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...

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 ..

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..

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..

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. 

Writing the Next Chapter of Alice Smith for Student Agency: Reaffirming Our Purpose Part II

In this week's blog our Head of School Ms. Sian May shares some more about why she feels the new Purpose statementis important to our school's future.

Why purpose? 

"The world is changing"

"What is not debatable is that we are experiencing the rapid growth and influence of new technologies on all our communities offering new and creative solutions to existing challenges and..

Writing the Next Chapter of Alice Smith for Student Agency: Reaffirming Our Purpose Part I

Over the last few weeks our Head of School, Sian May, has been introducing the KLASS Community to our new school Purpose statement. In this week's blog Ms. May answers some of the questions we have about why we should have a purpose statement and what it means for the school going forwards. 

What do you think of Alice Smith’s history and standing in the region? 

"Alice Smith..

Rejection Can Often Lead to Redirection & New Opportunities

We are delighted to see the university and college offers #KLASSof2023 are receiving. In this blog post, Asif tells us more about his college application journey.

I am thrilled to share my college application journey with all of you, and it has been such a wild ride! As a high school senior, I had my heart set on Upenn and applied ED, only to receive a rejection letter. It..

Celebrating our Diversity - The Netherlands

King’s Day is when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their King 👑. Originally Princess’ Day, it was celebrated on Princess Wilhelmina’s birthday on 31st August. The feast involved many children's games and decorated streets. After the death of Wilhelmina’s father, it was changed to Queen’s Day.

What are A Levels in the UK?

A Levels or Advanced Levels are the passport to university entry in the UK and are also widely accepted by universities and colleges around the world. They follow GCSE qualifications and offer a higher standard in their examinations, with fewer subjects chosen for these qualifications. Students select their subjects in year 12 and go on to take the exams in year 13; these two..

What Are GCSEs in the UK?

The General Certificate of Secondary Education, more commonly known as GCSEs, are taken by students in the UK aged 14-16 years. GCSEs are taken at the end of year 11, although studies for these exams begin in year 10 (or sometimes earlier in year 9). The work is mainly a theory-based study of a subject mixed together with practical work, depending on the nature of the subject.

Why An International School Is Good For Your Child’s Education

If you want your child to graduate from their school as a confident, curious, and well-rounded human being, then an international school may be the answer.

A broader education

Even though your child will still attain certain academic standards and pass their all-important graduation exams in preparation for university, they’ll also have learned many other life lessons that..

What is an International School?

An international school offers a diverse education to children and usually educates its students outside of the national curriculum of its location. For example, the Alice Smith offers a UK curriculum even though the school is based in Kuala Lumpur.

Image source: Unsplash

International schools are often multinational and, as well as the more formal courses on offer, the..

Inspiring Must-Read Books for Expatriates

As you know, moving abroad is both an exciting and daunting experience. 

It's exhilarating exploring a new place with your family, but it can also create quite a few questions in the mind of an expatriate. 

How can I help make the transition easier for our family? What is it like being a parent as well as an expatriate? How will living as an expatriate affect me and my..

How Does Alice Smith School Encourage Community Spirit?

As the first and the oldest British international school in Malaysia, the Alice Smith School has a long history of community service. For over 70 years, our efforts to help others has helped shape and sustain the future of Alice Smith as a very successful, not-for-profit educational institution since its humble beginnings in 1946. As a result, community service and helping..

Guiding young people through the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Part II)

The conversation continues with Dr. Shanton Chang, Professor of Information Behaviour and Information Systems at the School of Computing and Information Systems, and Associate Dean at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, from the University of Melbourne. Dr. Shanton has extensive experience in international education having been involved in recruitment,..

Guiding young people through the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Part I)

We had the pleasure of having a conversation with Dr. Shanton Chang, Professor of Information Behaviour and Information Systems at the School of Computing and Information Systems, and Associate Dean at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, from the University of Melbourne. Dr. Shanton has extensive experience in international education having been involved in..

How Service Learning Can Benefit Your Child

Some would argue that examination results are the most important outcome of a child’s schooling, giving them the best possible opportunity to get into university. In many ways this is true, but we believe that learning goes way beyond subjects and grades.

Service learning can be a great tool to provide a strong foundation for children’s development and life beyond school.

What's the Difference between Selective and Non-Selective Schools?

For many parents, selecting a school for their child can be a minefield – international or not? Academically-led, or vocational? Boarding or day school? One of these choices is selective versus non-selective schools. But what is the difference, and which one is better for your child? 

What is a selective school?

Selective schools are schools that offer their places based on a..

Alice Smith School Wins International Marketing Award

We are delighted to announce that Alice Smith School won a Bronze at the InspirED School Marketers Brilliance Award for our Inbound Marketing Social Media campaign entry.

The Brilliance Awards is the only international competition that recognises excellence in private and independent school marketing and communications. The Awards are sponsored by InspirED School Marketers,..

6 ways to help your child develop early reading skills

The World Literacy Foundation suggests that 'Parents should encourage early reading habits in their children because a learned child can have a bright future and make an impact on society as they grow.' They cite 7 benefits of early reading:

1. Brain development
2. Early vocabulary development
3. Improved reading 
4. Better writing
5. Better communication
6. Creating a hobby
7. Professional..

Simple Malay for Expats: Learning the Local Language in Kuala Lumpur

As a first-time expat in Malaysia, it’s important to learn basic phrases in the local language to feel closer to the community and have the opportunity to interact with those around you in a respectful way. 

Learning the local language can help you broaden your knowledge, learn something new and better understand the culture. 

Below you’ll discover 10 basic Malay phrases to..

Eight Ways To Help Your Child Revise

Exam season can be stressful and nerve-wracking for children and for their parents. You might find yourself struggling to help your child through their exams, or feel like you could be doing more to help. Here are some tips on how you can better support your child through their exams and help them with their revision.

1. Give them a dedicated study space at home A dedicated..

Parent Workshop with Early Years Expert, Jan Dubiel

Our parent workshops are designed to help support your role at home as well as our role at school and we are delighted to share with you our next exciting Parent Workshop with Early Years Expert, Jan Dubiel.

Guest: Jan DubielTheme: Learning in the Early Years

Date: Wednesday, 11th January 2023Time: 8am - 9amVenue: Primary Campus School Hall, Jalan Bellamy

Save the date and..

Early Years: Alice & Smith - Benefits of Learning Music

Did you know that music is one of the few activities that uses both the logical and creative sides of the brain? Music has the ability to strengthen the connection between the body and brain to work together as a team.

Music and movement comes naturally to children of all ages. Even infants will bounce, sway, smile or wave their hands along to their favourite tunes. It is..

A Conversation with ... David Bott

The latest guest in our “A Conversation with” series will be David Bott, an author and expert in applied wellbeing science. Our Head of School, Sian May, will be talking with David on Tuesday 6th December and we invite you to join in the conversation. This session will focus on the 5 psychological needs of our children and how we can meet these needs to have the greatest..

A Conversation with... Prakash Ravindran, Clinical Psychologist

Following our first event when we hosted Dr Gerard Calnin, we have invited Prakash Ravindran, a Clinical Psychologist from Kuala Lumpur to join our next parent conversation. Prakash leads Oasis Place’s Social Thinking and Malaysia Day Camp and also plans and facilitates social communication sessions across age groups. Prakash is registered with the Malaysia Society of Clinical..

Early Years: Alice & Smith Develop Skills Through Juicing

Who doesn’t love a freshly squeezed glass of juice to cool down? This is a great activity to do with your child who will get so much more from it than a healthy refreshing juice.

When you get the fruit and juicer out, ask your child 'What do you think we are going to do?' and 'What could we do?'. This questioning will develop your child’s communication and language skills...

Early Years: Alice & Smith Early Years PE Lessons

The Physical Education (PE) department is passionate and dedicated to our provision for Early Years children and feel that your child’s experiences in their PE lessons build the foundations for happy, healthy and active lives. We deliver a programme which has been carefully considered for our Alice Smith students using Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS).

Your child will..

Inspiring Day With Swimming Sensation, Ben Proud

What a privilege to host alumnus Ben Proud on campus! Ben was a student from Reception to Year 11 when he left to pursue a career in elite swimming. Since then, Ben has gone on to win 3 x World gold medals, 5 x European gold medals and recently 5 x Commonwealth gold medals. Here's a recap of our amazing day at both campuses.

Celebrating our diversity! Brazil

The celebration of our very international student body continues today the 7th September, with our recognition of the Independence Day of Brazil.On the 7th September 1822, a declaration of independence from Portugal was made by Pedro di Alcantara, the son of the Portuguese King. The day is also referred to as ‘Sete de Setembro’, 'Dia da Independência' or 'Dia da Pátria'.Brazil..

Early Years: Alice & Smith wash the windows!

Our students love playing with water and they like doing things that grown ups do too. So when our Reception Classes washed the windows it was tremendous fun!

They experimented with how hard they needed to squeeze..

Why Parents Should Care About Professional Development for Teachers

“Highly effective teachers are able to produce much greater gains in student achievement than their less effective counterparts.”

Pamela D. Tucker and James H. Stronge, Linking Teacher Evaluation and Student Learning

Simply put, the better the teacher, the more likely students are to succeed. The studies quoted in the book above illustrate not only that quality teachers..

Part 3: Questions to ask when choosing an international school

Here is our final instalment of questions to ask when choosing an international school for your child. You can read the first instalment of this series here, and the second instalment here.

1. What is their staff turnover?

High staff turnover is a key issue for any business in any industry - including education. According to research, the average tenure of an international..

Part 2: Questions to ask when choosing an international school

Here are the next sets of important questions to ask when choosing an international school for your child. You can read the first instalment of this series here.  

1. What extra-curriculars do they offer?

Most schools offer extra-curricular activities alongside their traditional core subjects – whether they are international schools or normal schools. Extra-curricular..

Part 1: Questions to ask when choosing an international school

As a parent searching for schooling, considering an international school for your child is a good idea. With rising demand for international schooling, particularly in East and South-East Asia, according to ISC Research, forecasts suggest that international schools will host almost 7m pupils by 2023. This can make your job of picking a school difficult and you may not know..