High School overview
East Campus
At the heart of our educational philosophy is the belief that we prepare students not just for university, but for life. We believe that it is the skills and qualities students develop, as much as the knowledge and understanding they gain, that will define the quality of the life they live and the positive contribution they will go on to make. In the High School, this is evident in the high level of independence students have, in their relationships with teachers and peers and in the expectation that they will take the lead on issues that matter to them and work through barriers to find success. It would be hard to find a more constructive, energetic and mission-focused community than our High School student body.
Our mission-aligned learning programme places equal value on learning across the five elements of our learning programme, and students are offered a holistic programme that allows each student to develop intellectual, physical and emotional maturity. We offer a balance of academics, access to a myriad of activities, numerous outdoor education and service learning opportunities, and a Personal and Social Education programme focused on student wellbeing. There are exceptional opportunities for students to develop independence and leadership skills while allowing them to further develop the fundamental skills and qualities embodied in the UWCSEA profile.
Underpinning our programme are regular opportunities for self-development and reflection through the supportive personal and social education programme. This focus on wellbeing assists our students in developing as self aware, resilient individuals who are well prepared for life after school, including for university.
Part of the unique nature of a UWCSEA education is that students enrolling in the High School are joined by ‘scholars’—students from a range of countries and backgrounds who have been awarded a scholarship based on their commitment to the ideals of the UWC movement.
Students who value themselves and others and who are willing to commit to the ideals of the UWC movement will gain enormously from our High School learning programme.
High School capacity (August 2024)
Students are admitted in Grades 9, 10 and 11. Grade 9 students joining East Campus in August 2023 will enrol in either a two-year programme of (I)GCSE subjects or UWCSEA Grade 9 Courses. Students entering Grade 10 will join UWCSEA Grade 10 Courses, while Grade 11 entrants will enrol in the two-year UWCSEA High School Diploma; most will also enrol in the IB Diploma.
* Students must be born on or between 1 September and 31 August. Refer to the age-grade boundary chart on our website for guidance, or contact Admissions.
** Total cohort includes already enrolled Grade 9 students who progress into Grade 10 and new students who enrol in Grade 10.
*** We do not admit students into Grade 12.
About the UWCSEA curriculum
Developed from our mission, our concept-based curriculum ensures that UWCSEA’s education is rigorous, future-focused and relevant to our entire student community, regardless of their educational background or at what age they join the College. Our students are challenged through the all five elements of our holistic learning programme—Academics, Activities, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education and Service.
We have a written curriculum in four of the five elements of our learning programme: Academics, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education and Service. In designing our curriculum to equip our students as agents of positive change in their lives beyond school, we began by identifying what students should understand, know, and be able to do, at the end of their schooling so as to take the next steps in life. For each of the elements, and each of the disciplines within that element, our senior educators drew from, and continue to incorporate, best practice and research from across the world to design and deliver a programme that supports students as they journey to Grade 12.
We started by identifying the key concepts (which we call ‘Standards’) in the four learning elements and in each academic discipline. These are sometimes broken into Strands and sub-strands so as to better manage the learning pathways through complex disciplines. Using the Standard identified in Grade 12, we then worked backwards, identifying how students might build their Conceptual Understanding of each Standard (or Strand or sub-strand) as they progress through each stage of learning from K1.
Each Standard has age-appropriate Conceptual Understandings attached to it, and these are used by teachers to develop units of learning in each grade and for each classroom. By connecting each lesson to a larger understanding of a key concept (a Standard, Strand or sub-strand) within a discipline, our teachers create opportunities for students to demonstrate evidence of understanding (we call these Benchmarks) in age-appropriate ways.
Our curriculum model takes into account the reality of our international school community. Students are equipped for a smooth transition from one school system to another by our focus on transferable concepts rather than specific content.
In our High School, the Standards, Conceptual Understandings and Benchmarks specifically take into account the requirements of the external examining bodies that set the (I)GCSE and IBDP examinations.
Academic programmes
There are three entry points into our High School, depending on the age of the student. Regardless of the entry point, we offer all students support and preparation to ensure success at the end of High School and into the next stage of schooling. At the end of Grade 12, students who meet our graduation criteria are granted a UWCSEA High School Diploma. The majority of students also undertake the IB Diploma and receive their IB Diploma results in the July after they finish Grade 12.
Factsheets outlining the subjects available and the structure of each of the three pathways through our High School programme are available on our website, as are detailed academic curriculum guides.
Grade 9: UWCSEA Courses or (I)GCSE
Students joining the East Campus in Grade 9 select one of two options:
• a programme of year-long UWCSEA-designed Courses
• an (I)GCSE-only two-year programme through Grades 9 and 10
Both options provide excellent preparation for the UWCSEA High School Diploma and the IB Diploma, through a balanced international curriculum that is suitable for those joining the College from all academic backgrounds and with a wide range of abilities.
UWCSEA Courses are combined to create a broad and academically challenging programme, allowing students to pursue their interests while engaging in transdisciplinary conceptual learning. At the end of Grade 9, students can choose to continue with their current programme or select from a new suite of courses, with options to broaden and extend their learning. Learning is assessed internally against UWCSEA’s concept-based standards and benchmarks, with reference to IB assessment approaches. (I)GCSE consists of a series of certificate courses offered by external examination boards, including Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel. We have carefully selected our (I)GCSE courses based on the relevance of the content to our students and its capacity to prepare them for the international nature of the IB Diploma programme and its assessment process. (I)GCSE includes both internal and external assessments.
Grade 10: UWCSEA Grade 10 Courses
Our Grade 10 year offers a challenging and varied mixture of UWCSEA-designed Courses in order to prepare students for success in the last two years of High School. Following on from Grade 9,. the Grade 10 UWCSEA programme is broad and academically challenging programme, through which students engage in transdisciplinary conceptual learning. Learning is assessed internally against UWCSEA’s concept-based standards and benchmarks, with reference to IB assessment approaches.
Grade 11: IB Diploma and UWCSEA High School Diploma
Students who meet the requirements, which are based on criteria linked with the UWCSEA Learning Programme, graduate with a UWCSEA High School Diploma at the end of Grade 12. The vast majority of students also undertake the two-year IB Diploma. Respected by universities throughout the world, in 1977 UWCSEA was the first school in Asia to introduce the IB, and our Diploma Programme has been developed in close collaboration with the IB since then. From August 2024, UWCSEA will be the only school in Asia (and the second globally, alongside UWC Atlantic) to offer an innovative new diploma course as part of a pilot programme with the IB. This bold new undertaking gives students greater flexibility to pursue their interests in complex, interdisciplinary, UWC Mission-aligned areas, such as sustainable development, peacebuilding and intercultural understanding. While the majority of students enrol in the full IB Diploma, UWCSEA also offers certificates in individual IB Courses for students who meet our entrance criteria.
Languages
In the academic programme, students have access to a wide range of options to study languages, including English as an Additional Language. In addition to extensive options in Language B (a continuation course in a learned foreign language) and Language A (academic study of a home language/mother tongue), we also offer beginner language courses.
Feedback and reporting
Students and parents are provided constructive feedback on all areas of the students progress and attainment with regular reports and opportunities for feedback at scheduled times throughout the course.
Activities
Our comprehensive activities programme presents students with opportunities to try new things, discover new talents and further develop their passions, as well as make new friends through the sharing of common interests.
A wide range of activities in the Arts, sports, leadership and special interests is offered each week in four activity and service ‘seasons’ throughout the year, providing students with many opportunities to develop new skills and explore their passions. All students are expected to participate in activities, usually about three to four hours per week during lunchtime and after school. The programme is structured so that students can successfully develop the self management skills in order to develop and maintain a balanced lifestyle, as well as potentially count these towards their CAS requirements for the IB Diploma.
Dragons Sports and Wellness for Life
The strong sports programme includes representative opportunities in athletics, badminton, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, netball (girls), rugby (boys), sailing, softball, swimming, tennis, touch rugby (girls) and volleyball. A number of other sports, such as martial arts and rock climbing, are offered on a recreational basis, as are general fitness and wellbeing activities such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
Arts and Performance
Students have the opportunity to participate in a number of musical and vocal ensembles and perform in several concerts per year, even if they are not taking music as an elective subject. Some of the ensembles include High School Chamber Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo and Orchestra and Symphonic Band, the Pamberi All Stars African music ensemble, and several percussion groups focusing on drumming, marimba, mbira and more. The instrumental teaching programme offers access to music lessons outside the academic curriculum on a wide variety of instruments. Instrument hire is also available.
Dance performance opportunities include the annual CultuRama production in Term 1 which celebrates the ‘panorama of cultures’ on campus, and a Dance Showcase featuring genres such as Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Rock and Roll and Asian dance forms.
Students are invited to audition for a number of drama productions throughout the year. They do not need to be taking drama as an elective subject to be involved— nor do they need to be on stage, as there are opportunities backstage such as costume and set design. The performances are supported by teachers from the Drama Department.
Mind Matters, Create and Innovate, Learn and Lead
Students have ample opportunity to develop leadership skills through participation in groups such as Student Council, Arts Council, Sports Council, the Service Executive Committee and Model United Nations (MUN). Other leadership activities available include coaching sports for Primary School students and leading activity groups. In addition, there is a Home Language Programme (HLP) available for students who want to maintain academic study in a language spoken at home but not studied at school.
Special interests are also supported, including inter-school debating; groups exploring subjects such as economics, history, mathematics and philosophy; creative writing, journalism and student publications; digital arts, music technology and photography; cooking, robotics and more.
Outdoor Education
All students participate in our Outdoor Education programme. Asked to push the boundaries of their experience, many students are surprised to find that they possess the determination, adaptability and sense of teamwork to rise to the challenges presented.
While overseas and overnight stays have not been possible during the pandemic period, our Outdoor Education specialists have designed bespoke programmes for each grade-level, using the campuses and existing facilities in Singapore to create learning opportunities in each of our four Outdoor Education curriculum Standards. Because of our written curriculum and well resourced programme, student learning in Outdoor Education has continued, as students are guided through a range of age-appropriate activities. The Singapore-based programme with both on- and off-campus activities has been successful in giving students the opportunity to experience their campus and Singapore in new ways, while engaging in meaningful learning.
Every student is expected to participate, as the opportunities for personal and social development offered by participation in these expeditions are impossible to replicate in the classroom. The trips are an additional cost.
The activities and venues are thoroughly checked and annually reviewed to ensure safety of all participants. When possible, UWCSEA will recommence overseas travel and trips, operating in accordance with the College’s robust health and safety guidelines, and a new sustainable trips framework.
Grade 9 adventure programme
In the past, we have offered a variety of options, which take place during school holidays throughout the year accompanied by UWCSEA Outdoor Education staff and teachers. Students have travelled with Dover Campus peers to destinations such as Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan to undertake trekking, rafting, sailing, diving, kayaking and other outdoor challenges.
Grade 10 adventure and service programme
G10 students have the option of joining G9s on their expeditions during the April and June breaks.
Grade 11 Project Week
Students are trusted to take themselves out of their comfort zone, giving them opportunities to gain invaluable life skills, greater independence and responsibility. Project Week involves students independently organising to travel in small groups to undertake a service project or challenging activity, often outside Singapore. Many projects are linked with our Service programme and are planned to assist students fulfil their IBDP CAS requirement. Students are prepared with extensive guidance and preparation training, first aid instruction and access to 24-hour international medical and travel support services.
Optional trips
In the past these have included:
• cultural immersion trips for students of Chinese, French and Spanish language
• multi-day course-based fieldwork and study tours are offered for those enrolled in academic subjects such as Biology, Drama, Economics, Environmental Systems and Societies, Geography and History
• trips for students competing in sports, maths, MUN and other representative competitions
• visits to Service programme partners in destinations such as Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kenya and Nepal
Personal and Social Education
Our personal and social education (PSE) programme is designed to ensure all students feel valued and confident. It aims to develop self-awareness of the physical and emotional changes during these critical years, as well as equip students to deal with growing peer pressures. It endeavours to build resilience and self-confidence to empower them to make the right decisions.
Our PSE programme provides guidance and support that helps students to find their place within and beyond the school, by encouraging them to understand and appreciate the richness of the College’s diversity, challenge stereotypes and question generalisations. The programme offers opportunities for our students to become more socially, culturally and politically aware, and appreciative of being part of a global community.
Student wellbeing
Students are assigned a mentor teacher and the PSE curriculum is delivered through daily meetings with the mentor, mentor group and regular grade-level assemblies. The mentor is central to the care of students and works with the Head of Grade to help students make the most of their time in High School. To ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential, the Principal, Vice Principals, Heads of Grade and mentors work with subject teachers to provide support for all students in their care.
Workshops and professional guidance from the High School Counsellor, located in the campus Wellness Centre is also available for students and families.
Students are encouraged to maintain an ePortfolio that reflects their learning throughout their time in the High School.
Technology
Appropriate use of technology is integrated as a tool to facilitate learning. All students are required to have an Apple laptop which is then equipped with Collegesupplied software, and have access to an on-campus helpdesk and AppleCare centre. Staff are supported by a digital literacy coach and a network of technology mentors in implementing effective uses of technology in their teaching.
Students are supported in the responsible use of technology through our digital citizenship programme. This provides them with the skills and knowledge to become responsible, independent and organised digital citizens. A series of information evenings and workshops for parents ensure that good habits around technology are reinforced at home and parents are equipped to help students navigate the online world.
University and career guidance
In Grade 10, students are provided with access to tools that assist them to gauge potential for future studies and possible career paths that will best suit them. These are explored as part of the PSE programme in mentor time and during grade-level assemblies. University advisors provide advice on subject selection in preparation for Grade 11.
From Grade 11, an individualised programme of advising sees our team of six experienced University Advisors work with students to ensure they are supported in making choices and applications to best-fit courses and universities around the world. Supporting workshops and presentations for students and parents help in planning and making decisions around university choice.
Our University Advising Centre creates numerous opportunities for our students to connect with universities from around the world each year.
Service
Our tiered model provides opportunities for students to become involved in three areas: College, Local Singapore and Global Service. All students are expected to commit fully to a service, and to show initiative by planning and leading activities.
College Service
Students provide support to the College by taking a lead in projects that enhance the campus and support our environmental sustainability goals.
Local Service
UWCSEA has long standing partnerships with many Singapore-based community organisations such as MINDS, Apex Harmony Lodge, Happy Lodge, SUN-DAC, Lighthouse School and Singapore Downs Syndrome Association. Most students join one of these projects, volunteering once a week after school for at least half the school year in Grades 9 and 10, and for the entire school year in Grade 11. While this assists students to fulfil their IBDP CAS requirements in Grade 11, it also provides valuable connections with our community. Some students travel off campus to our partner organisations; others welcome guests to the campus to make use of our facilities.
Global Concerns
We call initiatives outside of Singapore Global Concerns (GC). This dynamic programme enables students to put their ideals into action through project groups which actively address specific development and environmental issues. Students can join an existing group to support on-going efforts, or pitch to the student-led GC Executive to approve a new GC group. Many GCs are linked with grassroots NGOs in developing countries, providing students with the opportunity to gain unique insight into the challenges faced by these organisations. In the past, Project Week groups in Grade 11 often visited these NGO partners.
Grade 11 students can also join the Initiative for Peace, spending a year planning and organising a conference that promotes international understanding and reconciliation between youths in Singapore, Timor Leste and Thailand.