’s also where I go when my schedule is free. With endless books to read, I never run out of ways to learn!

 72 Bukit Tinggi Road, 289760
 chatsworth.com.sg

“The music room is where I learn all my dance moves”

Fave lesson and why?
I like art and music. Music is really fun, and I like how my  teacher helps me to improve. Art is amazing because I get to use different types of materials, and the teacher explains it in a way that you can understand it more easily.

Most interesting thing you’ve learnt recently?
That there’s a planet you can live on, other than Earth. It has 2% oxygen, and scientists are figuring out a way they can put plants on it, so humans can have enough oxygen.

Biggest school challenge?
Overcoming my dyslexia. My learning support teacher has helped me with my feelings about dyslexia and has taught me how to learn with my dyslexic brain.

Where do you hang out?
The music room, because that’s where I learn all my dance moves and hang out with friends.

 27 Punggol Field Walk, 828649
 owis.org/sg