Early Years and Primary Education Gets a Boost from Experts Jan Dubiel and Theresa Forbes

Jan Dubiel is an independent speaker, consultant, trainer, and author who focuses on Early Years policy, pedagogy, and practice. He is a nationally and internationally recognised specialist in Early Childhood Education.

In 2018, he was named as one of the ten most influential people in British education by the Times Educational Supplement. Jan’s expertise lies in the..

A Tale of Taught, Teach, Teaching

An Educational Journey from Thomas Lord Audley School to Alice Smith School

In 2006, at Thomas Lord Audley School in Essex, a unique bond formed between a teacher, Mr Howard, and his student, Canny. Little did they know that years later, they would reunite as colleagues at Alice Smith School in Malaysia.

During the induction week for new staff at Alice Smith School, the..

Inspiring the Next Generation: CS JAWS Event Shines Spotlight on Building Diversity & Engagement in Computer Science

The Alice Smith Secondary Campus buzzed with excitement as twenty Computer Science educators from fifteen FOBISIA schools gathered for the recent CS JAWS event. This dynamic platform fostered collaboration and ignited new ideas for captivating young minds with the wonders of Computer Science.

Bridging the Gaps, Igniting Passions

The focus was clear - ensuring a smooth..

Concept-based Learning at the Primary Campus

Our approaches to learning and our curriculum are constantly evolving at the Alice Smith School. They are influenced by research, evidence around effective learning, by what we observe within our students as they learn and also by our collective purpose; spark courageous exploration to inspire a better world.

Additionally, we must consider what the purpose of education is..

Primary Library Renovation: Celebrating the Joy of Reading with Our Community Artwork

The Key Stage 2 (KS2) Library Renovation Project has been completed, and the space now boasts a fresh, inviting atmosphere that encourages reading and learning. Last year the KS2 library got a brand new look and we were able to reconfigure the space to create a flexible, comfortable and welcoming environment for our community.

The Library renovation included the following..

Batik Design Competition Winners Unveiled!

The Alice Smith School recently concluded its Batik Design Competition, and the winners have been revealed. The competition, which saw the participation of talented students from both the Secondary and Primary campuses, showcased exceptional creativity and artistic prowess. The winning designs, carefully selected by a panel of esteemed judges, including Mr. Szelesi, Head of..

Hear Us Roar! Announcing our new merchandise collection ☕️

We are thrilled to unveil an exciting new chapter for our KLASS Lion’s Supporters and all those who want to show their love for their school. 

Purchase one of our new sustainable tumblers and receive a "Free Welcome Coffee Coupon" from Petite Cafe on Campus

A unique coffee-fueled collaboration with our on-campus deli and catering providers, Petite cafe, emphasising our..

A Regal Return: Tuanku, His Highness Crown Prince Tengku Amir Shah's Nostalgic Visit To The Alice Smith School

It was a day filled with joy, nostalgia, and heartfelt memories as Tuanku, His Highness Crown Prince of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, graced The Alice Smith School with his presence on Tuesday, 28th November 2023.

Deep Impact; Investigating students reflections on the impact they have on the world around them

What comes to mind when you think of University admissions?  Usually, people will jump straight to grades, which is, of course, a key component of any application. However, it doesn’t end there, especially in countries such as the US. At Alice Smith School, we are keen that our students know they are more than just their grades.

Every one of our students leave a mark by the..

Nurturing Creativity and Critical Thinking: A Captivating Conversation with Lisa Tregale

In a dynamic exploration of the intersection between creativity, critical thinking, and music education, the Alice Smith School recently hosted a compelling speaker series event featuring Lisa Tregale, the Director of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. The event, held in collaboration with the school's Music department, drew in parents, students, and educators..

Connecting our Community: Our new supporters merchandise is arriving!

In today's dynamic educational landscape, Supporter Merchandise plays a crucial role in fostering school spirit, unity, and community engagement. From trendy apparel to accessories, these products serve as powerful tools for students and parents to showcase their spirit and support for the school. Additionally, students and parents supporters can proudly wear these items to..

The Use of AI in Higher Education and Careers

We are very proud to have partnered with many platforms that are at the forefront of innovation; AI being the most recent one to join the ranks of Higher Education and Careers. Within our fantastic Higher Education and Careers platform, Cialfo, there are two core AI tools, “University Roadmap’ and ‘Sage’, that help us and the students courageously explore what the right-fit..

Empowering Change: Dr Stuart Lawrence Inspires Alice Smith Students to Speak Up

In a powerful and inspiring session on Monday, 6th November, the Honorable Dr Stuart Lawrence visited the Secondary Campus, engaging with students, parents, and teachers in a transformative dialogue.

The latest instalment of the school's 'Conversation With…' speaker series featured Dr Lawrence in conversation on stage, hosted by Stefan Rodic and Sian May, captivating an..

Limited Number of Places for Camp Beaumont in December

We have an exciting December ahead! Camp Beaumont, United Kingdom’s most established multi-activity day camp provider will be back again in December, creating inspiring adventures throughout the school holidays!

With over 50 camps in the UK, and 17 across Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand, Camp Beaumont’s much-loved, confidence-boosting experiences..

Why Toddlers Need Physical Activity to Develop Their Motor Skills and Stay Healthy?

Toddlers are bundles of energy and it is essential to channel this energy in the right direction. Regular physical activity not only helps toddlers develop their motor skills but also has an overall positive impact on their health and wellbeing. In this blog, we will take a closer look at why physical activity is so important for toddlers, how structured physical activity can..

FOBISIA Senior Immersive Drama Festival: 'From Uneasy Dreams'

In this week's blog, Lauren in Year 11 is thrilled to share with you her wonderful experience at the recent FOBISIA Senior Drama Festival.

It all started weeks before when my friends and I were excited about what would come. This festival did not disappoint. The festival began on the night we arrived in Brunei, where we had time to bond with the students from JIS, ISB and BSM..

UKMT Senior Mathematics Competition

We are thrilled to share the incredible news of our students' remarkable achievements in the UKMT Senior Mathematics Competition! Their dedication, passion, and hard work have truly shone bright, bringing home a total of 14 Gold, 16 Silver, and 6 Bronze awards in this prestigious international competition.

This outstanding accomplishment not only reflects the exceptional..

Spotlight on Emotional Intelligence

In this week's blog Ruth McAteer, one of our Higher Education and Careers Counsellors reflects on the importance of Emotional Intelligence.

"A frequent question I get asked by students is “What effect will AI have on my career path?”. At Alice Smith School, we are keen that students begin to understand the effect of the 4th and impending 5th industrial revolution on the world..

Preschool Taster for Three Year Olds

Is your child ready for school?

We're currently offering a limited number of taster sessions for 3 year olds so they (and you!) can experience a little of what Preschool life at Alice Smith is like.

Held on a Thursday afternoon between 1pm and 2pm in our Preschool environment, your child will get to spend an hour having fun, exploring the learning facilities and experiencing..

Poetic Visions: Nurturing Creativity in 'A Future to Be Proud Of'

Are you ready to jump into the world of poetry? The COBIS Poetry competition is now up and running and we would LOVE for YOU to be part of it!

What is the COBIS Poetry competition?

The COBIS (Council of British International Schools) Poetry Competition is a wonderful opportunity for primary school students to showcase creativity and imagination through the medium of poetry...

Spark Your Creativity: Enter the KLASS Supporter Batik Design Competition

Calling all Alice Smith School students! Join the KLASS Supporter Batik Design Competition, where your artistic brilliance can shine bright - incredible prizes up for grabs.

Theme: Celebrating Our School

The theme is all about celebrating our school's identity. Create a Batik design that includes elements like landmarks, plants, animals, buildings, our school logo, and our..

Unleash Your Imagination: Join the FOBISIA Short Story Competition!

Calling all young writers and creative minds! It's that time of the year again when the FOBISIA Short Story Competition is back, and we're thrilled to announce the 2023-2024 edition. This year promises to be even more exciting and inspiring as we invite students to showcase their storytelling talents. So, sharpen your pencils and fire up your imaginations because it's time to..

Future-proofing Our Children’s Life Purpose

Ever since machines started taking over physical labour and the most recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) arms race rumoured to be capable of taking over the world, global educators have been researching how AI affects our children’s development and their future careers. There is one thing that AI lacks which is ‘emotional intelligence’, and this skill, as well as resilience,..

How does missing school affect your child's grades?

Globally over the last few years there has been a number of occasions when our children have been forced to miss school or move to online learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic or more local issues such as poor air quality or unusual weather patterns. These instances are unavoidable, and beyond our control as parents, but it has produced a number of findings that illustrate why..

Harry Wins 1st Place at the 2023 International Photography Award!

Congratulations to Harry Ho, who graduated in the summer, on winning this prestigious competition with his photo series 'One last dance.. (1952 - 2022)'. If you attended the AD@PT show last summer you may remember seeing this work on display as part of Harry's final Photography A Level submission.

Harry told us more about his success;

"This journey has been particularly..

KL Coding Cup

The KL Coding Cup is back again! It was held at The Alice Smith School on 23rd September. The 4-hour event was led by Eugene and Jeremy. The aim of the event was to give young talented coders from KL the chance to compete and showcase their talents. The competition saw an impressive turnout of 150 participants ranging from Years 7 to 13 coming from 5 different International..

Inspire Young Learners to Find Their Own Life Purpose

Young learners today experience lots of competing expectations and excelling in their studies ranks very high on the list. Not only can they feel pressure from themselves but most perceive pressures from parents, teachers and peers. How do we help them flourish and achieve individual resilience through purpose?

We had the pleasure of having Natalie Chan for our May edition of..

Primary Campus Eco Club Wins Eco Schools Bronze Award!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Primary Campus Eco Club, we have been awarded the prestigious Eco Schools Bronze Award ! It is a fantastic achievement that highlights our commitment to making our school more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Students have undertaken numerous tasks that have..

Benefits of Multilingualism for Young Learners

Global educators are emphasising the importance and benefits of multilingualism and translanguaging for young learners throughout their education journey. How does this benefit your child in their further education and their future careers? How can it contribute towards resilience in our children and prepare them to be efficient communicators in the future?

We had the..

Camp Beaumont - Learning Skills for the Challenges of Tomorrow

Are you looking for an exciting fall camp experience for your children? Look no further than Camp Beaumont! As the United Kingdom's most established multi-activity camp provider, Camp Beaumont will be running their fall programmes at the Primary Campus this October mid-term break.

Camp Beaumont's programmes are developed with industry experts to encourage young people to get..

Useful Malay Phrases Every Expat Family Should Know

Moving to a new country and mastering a new language isn’t easy for everyone. As an expat in Malaysia, it’s handy to know some useful Malay phrases to help you not only feel and become part of the community but also to interact with the local residents.

Learning Malay and understanding the culture takes time but to get you started, settle in and politely converse with the..

Social and Emotional Development in the First Five Years

In the first five years, a child’s brain develops rapidly from a quarter size of an adult brain at birth to around 80% of an adult brain by the age of 3, and then almost 90% of an adult brain by the age of 5. Brain connections start to develop from birth through their experience and interactions and by using their senses to learn about the world around them.

Despite the fact..

Support Environmental Sustainability with Upcycling of Plastic

Our school has embarked on an environmental sustainability journey since last year with various exciting developments happening at both campuses as shared in this article here. 

In order to further support the great work done by our students, The Alice Smith School Foundation purchased a plastic upcycling machine last March, working in partnership with The Sea Monkey Project ..

Secondary Weekly Highlight: Celebrating Our Students

As we begin our new school year together, we would like to celebrate the success of our KLASS 2022-23 (I)GCSE and A Level students who recently received their final results. 

Please join us in congratulating our current Year 12 students, who received their (I)GCSE results last week. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and how they navigated their two-year programme..

Cool Things to Do With Kids in Kuala Lumpur

The stunning capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, is well known for its iconic landmarks, rich history and friendly people. It is also an amazing place to raise your family. But if you’re new to the city or just haven’t had the time to go exploring, we have a selection of excellent places to go and activities to do with children.

Some are adventurous, some are educational and..

Top Fun Facts About Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital city that combines the heady mix of famous landmarks, iconic skyscrapers, tourist attractions, locals’ favourites and historical sights. The largest city of this fascinating country – home to around 2 million people – is known for its fascinating and colourful culture as well as being rich in its natural reserves. 

Image source:..

Everything You Need to Know About International Schools

The number of international schools offering education to students of all ages around the world, like the Alice Smith School in Malaysia, is constantly growing. They are an important part of an expat community and families in many countries.

But if you’ve not heard of international schools and you don’t know how they work, here is our beginner’s guide to international..

Starting school confidently

Starting school is an exciting time for young children and their parents. It can be a daunting time, too. Chat with your child about starting school. What do they think it will be like? What are they most looking forward to? Is there anything they’re unsure or worried about? Be sure to listen to their concerns and help them to overcome them.

Here are a few ways parents can..

Year 6 Challenge Award - Building a Business Empire!

The Year 6 Challenge Award ended with a bang last week as our Year 6 students invited all members of our community to engage in the business expo.

The challenge award brings another dimension to children’s learning in Year 6 and allows students to engage in a number of growth opportunities which include work experience, fundraising, raising awareness and learning new skills. 

Our Students Strut their Hour Upon the Stage in Style - The Year 9 Macbeth Monologue competition

It gives me pleasure to hand this week’s Secondary Blog to our Assistant Head of Department for English, Ms Anna Phillips, who has overseen yet another fantastic Year 9 Macbeth Monologue Competition. By the pricking of my thumbs, something fabulous this way comes…. 

Once again Year 9 students have surpassed our expectations - and we were already expecting a lot! Every year we..

Playing at The King’s Birthday Party 🎂

Our musicians were delighted to be invited to play at 'The King’s Birthday Party' - the British High Commission's biggest event for decades! For our String ensemble, Brass group and Flute ensemble it was their final external engagement of the year. One of our performing students, Scott (Y13), who is this year's recipient of the BMCC Prize for Music and will be attending the..

Learning in the Garden: Cultivating Young Minds in an Early Years Setting

In today's fast-paced world, where technology often dominates our lives, it is essential to create spaces where young children can reconnect with nature and learn through hands-on experiences. At the Alice Smith School, our commitment to holistic education encourages learning both indoors and outdoors in our Reception Early Years setting. In this blog post, we will explore the..

Primary Weekly Highlight: Connecting Our Learning to the Natural World

The outdoor provision at Alice Smith provides children with a range of opportunities to explore the natural world, follow their interests and challenge them to take risks within their play. However, despite the children in early years thoroughly enjoying their outdoor area, the educators within the setting noticed that many of the children were using the outdoor space as a..

Secondary Weekly Highlight: Foundation Fundraising Dinner

We recently celebrated our first Foundation Fundraising dinner in three years. It was an uplifting, inspiring student-hosted event, focusing on our community impact on inspiring a better world through the Alice Smith Foundation. In this week’s Secondary Blog, our students and Senior English Prefects, Freida Foong and Aaliya Ibrahim paint a picture of a delightful evening and..

We are back with all things Eco at JB and EP!

We are thrilled to share the exciting developments happening at our JB campus, where waste reduction has become the key focus following our environmental review. Led by our passionate Eco-warriors, we launched a ‘reduce waste with polished plates’ campaign, aiming to significantly decrease the amount of food waste left behind at lunch and break time in the deli. 

Head Students 2023 - 2024

Please join us in congratulating our new Head Student team for 2023-2024: Jordan, Kieve, Cally and Tahlia. Our Head Students play a pivotal role as ambassadors for the school throughout the entire year of their tenure. Here our new Head Student Team reflect on the process and give us some insight into how they were being appointed.

"The process began with a google form that..

Secondary Weekly Highlight: A Maths-tastic Weekend!

On 13th May 2023, 12 of our Years 7 and 8 students participated in the KLJMC Maths Contest held at Garden International School, ably supported by their maths teachers, Mr Welch and Ms Whittington. They competed with a large number of other schools from KL and their performance was exceptional; they made our school proud by securing remarkable positions in their respective..

Primary Weekly Highlight: How to Save a School Principal!

Our Year 4 writers have just completed the most brilliant adventure stories. Their writing unit was packed with learning about so many aspects of writing including story structure, use of pronouns, past progressive verbs and dialogue, as well as subordinating conjunctions, prepositions and adverbials.

The unit began with students investigating story structure by looking at the..

🎭FOBISIA Monologue Challenge - Modernising Shakespeare

This week the winners of the 2023 FOBISIA Monologue Challenge were announced and once again KLASS take home a prize! 

Now in its third year, since first organised by EP’s Drama Department during lockdown, the FOBISIA Monologue Challenge invites schools and students from across Asia to submit solo performances for judging. This year’s challenge brought a new twist to..

Primary Weekly Highlight: Learning About Romans in Year 3

The ‘big idea’ that children in Year 3 have been exploring recently within History is “The Roman Empire and its impact”. Children were encouraged to think as historians and build their learning around the concepts of civilisation, invasion and power.