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The school is situated in Damansara Heights, a well-established and pleasant residential suburb of Kuala Lumpur. This location provides a quiet environment for the campus. It is accessible via major roads and public transport, including several bus routes.
The school is structured into four main levels, all on a single campus. It begins with "Michelia" for early childhood education, followed by Primary School, Secondary School, and finally a Pre-University programme offering A-Levels.
Cempaka is a co-educational day school and does not offer boarding facilities for its students.
The school has a system in place to support students with additional learning needs. Collaborative teacher teams work to tailor learning to individual requirements, aiming to provide a successful school experience for every student.
The school does not have a formal affiliation with any specific country.
The school does not have any religious affiliation.
The school day for primary and secondary students generally runs from 8:00 am to around 3:15 pm, with slight variations depending on the year group. The early childhood center has more flexible timings, including half-day options.
The school does not directly provide a school bus service.
Beruang, Harimau, Helang, and Seladang are the four school houses. They compete for the House Cup, with Beruang the 2023/24 champions. The motto guiding house activities is 'Nothing Is Impossible'.
The school was built by a family and remains part of the Cempaka family of schools. Its roots begin with Sri Cempaka in 1983 and the Damansara Heights campus was established in 1989.
The Early Years education, known as "Michelia," is based on a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. In Primary School, students follow a curriculum that combines the British International Curriculum with the Finnish School Model. This dual approach continues into Secondary School, where students work towards Cambridge IGCSE qualifications. For certain IGCSE subjects, such as Computer Science and Business, the school uses the Oxford AQA curriculum, while Physical Education follows the Edexcel Pearson syllabus. Upon completion of their IGCSEs, students can continue into the Pre-University program to study for their A-Levels.
The school supports students' social and emotional development through a variety of initiatives. Its "Cempaka Awards Scheme" is designed for well-rounded development and includes sections for community service, school events, and expeditions. The house system, which includes all students and staff, promotes a sense of community and inclusion. Students participate in house events covering sports, academics, and performing arts, which helps build teamwork and a sense of belonging.
The school has a Special Educational Needs (SEN) system to support students with learning difficulties. The school is not a specialist SEN institution, and the specific needs it can support are not detailed on its website. The school uses collaborative teacher teams to tailor learning to individual student needs.
Information regarding English as an additional language support is not publicly available.
The school fosters a supportive environment for students, with a focus on their overall development. The "Cempaka Awards Scheme" encourages participation in a wide range of activities, including community service and expeditions, which can contribute to a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing. The school's ethos, centered on the idea of being "a school by a family for a family," promotes a caring atmosphere.
Detailed information about their specific policies and procedures for child protection and safeguarding have not been made publicly available.
1. Arrange a visit.
The admissions team encourages prospective families to visit the campus. You can arrange a guided tour to see the facilities, observe classes, and meet with faculty, which will help you get a better feel for the school environment.
2. Submit an application.
You will need to complete the application forms and submit them along with the required documents. These typically include passport-sized photographs, a copy of your child's birth certificate and passport, and their most recent school reports. An application fee is also required at this stage.
3. Entrance Examination and Interview.
Once the application is submitted, your child will be required to sit for an entrance examination. The exam subjects vary by year level but generally include English, Maths, and Science. An interview with the school is also part of this stage.
4. Receive an Offer.
The school will notify you in writing of the outcome of your application within a week of the examination and interview. If your child is offered a place, you will receive an Offer Letter via email with details on how to secure the place, including payment of the first term's fees and a security deposit.
Cempaka Schools offer scholarships for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for students entering Year 12. These scholarships cover the last two years of secondary schooling. The key requirement is that applicants should be about to enter the first year of the IBDP and be at least 15 years old at the time of enrolment. The school looks for students who can demonstrate intellectual curiosity and independent thinking.
The school does not explicitly state whether it operates a waitlist or pool system.
The school is located in Mont Kiara, a modern township with numerous high-rise residential condominiums, office complexes, and international schools. Mont Kiara is known for its international community, with a significant population of expatriates from various countries. The area is well-connected to the rest of Kuala Lumpur via major expressways and is considered a very desirable residential area for families, with many amenities such as shopping malls, restaurants, and recreational facilities.
The main campus is structured into three main sections to cater for different age groups. These are the Primary School for ages 5-11, the Secondary School for ages 11-16, and the Sixth Form for students aged 16-18.
GIS is a co-educational day school and does not offer any boarding facilities.
The school has a dedicated Learning Support faculty that assists students with identified mild learning differences. Support is provided through in-class assistance, small group sessions, or individualised programmes, depending on the student's needs. The team works with teachers and parents to create and review individualised education plans (IEPs).
The school does not have a formal affiliation with any particular country.
GIS is a non-denominational school and has no religious affiliation.
The school day for primary and secondary students starts at 7:40 am and finishes at 2:10 pm for Years 1 to 3, and 2:20 pm for Years 4 to 13. The day includes a morning break and a lunch break.
The school offers an extensive bus service that connects the main campus with major residential areas across Kuala Lumpur. The service is provided by external operators, and the cost is determined by the distance from the student's home to the school.
The school has a uniform policy. There is a Second-Hand Uniform Shop to promote sustainability by recycling preloved uniforms.
The Main Campus cafeteria is run by Cezar's Kitchen and provides meals and snacks throughout the day. It offers ten food stations with International, Asian and Vegetarian options, plus Western dishes, pasta, Seoul food, Asian noodles, a salad bar, deli sandwiches, and a live station serving Rotisserie Chicken and Chicken Shawarma on alternating days.
GIS has a house system with four houses: Crest, Queen, Chancellor and Sultan. Every student from Early Years to Sixth Form belongs to a house and competes in a range of house events, with house colours celebrated.
GIS is part of Taylor's Schools, a network of six top-tier institutions in Singapore and Malaysia. Taylor's Education Group owns Taylor's Schools.
The curriculum at Garden International School is based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales, adapted for an international student body. In Primary School (Years 1-6), students follow a broad curriculum that builds foundational knowledge across a range of subjects.
In Secondary School (Years 7-11), students continue with a wide range of subjects, which narrows in Years 10 and 11 as they prepare for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. For their final two years in Sixth Form (Years 12-13), students specialize in subjects of their choice to study for A-Level qualifications, which are recognized for university entrance worldwide.
The school has a dedicated pastoral care system to support students' well-being. Each student is part of a tutor group, and their form tutor is the primary point of contact for any concerns. The school also has an on-site counseling team that offers confidential support to students. Initiatives such as personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education are integrated into the curriculum to help students develop essential life skills.
The school provides support for students with mild learning needs through its Learning Support faculty. This is not a specialist SEN institution, but it has a team of specialist teachers who work with students who require additional support. Support is offered through in-class assistance, small group work, or one-to-one sessions, and the school develops Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) for students with identified needs. The school assesses each child's needs on a case-by-case basis to determine if they can provide the appropriate level of support.
The school has an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program for students who require support to access the curriculum. New students are assessed to determine their level of English proficiency. Based on this assessment, students may be offered a place in the EAL program, which can include intensive English classes and in-class support. There is an additional fee for the EAL program for students in Years 7 to 9.
The school supports student mental wellbeing through its pastoral care structure and a dedicated on-site counseling team. Located within the school's Medical Centre, the counseling unit provides a confidential space for students to discuss their emotional and psychological health. Form tutors also play a role in monitoring student wellbeing and are the initial contact for any concerns. This is supplemented by a PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic) curriculum that addresses wellbeing topics.
The school has a child protection policy in place to ensure student safety and welfare. The school is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all students, and all staff members receive safeguarding training. There are designated safeguarding leads who are responsible for handling any child protection concerns that may arise, following established procedures for reporting and support.
Attend an Open Day or book a tour. The school holds regular open days for prospective families. This is a good opportunity to see the campus, meet teachers, and get a feel for the school environment. You can also arrange a personalised tour with the admissions team.
Submit an application. You will need to complete the online application form and submit it along with all the required documents. These typically include previous school reports, a copy of your child's passport, and passport-sized photos. An application fee is payable at this stage.
Admissions Assessment. Once the application is submitted, the school will arrange an age-appropriate assessment for your child. For primary and secondary students, this usually involves an online diagnostic assessment to understand their learning style and academic potential. For Sixth Form entry, students will also need to meet specific IGCSE (or equivalent) grade requirements.
Offer of a place. If the assessment is successful and a place is available, the school will send you a formal letter of offer. To accept the place, you will need to pay the registration fee and a deposit within the timeframe specified in the offer letter.
GIS offers scholarships for students entering the Sixth Form (Year 12) to study for their A-Levels. These scholarships are open to both current students and external applicants and are awarded based on academic merit, as well as talent in areas such as music or sports. The scholarships typically cover a percentage of the tuition fees and may also include the waiver of the application and registration fees. The application process is separate from the standard admissions process and has specific deadlines. It usually requires a personal statement, references, and evidence of achievements.
The school does experience high demand for places in most year groups, and a "wait pool" system is in place when a year group is full. When an application is received for a full year group, the student's name is added to the pool. The school does not operate a simple first-come, first-served system. When a place becomes available, they consider various factors to select a student from the wait pool, including the student's academic profile, English language proficiency, and the overall balance of gender and nationality within the year group.
