In its abbreviated form, our newly renamed academy is HWA. This reads and sounds like the character 华, which stands for Chinese in Mandarin, and reflects our emphasis on Chinese language and culture, amid an international, three-programme IB learning environment. While we are proud of our Chinese roots and history, we also maintain a multicultural identity, where a diverse pool of students and teachers hail from East to Central Asia, and from Europe to the Americas. The school offers a unique Year 1-12 educational programme that integrates elements of Singapore and international curricula, culminating with the IB-PYP, IB-MYP & IB-DP programmes, all of which are complemented by core components of the international curriculum.
We are a forward-looking, contemporary global international school that believes in a holistic approach to teaching, and is 100 percent committed to lifelong learning for all. Advocating research and inquiry in the classroom, our teachers not only steer the lessons, but also take a step back to encourage students to get involved, collaborate, challenge what they are told, and reach well beyond the textbook experience.
Every student will receive an education that values the dual use of Mandarin and English, as well as support and respect for their mother tongue. The results of our unique pedagogy have been noteworthy. At the same time, we have consistently ranked well above the global average for the IB Diploma Programme (DP), and in recent years, have bettered the national average among Singapore IB DP schools.
Parents who visit our campus especially after school will hear a vibrant mix of Mandarin and English languages, as the older Chinese students exchange football tips and skills with their younger friends from Europe. In our family-like community, everyone finds their sense of belonging and purpose. And it is our belief that in building such an environment and with HWA's innovative Chinese-English immersion bilingual programme nurtures the whole person, students will be empowered and enabled to reflect HWA’s mission, and will walk confidently from our gates as caring, thinking, competent and entire emotional, social, physical and intellectual being – and prepares students to become engaged and responsible global citizens of the 21st century.
Hillside World Academy (HWA) are one of the few IB World Schools offering the IB Continuum of international education from 3-19 years old, through the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (DP).
Our belief is that quality education can be achieved when you integrate pedagogical values of the East and West, through the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
As an international school, HWA model appreciation for cultural differences in every aspect of what we do. Our faculty and staff come from more than 15 countries, hold degrees from leading global institutions and have travelled extensively. Their international heritage naturally emerges in the classroom as they teach lessons and interact with students.
HWA’ class sizes are significantly below the global average. We always believes that this allows its teachers to really get to know each and every student – everything from their academic achievements or struggles, to their emotional well-being and social circles. We ensure every child is supported by his or her teachers, both inside and outside of the classroom. The small class sizes allows its students to be mentored by the school’s teachers in everything from athletic coaches and extracurricular activities sponsors.
One of the most established educational syllabuses worldwide, the IB programme is standardised and administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
All IB programmes are tailored to the IB learner profile, which represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools.
The IB programme is divided into four programmes, namely:
Primary Year Programme (PYP): designed for students aged 3-12, the PYP is based on six transdisciplinary themes such as ‘who we are’, ‘how the world works’ and ‘where we are in place and time’. The PYP is highly customisable to local contexts and aims to encourage inquiry-based learning within individual subjects.
Middle Year Programme (MYP): offered to students aged 11-16, the MYP has eight subject groups thought over a minimum of 50 hours each. The focus of the MYP is to encourage students to learn by doing, and to make connections between their studies and the real world.
IB Diploma (DP): meant for students aged 16-19, the DP is made up of six subject groups as well as five core subjects: theory of knowledge, creativity, activity, service and extended essays. There are also independent research and community service projects within the curriculum. DP results are used for university admissions.
A FORWARD LOOKING AND CONTEMPORARY ACADEMY, SINCE 2006
Hillside World Academy was established in 2006 as the Chinese International School and continues to uphold the global vision that integrates Eastern and Western values, through the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy. We are a forward-looking, contemporary academy that believes in a holistic approach to teaching, and is 100 per cent committed to lifelong learning for all. Advocating research and inquiry in the classroom, our teachers not only steer the lessons, but also take a step back to encourage students to get involved, collaborate, challenge what they are told, and reach well beyond the textbook experience.
There are more than 70,000 educators work for IB schools worldwide, and more than 5,000 schools have chosen IB programmes because of its rigorous content and emphasis on student development.
The unique Bilingualism and Biculturalism Model, designed by Hillside World Academy (HWA), supports the development of bilingual and cross-cultural skills.
The unique Bilingualism and Biculturalism Model, designed by Hillside World Academy (HWA), supports the development of bilingual and cross-cultural skills. Enriched with annual excursions to across China, the programme develops students' cultural and historical appreciation as well as comprehensive knowledge about their host country. Chinese language lessons are conducted in accordance with China's national curriculum during Kindergarten, Primary and Middle School. English and Chinese Support Programmes
HWA has two Language Support Programmes, English and Chinese, designed to help students with little to no English/Chinese language background to acquire the foundational language skills needed to successfully integrate into their courses. Our Language Support Programme teachers work closely with HWA's English/Chinese classroom teachers to better support students at every stage.
HWA prioritises the wellbeing of our students above all. Throughout the school term, our school nurse is stationed on campus from Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 5pm.
HWA prioritises the wellbeing of our students above all. Throughout the school term, our school nurse is stationed on campus from Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 5pm. Certified and trained in basic life support, first aid, CPR and AED, HWA’s school nurse works closely with local doctors to provide students with all-day health protection and assistance in medical situations.
Aside from our school nurse, key staff members, too, have basic qualifications in first aid, lifesaving and CPR, ensuring that student safety and health comes first, even after school hours. Under our Medical Protection Scheme, all international students at HWA are also required to purchase medical insurance throughout their course of studies.
Medical conditions are not the only healthcare issues that HWA looks after. As an international school, we understand that it may be tough on students to be living apart from their home countries. To enable them to adjust to life as a student in Singapore, HWA also provides students with supplementary psychological and academic counseling services at anytime students should require them. The Guidance Counselor’s office adjoins the nurse’s room and are both located in the Middle School block.
The Parent Support Group (PSG) was established in 2011 to be much more than just an ordinary association of parents whose children attend school at the Hillside World Academy (HWA).
The Parent Support Group (PSG) was established in 2011 to be much more than just an ordinary association of parents whose children attend school at the Hillside World Academy (HWA). It is only through the PSG that HWA is able to put a face to, and bridge otherwise static communications and connections with parents of our beloved students.
HWA believes in open communication with all parents, and the PSG facilitates regular meetings and activities specially for parents, guardians, and form staff to come together to discuss students’ performance in areas of concern whether they may be in academic work, after school activities, or personal wellbeing. This avenue for constructive feedback from parents has led HWA to implement new or improved programmes such as the reading programme for Kindergarten 2 and Primary 1 classes.
Throughout the academic year, the outward-looking PSG also schedules a lineup of special events and programmes that benefit the wider community. These family-oriented events will usually see parents volunteering together with their children for a fulfilling time at International Day, Halloween, Kindergarten Book Week, Sports Day, and many more.
To parents of children enrolled in HWA, the PSG urges and welcomes you to be involved in a bigger part of your child’s school life, and to continue supporting and building the HWA community in more ways than one.
To bring out the best in our students, HWA offers excellent learning spaces for work and play.
To bring out the best in our students, HWA offers excellent learning spaces for work and play. On campus, all classrooms are equipped with IT infrastructure designed to assist teachers, and to enhance the learning experience for students across all ages. While older students may enjoy recreation activities at our modern sporting facilities—basketball, volleyball, netball, bouldering and futsal courts and fields—younger students may want to explore the climbing structures or splash in the creative water play area.
Students are exposed to a myriad of the outdoors on field trips, but on campus amid green surroundings, they too can learn from an environmental classroom experience via facilities such as the Bio Pond. Complementing on-campus facilities, the fully-equipped Serangoon Stadium is but a 10-minute walk from our school at Hillside Drive. Our mini-buses can provide door to door shuttle services in a few minutes. The stadium’s world-class facilities are made available to HWA to host sporting activities and larger scale events, including the international standard football field, 50-metre swimming pool, badminton halls and Olympic-sized track.
We encourage academic integrity, collaboration, perseverance and the pursuit of excellence, to create a conducive environment for nurturing our youths with international-mindedness