Tanglin Trust School
🇸🇬 Singapore · Founded 1925 · British / IB · Ages 3–18
Singapore's oldest British international school and the only one with a public 'Outstanding' BSO inspection verdict — a rare verifiable quality anchor, paired with strong published 2025 results.
Curricula
British, IB
Age range
3–18
Languages of instruction
English
Annual fees
SGD 34,770–55,734
Enrollment
2,824
Boarding
No (day school)
IB authorised
DP
BSO 2025
Outstanding
Accreditations
CIS, COBIS, HMC, IAPS, FOBISIA, Cambridge International, Edexcel, BSO
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
Tanglin Trust School is a non-profit British international school in Singapore, founded in 1925 and the oldest British international school in South East Asia (it marked its centenary in 2025). It is a large, multi-section day school serving roughly 2,824 students across ages 3–18, organised as Infant (3–7), Junior (7–11), Middle (11–14), Upper (14–16) and Sixth Form (16–18).
The curriculum is British-based, leading to (I)GCSEs at 16 and a distinctive Sixth Form 'dual pathway' where students choose either A-Levels or the IB Diploma. IB authorisation is for the Diploma Programme only; the school does not run the IB PYP or MYP, using the English National Curriculum framework through Year 11. English is the sole language of instruction, with Mandarin, French and Spanish offered as additional languages.
The school explicitly does not provide EAL (English as an Additional Language) support and requires age-appropriate English fluency for entry, positioning it for fluent-English families rather than as a landing pad for new English learners. It is a registered charity and not-for-profit, and is the only Singapore school inspected under the British Schools Overseas (BSO) framework.
In its most recent BSO inspection (2025) Tanglin was rated 'Outstanding' in every category. Published 2025 outcomes include a provisional IB Diploma average of 39.3 (100% pass rate) and A-Level results of 63% A*/A.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationS — Exceptional
Rated 'Outstanding' across all categories in its 2025 British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection — the only Singapore school with a public inspectorate verdict — alongside a broad accreditation footprint (CIS, COBIS, HMC, IAPS, FOBISIA, Cambridge International, Edexcel).
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- 'Outstanding' rating in the 2025 BSO inspection — the only BSO-inspected school in Singapore, a verifiable third-party quality signal
- Strong published 2025 results: provisional IB Diploma average 39.3, 100% IB pass rate, 63% A*/A at A-Level
- Rare dual-pathway Sixth Form letting students choose A-Levels or the IB Diploma at 16
- Century-long track record (founded 1925) and a large, diverse community (~2,824 students)
- Broad accreditation and membership footprint (CIS, COBIS, HMC, IAPS, FOBISIA, Cambridge, Edexcel)
Trade-offs
- High fees: SGD 34,770–55,734 for 2025/26, plus a non-refundable SGD 1,000 application fee, SGD 4,500 enrolment fee, and SGD 4,500 capital levy
- No EAL support — children not already fluent in English cannot be accommodated
- Day school only; no boarding option
- Exam fees (GCSE/IGCSE/A-Level/IB), personal-device costs, transport, meals and trips are extra
- Established and oversubscribed — competitive admissions and waitlists are commonly reported (not quantified in public sources)
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Fluent-English-speaking families wanting a British curriculum with an IB option at Sixth Form
- ✓Academically ambitious students aiming for strong A-Level or IB Diploma outcomes
- ✓Families seeking a long-established, large, multi-national community
- ✓Families who can comfortably absorb premium Singapore international-school fees
Not Ideal For
- ✕Children who need EAL / English-language acquisition support — explicitly not provided
- ✕Families needing boarding
- ✕Budget-conscious families (top tier of Singapore fee scales plus several non-refundable upfront fees)
- ✕Families wanting a full IB continuum (PYP/MYP) from the early years — Tanglin is British through Year 11
Curriculum
British (English National Curriculum) through Year 11 leading to (I)GCSEs, then a Sixth Form choice of A-Levels or the IB Diploma. IB authorisation is for the Diploma Programme only — no PYP or MYP.
Fees
Fees as published for academic year 2025/26 range from SGD 34,770 (Infant) to SGD 55,734 (Sixth Form), inclusive of 9% GST. Add one-time charges: SGD 1,000 application, SGD 4,500 enrolment, SGD 4,500 capital levy, plus examination and ancillary costs. Fees are reviewed annually — verify current figures directly with the school.
Admissions
Requires age-appropriate English fluency; no EAL provision. A non-refundable application fee applies and the school is frequently oversubscribed.
Campus Life
A single large campus in Portsdown Road serving 3–18 in distinct Infant, Junior and Senior schools, with Mandarin, French and Spanish offered alongside the English-medium core.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: Tanglin publishes 2025 examination outcomes (provisional IB Diploma average 39.3, 100% IB pass rate, 63% A*/A at A-Level) but no specific university-destination list was found in public sources.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
- Tanglin Trust School — official website (founding, curriculum, results, BSO rating) · 2026-06
- Tanglin Trust School — official fees page (2025/26 fees) · 2026-06
- Tanglin admissions — EAL policy / English-fluency requirement · 2026-06
- International Schools Database — enrollment, nationalities, fees range · 2026-06
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