In recent years, Singapore has continued to attract families from around the world, drawn by its stable political environment, robust legal system, and world-renowned educational resources. At the same time, an increasing number of top international schools have chosen to establish campuses in Singapore, further enriching the local international education landscape. As many families actively plan their children’s educational pathways, Singapore’s international school landscape is undergoing a restructuring. Several international schools have announced plans to relocate, expand, or establish new campuses, affecting the daily commutes and living arrangements of countless enrolled families, while placing greater demands on newly arrived immigrant families who are in the midst of selecting schools. This article provides an overview of the latest developments at each school for parents’ reference.
01 St. Joseph’s Institution International
St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International) is one of Singapore’s oldest Catholic international schools, and one of three Local International Schools set up under the framework by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is also the only one among the three to offer a continuous curriculum from pre-school to Grade 12. Under MOE regulations, the school is required to reserve at least 50% of its places for Singapore citizens, meaning the number of places available to international families is relatively limited compared to other international schools. The school was founded by the De La Salle Brothers and has been located at Thomson Road since 2006.
The school currently operates four divisions – kindergarten, primary, secondary, and high school – with over 2,200 students enrolled from more than 40 nationalities. It follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and is widely recognised by parents for its values-driven, holistic education philosophy.
According to The Straits Times, SJI International plans to relocate to a new campus in Hougang by 2030. The current Thomson Road campus is expected to be redeveloped for residential use, in line with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) long-term plans for the site. The school’s official channels have yet to release a formal announcement, and parents are advised to monitor them for the latest confirmed information. Hougang is located in the northeastern part of Singapore, approximately 20 to 30 minutes by car from the city centre. The impact on commuting arrangements and residential location choices is worth factoring into planning considerations in advance.
02 UWCSEA Dover Campus
UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA) is the oldest United World College in Asia, providing education to students from over 100 nationalities worldwide since 1971. The school currently operates two independent campuses – the Dover Campus on Dover Road, and the East Campus in Tampines – with a combined enrolment of over 5,900 students, making it one of the largest and most internationally diverse international schools in Singapore.
UWCSEA Dover has officially announced through its official channels that it plans to relocate to Tengah by 2032 – Singapore’s first new town planned around a forest concept. The primary reason for the move is that the Dover Campus’s existing 30-year land lease will expire in 2030. Since its establishment in 1971, the Dover Campus has been rooted in Dover Road for over half a century, with approximately 11 hectares of expansive grounds, and holds deep sentimental value for many of Singapore’s long-established expatriate families. Tengah is located in the western part of Singapore, approximately 30 to 40 minutes by car from the city centre, and is planned around a core of green, sustainable living. UWCSEA has stated that the construction of the new campus will be an important opportunity to fulfil its sustainability mission and build a future-ready campus.
It should be noted that the UWCSEA East Campus in Tampines will not be affected in any way and will continue to operate as normal. Families choosing the UWCSEA system may plan accordingly between the two campuses based on their children’s enrolment timeline and residential location. It is also recommended that families begin the application process as early as possible, given the school’s longstanding oversubscription. For specific guidance on application preparation, please refer to our previously published guide: “Applying to International Schools in Singapore Mid-Year: A Complete Guide from School Selection to Offer Letter.”
UWCSEA’s application waitlist often spans several years, with many families beginning to plan shortly after their child is born. Following the relocation of the Dover Campus to Tengah, the strategic logic for residential planning in the western region will also shift – the earlier you start mapping this out, the more options you will have. If you are unsure where to begin, we are able to assist you in clarifying and evaluating your options based on your specific needs.
03 Wycombe Abbey School
This is the most significant development in this round of updates, marking the first time a century-old British top-tier school has entered Southeast Asia. Wycombe Abbey was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. It is one of the most prestigious independent schools in the UK, renowned globally for its rigorous academic standards, deep boarding school traditions, and outstanding Oxbridge admissions results. Its overseas campuses currently span Hong Kong and Mainland China, and Singapore will become its first location in Southeast Asia.
Wycombe Abbey, international education operator BE Education, and Singapore-based developer Wee Hur Holdings have officially announced a three-way strategic partnership through a joint press release, to jointly establish Wycombe Abbey School (Singapore). The permanent campus will be located at Hougang Avenue 3, with an expected opening in September 2028. It is positioned as a co-educational full-day international school from kindergarten to Grade 12, enrolling students aged 2 to 18. Notably, on 6 January 2026, the school officially held its groundbreaking ceremony in Singapore, marking the formal commencement of construction.
Wycombe Abbey School (Singapore) is the winner of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s (EDB) 2024 Foreign System School tender, having entered Singapore’s international school landscape through a competitive government selection process. Wycombe Abbey’s main school has long been ranked among the UK’s top girls’ boarding schools. In the 2024/2025 academic year, 97% of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) subjects achieved grades 7 to 9, and 76.2% of General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A-Level) results reached A* to A grades. The school also received the honour of being included in Spear’s Magazine’s 2025 list of the Top 100 Private Schools in the World. Spear’s is a leading British wealth and lifestyle magazine focused on high-net-worth individuals, and its school rankings are widely recognised within international elite education circles. Although the Singapore campus will be a full-day day school, the school has stated that it will retain the core traditions of its parent school, including the house system, personalised academic mentoring, and an extended school day. Early enrolment offers a more flexible application window, though it also comes with more variables yet to be observed. The curriculum implementation, staffing, and campus culture are still being established.
SMTP Consult’s Experience
Singapore’s international school landscape is being restructured at an unprecedented pace. Whether it is the relocation of established institutions, the expansion of well-known brands, or the arrival of prestigious new schools, families are reminded that school selection is never an isolated decision – it is a comprehensive consideration closely tied to residential planning, children’s ages, visa arrangements, and long-term educational goals. For families who are about to relocate or have recently arrived in Singapore, independently navigating the complex application processes, varying admissions assessment criteria, and constantly changing place availability without local experience can be enormously time-consuming, and key application windows can easily be missed.
SMTP Consult is a family office concierge and professional services firm focused on assisting families relocating to Singapore, headquartered on Orchard Road. Our education advisory team has deep expertise in applications to international and local schools in Singapore, and has successfully assisted clients’ children in gaining admission to a number of well-known institutions. Our services cover school selection consultation and comparative analysis, application preparation and end-to-end follow-through, admissions assessment coaching and interview preparation, as well as pre-university and overseas university application support. Every family’s situation is unique. Regardless of the child’s current age or preferred curriculum, we provide practical, tailored advice and support. If you would like to learn more about your child’s schooling arrangements in Singapore, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sources: Official announcements from respective schools and Singapore local media reports · Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) official press releases · 2025–2026