Senior School Profile 2016/2017
Allan Forbes
Head of Senior School
Chris Allen
Deputy Head, Senior School
Tanglin Senior School
Julie Barlow
Assistant Head, Sixth Form
Simon Hatton-Burke IB Coordinator
University Counsellors
Zoë Williams (Head)
Zoe.Williams@tts.edu.sg
Amanda Harvey
Amanda.Harvey@tts.edu.sg
Julia Pearson
Admissions Director admissions@tts.edu.sg
Tanglin’s Senior School offers a broad and balanced curriculum providing a wide range of subjects and disciplines. As well as traditional subjects, the curriculum also includes service learning, outdoor education opportunities and a wide range of co-curricular activities that stimulate and broaden student experience. The ethos of the Senior School is grounded in the British value system offering an education structure of strong pastoral support and guidance, high academic standards and an emphasis on developing the whole child by offering a range of enrichment opportunities and specialisms. Tanglin Senior School is committed to a wellrounded education including inquiry-based units to encourage the development of research skills, independent thinking and collaboration which traverse subject boundaries.
21%
Other (52 Nationalities)
2%
American
6%
Singaporean
1,320 Senior students
8% Indian 9%
57
Nationalities in the whole school
54% British
Student nationalities
Australian
Interview with Allan Forbes Allan Forbes, Head of Senior School, shares his experience at Tanglin and his hopes for the future of the Senior School.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your background? Why did you want to become Head of Senior School? Tanglin is my seventh school having taught at three schools in Warwickshire, two in Dubai, Harrow in Bangkok and now Tanglin. This is the 34th year of my career in education. I had heard from many colleagues, past and present, that Tanglin is outstanding in everything that it sets out to do, so it was an absolute privilege to join the school in 2015. As a father of three, I appreciate the importance of finding a school that meets all their different needs. My children are thoroughly enjoying the many opportunities Tanglin and Singapore can offer them. What is your role as Head of Senior School? What do you most enjoy? My role is to lead the overall vision of the Senior School. My aim is to ensure the wellbeing of all and I do this by encouraging balance between academic and professional goals, individual pastoral support and appreciating the value of learning experiences beyond the classroom. I take great pride in knowing my staff, interacting with our students and meeting with parents at every opportunity. What are the unique qualities of the Senior School? Our curriculum offers a huge range of opportunities for our students. In Year 7, students choose language options in addition to core subjects. In Years 10 and 11, students can take a range of (I)GCSE subjects. At Sixth Form, Tanglin is unique amongst schools in Singapore in offering students the choice of either A Levels or the IB Diploma. The support that students and parents receive from our staff, including Heads of Year, Form Tutors, Subject Teachers and the University Guidance Team is incredible. Unlike other schools where I have worked, we are fortunate at Tanglin to have the TTS Foundation which supports exceptional opportunities for our community, extending an already impressive range of activities beyond the curriculum, as well as reaching out and supporting communities beyond our own.
38.1
Tanglin IB Average 2016
(Highest grade point average in Singapore amongst international schools)
100% pass rate of A Level students
How do you see the school’s values of Respect, Responsibility and Purpose reflected in the Senior School? • Respect – our students are supported by outstanding teachers in world class facilities where high standards are set and a relationship of mutual respect exists. • Responsibility – there are many opportunities for our students to learn beyond the classroom through clubs and activities, sustainability projects and developing links with the community that foster independence and a strong sense of responsibility. Our Life Skills programme includes learning how to cook, how to budget and how to stay safe. It prepares students for living away from home for the first time at university. • Purpose – our students learn knowledge and facts but their journey also involves becoming resilient enquirers with strong self-management skills, who are driven to question and find answers for themselves. What has made you most proud within the Senior School? There are so many exciting highlights; amazing academic results, drama productions, wonderful concerts, outdoor education opportunities, art exhibitions, sporting competitions, our mother tongue language programme … But I have to say, I am most proud of our graduating students and love to hear about the next chapter of their lives through our regular and active Alumni activities. Graduation Day is, without a doubt, the best day of the year! What is your vision for the future of the Senior School? To continue to build on our ability to support students in becoming well-rounded, independent and curious learners who are proud of their achievements at Tanglin, are excited about their futures and are prepared for jobs not yet created. What does Tanglin Trust School mean to you? At Tanglin, we value our community and challenge and care for our students, staff and parents. Our staff are driven by an incredible sense of passion, purpose and pursuit of excellence in all areas.
Curriculum Overview Key Stage
Year
Age
Maximum Class Size
Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Years 7-9
11-14 years
24
The curriculum encompasses core, foundation and additional subjects
Key Stage 4
Years 10-11
14-16 years
20
Key Stage 5
Years 12-13 (Sixth Form)
16-18 years
15
(I)GCSE
Core subjects and choice of 3 further subjects
A Levels
Choice of 3-4 subjects
IB Diploma
Choice of 6 subjects
Tanglin is ‘Outstanding’ Our most recent British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection confirmed the overall quality of education at the Senior School to be outstanding. “The excellent teaching, underpinned by an imaginative, engaging and challenging curriculum, enables students to make excellent progress, whatever their starting points.” BSO Inspector, 2014. We have also been awarded the Pearson Centre of Excellence Award in recognition of our students who have achieved the Outstanding Pearson Learners Award through quality teaching and learning experiences.
Years 7, 8 and 9 Five skill areas underpin learning in Years 7, 8 and 9 and create alignment with the outcomes and skills required in subsequent years in the school. The general skill areas are: • Research skills • Social skills • Communication skills • Thinking skills • Self-management skills A broad and balanced curriculum is supported by a varied programme of outdoor education trips to Thailand, Malaysia and India. These encourage students to step outside of their comfort zone, build resilience, develop leadership skills and achieve personal growth. All students in Year 9 are required to do the training for the NYAA (National Youth Achievement Award).
(I)GCSE Summary for 2016
173 students who took (I)GCSE
41
students achieved A* or A in all their (I)GCSE subjects
“Life Skills is an extremely useful subject that prepares you for daily life in the future and these lessons are taught in an interesting and interactive way.� Yash Purohit (Year 10)
(I)GCSE
Years 10 and 11
Students aged 14-16 study a core of compulsory subjects, comprising examination courses in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and either Double or Triple Science, complemented by non-examination courses in Physical Education (PE) and Life Skills. They are also given the opportunity to select four additional courses according to their preferences and interests.
34% of all grades achieved were A*
67%
Detailed subject information can be found in our GCSE Options Booklet, available on the school website. (I)GCSE courses are assessed through written examinations, coursework or a combination of both. Some option subjects may require participation in extracurricular activities in order to fully complete the assessment criteria.
of all grades achieved were A* or A
88% of all grades achieved were A* to B
100% students achieving 5 A* to C
A Levels
Years 12 and 13 A Levels facilitate intensive, specialist study of 3-4 subjects over two years. Courses may be assessed either in stages or at the end of the course. Information about subject options can be found in our A Levels Options Booklet, available on the school website. Complementing their A Level choices, students also take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This is an in-depth piece of research which involves either producing an essay (5,000 words) or a product and 1,000 word report. Also, students will complete a production log and do a 20-30 minute presentation. Students must also participate in the school’s Creativity Activity Service (CAS) programme which provides opportunities for independently managed, experiential learning beyond the curriculum. As an extension to this, students from Year 10 – 13 are able to apply to the TTS Foundation for a service award to help fund selfinitiated service projects in the region. Deciding whether to study A Levels is a detailed process which starts as early as Year 9 for our current students. Student attributes, potential career paths and further education options are discussed in detail before final choices are made in Year 11.
“I think that A Levels really challenge your academic curiosity and inspire you to go beyond the curriculum. Through my A Level Biology course, I interned at A*Star (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) looking at genetic screening. It gave me a rich experience and allowed me to contextualise what we had learnt in class.” Kaushik Srinivasan (Year 13)
A Level Summary for 2016
100% 42% pass rate of A Level students
of grades were at A* or A
92%
29%
of grades were in the range of A* to C
of students taking the EPQ achieved an A*
Almost two thirds of students taking the EPQ achieved A* or A
IB Diploma Years 12 and 13
The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) offers a broad, balanced programme of study across six subjects; three at higher level, three at standard level. Students must retain one subject from each discipline; Mother Tongue Languages, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), Humanities, Maths, Science and Arts. Information about subject options can be found in our IB Diploma Options Booklet, available on the school website. Assessment takes two forms: • Internal assessments are undertaken internally and then moderated by external examiners • External assessments are wholly undertaken by external examiners. A focus on oral and presentation skills is a key feature of IB assessment across all of the subjects. In addition to specific subjects, IB students also write an Extended Essay (EE) of approximately 4,000 words on a topic of their choice and follow a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge (TOK). TOK encourages and equips students with the capacity to take responsibility for their own learning, engage meaningfully in real world situations and assertively state points of view at every opportunity. Students must also participate in the school’s Creativity Activity Service (CAS) programme, which provides opportunities for independently managed, experiential learning beyond the curriculum. As an extension to this, students from Year 10 – 13 are able to apply to the TTS Foundation for an award to help fund self-initiated service projects in the region. Deciding whether to study the IB Diploma is a detailed process which starts as early as Year 9 for our current students. Student attributes, potential career paths and further education options are discussed in detail before final choices are made in Year 11.
Tanglin Students Average IB Diploma Score (out of 45)
38.1 Tanglin Average 2016
30.1
“TOK is great because we learn about so many different perspectives and viewpoints behind our morals, decisions and lives – my mind is blown every lesson!” Franka Odenwaelder (Year 12)
IB Diploma Summary for 2016
100% pass rate for all of our students who completed a regulation IB Diploma
More than a third of our students achieved 40 points or more
19.5% scored 42 points or more
World Average 2016
(Highest grade point average in Singapore amongst international schools)
4.8% achieved the maximum 45 points (joining an exclusive club of just 146 students from more than 149,000 global entries)
“The breadth the IB offers encourages you to develop your lateral thinking… The Extended Essay is challenging, but looking back it taught me a lot about time management and was a valuable opportunity to look into a subject of my choice in greater depth.” Emma Gunnell (Year 13)
Beyond the Classroom
The Arts Tanglin has a thriving, vibrant and energetic Arts programme which plays an important part in school life. Throughout the year, there are many high-quality ensembles, recitals, performances and exhibitions.
We firmly believe young people are just as likely to learn outside of the classroom as in it. As well as academic subjects, the curriculum also includes service learning, outdoor education opportunities and a wide range of co-curricular activities that stimulate and broaden student experience. These include: • Outdoor education trips to Thailand, Malaysia, India, Australia, New Zealand and Ladakh • Inspiring visitors, many funded by TTS Foundation, including; Robert Swan (Polar Explorer), Dominic Peckham (Choral Conductor), Google, Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury) and Alumni • The National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) (equivalent to the Duke of Edinburgh Award) • Creativity Activity Service (CAS) programme
Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Tanglin’s CCA programme provides students with opportunities to pursue a range of interests by developing existing talents or learning something new. In addition to recreational choices, the programme enables students to trial for and engage in competitive activities.
Sports Sport is an integral part of the Tanglin curriculum. Our excellent sporting facilities enable us to participate in a wide range of competitive and non-competitive events throughout the year. We compete in SEASAC (South East Asia Student Activities Conference), FOBISIA (Federation of British Schools in Asia) and ACSIS (Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools), as well as sporting tours to Australia.
Pastoral Care In the Senior School, we pride ourselves on the exceptional care, guidance and support we give to our students. Each year group has a Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year who, along with their Form Tutor, move with the students as they progress from Year 7 through to Year 13 providing personalised support to both students and parents. We also provide a robust guidance process for Year 11 students making their Sixth Form pathway choice, as well as bespoke careers and university guidance throughout Sixth Form. In addition, our excellent team of School Counsellors, Educational Psychologist and Nurses can help with and advise students and parents on specific challenges or issues that may arise.
TTS Foundation and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) TTS Foundation funds exceptional opportunities in four key areas: Development of Life Skills; Participation in Creative Arts and Sports; Inspirational Visitors and Engagement with Global Issues. Students, staff and parents all benefit from these opportunities. We also have an active and vibrant Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) which strengthens the bond that holds our expatriate community together through an annual calendar of community events from the Christmas Fair to the Summer Fete.
“Each experience has allowed me to push boundaries and test my limits… and the mental and physical strength I’ve endured is something that I will carry with me after my time at Tanglin.” NYAA student, Ashika Patel (Year 13)
Life After Tanglin University Placements
We are very proud of our students’ achievements, with many securing places, including scholarships, at top universities around the world. The following gives an overview of the many universities Tanglin graduates have attended or received offers from in the last two years.
UK Anglia Ruskin University Ayrshire College, Scotland Bangor University University of Bath Bath Spa University BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) Birbeck, Univeristy of London University of Birmingham Bournemouth University University of Brighton University of Bristol British College of Osteopathic Medicine Brunel University London University of Cambridge Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff University University of Chester City University London Coventry University University of Cumbria University of Dundee Durham University University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Exeter Falmouth University University of Glasgow Goldsmiths, University of London University of Greenwich Heriot-Watt University University of Hertfordshire University of Hull Imperial College, London Keele University University of Kent King’s College London Kingston University Lancaster University University of Leeds Leeds Beckett University University of Leicester University of Lincoln University of Liverpool Liverpool John Moores University London School of Economics and Political Science Loughborough University University of Manchester Manchester Metropolitan University University of Newcastle Northumbria University University of Nottingham Nottingham Trent University University of Oxford Oxford Brookes University University of Portsmouth Plymouth University Queen Mary University of London University of Reading
Alumni Community
Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Veterinary College, University of London University of Sheffield SOAS, University of London University of Southampton Southampton Solent University University of St.Andrews University of Stirling St Mary’s University Staffordshire University University of Strathclyde University of Suffolk University of Surrey University of Sussex Swansea University The Arts University College at Bournemouth The British School of Osteopathy University College, London University for the Creative Arts University of the Arts London University of the West of England University of Warwick University of Winchester University of York Writtle University College York St John University USA Academy of Art University University of Alabama Arizona State University Berkley College of Music Boston University Brown University Bucknell University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) University of California, San Diego California Polytechnic, State University, San Luis Obispo Carnegie Mellon University University of Chicago Claremont McKenna College Colby College Colgate University College of William and Mary University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Denver Colorado State University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth University DePaul University Drury University Duke University Emory University Florida Institute of Technology George Washington University Georgetown University University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Lafayette University University of Michigan New York University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidential College Ohio State University University of Pennsylvania Pomona College Pratt Institute Purdue University Scripps College University of Southern California Stanford University The University of Tampa Vassar College University of Virginia University of Washington Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University Westminster College University of Wisconsin Madison
“Tanglin has been a huge driver in shaping me in to who I am today. It gave me so many opportunities, whether tied to academics, sports or leadership, all of which have led me to developing myself holistically.” Patrick Christensen, Former Head Boy
University Summary for 2016
6 Oxford and Cambridge University offers
7
Canada University of British Columbia McGill University Nipissing University Queen’s University University of Toronto University of Waterloo Western University York University
Ivy League offers
Asia Curtin Singapore LASALLE, College of the Arts, Singapore National University of Singapore (NUS) Yale - NUS College Europe Copenhagen Business School Eindhoven University of Technology Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Erasmus University College, The Netherlands European School of Osteopathy Leiden University, The Netherlands Maastricht University, The Netherlands University College Utrecht, The Netherlands University of Groningen, The Netherlands Australia & New Zealand University of Auckland Canterbury Christ Church University The University of Melbourne Queensland University of Technology UNSW Australia
Once our students leave Tanglin they automatically join our Alumni community, giving them the ability to connect across the globe through our social media networks, local and regional groups. Alumni help each other with their university choices and support each other on arrival at university.
4 scholarships received
82% of students received their first choice university
“Tanglin did not just give me an IB Diploma, it gave me a lifetime of values that I think are key to growing into a successful individual.” Diya Vasudevan, Former Assistant Head Girl
Tanglin Trust School Ltd 196100114C Reg. period : 7/6/2011 – 6/6/2017