Work has begun on a purpose built facility with a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities for AIS students aged 18 months to 6 years. Inaugurated in a ground breaking ceremony by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Ret’d), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Lady Cosgrove, this specialist early years campus will offer children access to a 22m swimming pool, 470m2 multi-function hall, 5 library and learning resource centres, 9 arts and language specialist classrooms and a dedicated parent café, all in one centrally-located facility.
The campus, set to open in 2017 next to the existing AIS facility at Lorong Chuan, will house teaching and learning for an enhanced Early Years curriculum that launches at AIS this coming January. This progressive curriculum includes daily maths, mandarin and literacy lessons, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) Speech and Drama Program, structured Physical Education under the SMART Steps Perceptual Motor Program and weekly violin lessons taught by specialist teachers.
Sir Peter Cosgrove comments: “International schools not only offer a wonderful life experience they also provide an education and a curriculum that meets every child’s needs, whether it be the NSW Higher School Certificate, the British iGCSE or the increasingly popular Baccalaureate programme, so to be at this school and to be in Singapore is a great opportunity. It is my pleasure to be part of this ceremony, to see the ties of education and friendship between Australia and Singapore develop and grow even further.”
Brian Rogove, CEO at Cognita Asia, states: “This $200 million investment is the largest worldwide for a dedicated Early Years campus, joining the very best in academics and facilities to offer exceptional educational opportunities to young children residing in Singapore. Children at AIS will gain a strong academic foundation and personal confidence ensuring an early passport to success.”
Andre Casson, Principal at AIS comments, “AIS is the only school in Singapore to offer an Australian inquiry based curriculum for children from 18 months to 6 years. Our 22-year history in graduating students from 2 to 18 years old in this curriculum sets us in good stead to take our institution into this next phase. We are exceptional excited about our collaboration with specialist educators in delivering an enhanced curriculum from this January which will be significantly developed with the launch of our purpose built Early Years facility in 2017.”
