While implementing the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum system and teaching environment, HWA International School emphasizes the importance of Chinese language and culture. We are proud of the heritage of Chinese cultural traditions and history, but at the same time, we maintain an inclusive attitude towards multiculturalism. In our school, students and teachers from various cultural backgrounds, from East Asia to Central Asia, from Europe to the Americas, are equally recognized.
HWA International School is a forward-looking, modern international school. The school makes full use of the educational resources provided by the International Baccalaureate Organization's international background and Singapore's local educational resources. It adopts an inquiry-based learning method to organize teaching and strives to create opportunities for students to actively participate in meeting challenges. We aim to cultivate students' comprehensive quality and core abilities, help them establish the habit of independent learning and awareness of teamwork, and help them establish a conceptual understanding of knowledge and master the connections between disciplines and application of knowledge. The school is committed to developing lifelong learners and strives to help all individuals succeed.
At HWA International School, every student will receive an education that values the dual use of Mandarin and English while also supporting and respecting their native language. Through their proficiency in both Chinese and English, students will have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of Eastern and Western cultures. Moreover, our International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) consistently ranks above the global average, and in recent years, our pre-university results have consistently demonstrated a high level of academic achievement in Singapore.
With an increasing number of students from China, Europe, America, and Australia, and frequent exchanges, our campus showcases rich and colorful cultural characteristics from various countries. In our HWA International School family, everyone finds their sense of belonging and purpose while hearing familiar bilingual dialogues in English and Chinese.
We believe that creating an environment where the whole person is developed through HWA International School's innovative Chinese-English immersion bilingual program will empower students to embody our school's mission with confidence, become caring, thoughtful, and capable students, and prepare them to be engaged and responsible global citizens in the 21st century in terms of their emotional, social, physical, and intellectual being.
HWA International School Kindergarten adopts the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) which offers a holistic and empowering learning experience for children. It nurtures and develop children aged 3 to 5 as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.
At HWA International School, we are committed to providing an education that goes beyond traditional boundaries. Parents seeking an IB school for their child can trust HWA International School to deliver pre-school education, kindergarten education, and nursery education. Discover the benefits of a bilingual environment education and explore the unique opportunities available at HWA International School.
As an international school with a complete IB International Baccalaureate teaching system, HWA established a school philosophy of tolerance and understanding towards cultural differences from all over the world since its inception. Our faculty members come from over 15 countries/regions and possess degrees and teaching experience from leading global institutions. Here, we provide them with opportunities to showcase their valuable teaching experience and interact with students on a teaching platform to share their practices.
HWA strives to maintain smaller class sizes, aiming for a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1. We firmly believe that this approach allows teachers to truly understand each student - from their academic achievements or struggles to their emotional well-being and social circles. We ensure that every child receives personalized support from their teachers both inside and outside the classroom. The small class sizes at HWA enable students to receive focused guidance in all aspects, from sports coaches to extracurricular activity sponsors.
The IB curriculum is one of the most established educational programs globally, standardized and managed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. All IB courses are tailored according to the IB learner profile, representing the ten attributes valued by IB World Schools.
The IB curriculum is divided into four programs:
Primary Years Program (PYP): Designed specifically for students aged 3-12 years, based on six interdisciplinary themes like 'Who We Are', 'How the World Works', and 'Where We Are in Place and Time'. PYP is highly adaptable to local contexts and encourages inquiry-based learning within individual subject areas.
Middle Years Program (MYP): Offered to students aged 11-16, featuring eight subject groups, each with a minimum of 50 hours. The focus of MYP is to encourage students to learn through practical experiences and connect their learning to the real world.
Diploma Program (DP): Suitable for students aged 16-19, DP consists of six subject groups and five core elements: Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, Service, and the Extended Essay. The program also includes an independent research project and a community service project. DP results are used for university admissions.
In addition to these core curriculums, we offer a wide range of extracurricular activities (CCAs), including sports, music, arts, and various interest clubs. Notably, we provide a series of activities related to Chinese culture, such as Guzheng, Tea Ceremony, and Calligraphy, aimed at deepening students' understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture. These activities not only enrich the students' learning experience but also facilitate their holistic personal development beyond academic achievements.
We are a forward-looking modern institution that advocates holistic teaching methods and lifelong learning. In the classroom, our teachers not only guide the curriculum, but also actively encourage students to participate, cooperate, challenge what they have learned from textbooks, and apply it flexibly to real life situations.
The unique bilingual environment and bicultural model designed by HWA International School.
HWA International School has always put the focus on the physical and mental well-being of each student.
The HWA International School Parent Support Group (PSG) was established in 2011.
On campus, all classrooms are equipped with IT infrastructure that helps teachers enhance the learning experience.
At HWA International School, our IB programme encompasses three stages:
The International Baccalaureate (IB) education framework promotes learning outside the classroom as an essential component of student development. Through field trips, service learning, experiential activities, outdoor education, global engagement, and reflection, the IB encourages students to explore real-world contexts, apply their knowledge and skills, develop a sense of social responsibility, and foster intercultural understanding. Learning outside the classroom enriches students’ educational experiences, stimulates curiosity, and prepares them to be active and compassionate global citizens.
Our carefully curated curriculum provides an engaging and dynamic learning experience where you can develop proficiency in languages. Explore diverse subjects, engage in interactive activities, and expand your cultural horizons.
Embrace the power of diversity in our bicultural campus and PYP bilingual classroom. Our curriculum fosters a deep understanding and respect for both cultures, allowing students to explore traditions, languages, and perspectives.
Every teacher who works with us is fully qualified and trained in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
Conceptual understanding is the key feature in HWA PYP UoI. Students will explore the concepts through carefully planned lessons so that they will gain deep understanding within and beyond subject areas.
Approaches to learning (ATL) skills are incorporated through meticulous planning to support student learning. The skills are taught and reinforced in every unit with the aim of developing independent learning and encouraging application of what they have learnt in unfamiliar situations.
Every UoI taught in HWA presents to the students the perspectives from the Western and Eastern culture, thereby promoting attitudes contributing to the well-being of the learners and their learning communities. These attitudes promote international-mindedness among the HWA international community.
Action, in the form of a project or service to the learning community, follows naturally from a successful inquiry conducted.
Programme | Grade | Entry Requirement – Minimum Age | Academic Level | Language Proficiency |
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB – PYP) | Nursery | 3 | N.A. | N.A. |
Kindergarten 1 | 4 | Completion of Nursery or equivalent | Equivalent of Nursery English proficiency | |
Kindergarten 2 | 5 | Completion of K1 or equivalent | Equivalent of K1 English proficiency |
Course Title | Mode | Duration | Start | End |
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB – PYP) — Nursey | Full-Time | 12 Months | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB – PYP) — Kindergarten 1 | Full-Time | 12 Months | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB – PYP) — Kindergarten 2 | Full-Time | 12 Months | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Immersion Programme (IB – PYP IMMERSION) | Full-Time | 1 Month | September, November, January, March, May | October, December, February, April, June |
Chinese
English
Unit of Inquiry
Mathematics
Science
Arts (Music & Visual Arts)
Personal, social and physical education
In HWA, we focus on equipping our students with the mastery of English and Mandarin – two most important languages we believe will give our students a competitive edge. We aim for our students to attain effective bilingualism by the following strategies:
The HWA student will need to
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