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 Middle School adopts the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) which offers a holistic but challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between what they learnt in school and the real world. It prepares the students aged 12 to 16 for success at the IB Diploma Programme (DP).
At HWA International School, we understand the importance of making an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right secondary school for your child. That is why we are excited to invite you to our virtual open house, where you can explore everything our school has to offer. As an international school, we pride ourselves on providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment for students from all backgrounds. Our open day will give you a glimpse into the exciting opportunities that await your child at HWA.
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.
Our secondary school campus is equipped with modern facilities and cutting-edge technology to enhance the learning experience for our students. From our classrooms to our science laboratories and art studios, you will see how our learning spaces are designed to promote creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Our team of dedicated teachers are passionate about providing quality education. Through virtual meetings and presentations, you will have the opportunity to interact with our teachers, gain insights into our teaching methodologies, and learn about the support systems we have in place to ensure your child's success.
As an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we follow the Middle Years Programme, which is designed to prepare students for the challenges of higher education and beyond. We will provide an overview of the MYP curriculum.
At HWA, we believe in providing an education that extends beyond the classroom. During our virtual open day, you will learn about the wide range of extracurricular activities available to our secondary school students. From sports teams to arts clubs, we offer something for every interest, helping students develop their skills and pursue their passions.
At HWA, we value the partnership between teachers, students, and parents. During the open day, you will have the opportunity to connect with our current parents and hear about their experiences at HWA. Our supportive community is what sets us apart and creates a nurturing environment for all our students.
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:
HWA MYP units are conducted through explorations of the following 6 prescribed global contexts. These global contexts enable the student to connect learning experiences inside the classroom with those outside. International mindedness is also developed through the contextual learning process.
Conceptual understanding is the key feature in HWA MYP units of inquiry. There are 16 key interdisciplinary concepts along with the related concepts for each discipline. Lessons are planned around the exploration of these key and related concepts within the 6 global contexts.
Approaches to learning (ATL) skills are essential for the exploration of the concepts. These skills are incorporated in each MYP unit and are further developed and reinforced in the HWA Pastoral Care and Project programmes. Teaching the students to learn how to learn, these ATL skills prepare the students for independent learning and encourage them to apply what they learnt in unfamiliar situations.
Service as action through community is strongly encouraged. Wherever possible, the MYP unit is designed such that the students can apply what they have learnt to serve the community, putting values into what the students learn in the classrooms and developing them into empathetic community members.
Inclusion and learning diversity are fully supported in the HWA. Through differentiation, teachers are able to respond to variance among the students and tailor to their learning needs. HWA also has in place an academic support programme to help students consolidate their foundation. All stakeholders including parents, together with teachers and counsellors, are also involved to help students to overcome challenges during their learning journeys.
Programme | Grade | Entry Requirement – Minimum Age | Academic Level | Language Proficiency |
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB – MYP) | Grade 7 | 12 | Completion of Primary School education or equivalent | Equivalent of P6 English proficiency |
Grade 8 | 13 | Completion of Secondary 1 or equivalent | Equivalent of Secondary 1 English proficiency | |
Grade 9 | 14 | Completion of Secondary 2 or equivalent | Equivalent of Secondary 2 English proficiency | |
Grade 10 | 15 | Completion of Secondary 3 or equivalent | Equivalent of Secondary 3 English proficiency | |
Other than Immersion & Exchange program, every student seeking admission to HWA, need sits for an English placement test and interview to assess the student s entry level is his/her desired course of study. |
Other than Immersion & Exchange program, every student seeking admission to HWA, need sits for an English placement test and interview to assess the student s entry level is his/her desired course of study.
The HWA International School MYP student will need to
study subjects from 8 subject groups (at least 50 hours for each group)
engage in at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit
participate in the Pastoral Care programme
complete a community project (Grades 7-9) and / or a personal project (Grade 10)
Course Title | Mode | Duration | Start | End |
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB – MYP) — Grade 7 | Full-Time | 12 Months | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB – MYP) — Grade 8 | Full-Time | 12 Months | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB – MYP) — Grade 9 | 12 Months | Full-Time | August | July |
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB – MYP) — Grade 10 | 12 Months | Full-Time | August | July |
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of teaching time for each subject group in each year of the programme. In Grades 9 and 10, students have the option to take courses from seven of the eight subject groups within certain limits, to provide greater flexibility in preparation for the IB-DP.
Please click on any subjects for the subject group briefs.
Subject Group | Grades 7 and 8 | Grades 9 and 10 |
Language and literature | Chinese language and literature English language and literature Korea language and literature | |
Language acquisition | Chinese language acquisition English language acquisition Korea language acquisition | |
Individuals and societies | Individuals and societies | Business management Geography |
Sciences | Sciences | Biology Chemistry Physics |
Mathematics | Mathematics | Standard mathematics Extended mathematics |
Arts | Arts | Visual Arts Music |
Physical and health education | Physical and health education | |
Design | Design | (Not available) |
The interdisciplinary learning allows the students to understand and connect knowledge from two or more disciplines or subject groups, so that new knowledge can be synthesised. In each grade year, HWA will engage students in at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit that involves at least two subject groups.
In HWA, all MYP students have to go through the Pastoral Care Programme carefully crafted to empower the students in their learning journey. Through participation in activities, students will develop their ATL skills to grow confidently in self-management and in relation to their peers.
Through the MYP Projects, students experience the responsibility of completing a significant piece of work over an extended period of time.
For Grades 7 – 9, students will inquire, plan, and carry out a series of community projects. They will also have the opportunity to reflect on their project outcomes. These community projects will require them to hone their ATL skills and prepare them for the Grade 10 MYP Personal Project.
For Grade 10, students will embark on a journey to discover and develop their interests by completing a Personal Project that spans over a few months. Each student will be assigned a teacher supervisor to guide him/her during the journey, culminating in a Personal Project report which will be graded by the supervisor, and moderated by external IB moderators. The students will also hold an exhibition to showcase their journey to the school community. The Personal Project is mandatory for all Grade 10 students.
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