City Harbour International School vs Seri Botani International School
City Harbour International School and Seri Botani International School are both in Ipoh. Both schools offer British, Cambridge (Secondary) and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. City Harbour International School also offers Cambridge A Levels, and Seri Botani International School also offers Cambridge (Primary) and EYFS. Published annual fees are close, at MYR 7,920 - 26,400 for City Harbour International School and MYR 9,000 - 23,820 for Seri Botani International School. City Harbour International School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Seri Botani International School from 3 to 17. Both keep typical class sizes around 20.
British Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils
Pupils
—
Pupils
230
Typical class size
Typical class size
20
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2020
Bus service
Bus service
—
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Located at PT 15010, Jalan PMB 1, Pusat Manjung Bestari, 32040 Seri Manjung, Perak, Malaysia, the school is nestled in the Manjung coastal district near Lumut and Pangkor, adjacent to a naval base.
Location
SBIS is situated at 2 Dataran Botani 1A, Bandar Seri Botani, Ipoh, nestled within a 10-acre purpose-built campus in a quiet, landscaped township between Batu Gajah and Simpang Pulai. The school is easily accessed via Jalan Medan Botani and lies about 15–20 minutes from central Ipoh.
Stages
Stages
City Harbour offers Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, and Sixth Form (pre-university A‑Level).
Stages
The school offers Early Years, Primary School and Secondary School levels.
School type
School type
The school is a co‑educational day and boarding school, serving ages 2–18 with boarding available alongside day student options.
School type
SBIS is a co-educational day and boarding school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school does not have publicly available information on their additional learning support.
Additional learning support
SBIS delivers small class sizes (12–20 students) and adopts personalised mentoring for students, particularly those joining mid-year who receive additional English, Math, and Science support through specialised catch‑up lessons. Their structured academic approach is facilitated by Cambridge-trained teachers who use frequent monitoring and adaptive teaching to meet individual needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have any country affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school is not affilated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is not religiously affiliated and is secular in its operations.
Religious affiliation
The school is secular and does not have any religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school does not have publicly available information on their day structure.
School day structure
School Start Time (Monday to Friday) Nursery & Reception: 8:00 AM Years 1 to 6: 8:00 AM Years 7 to 11: 8:00 AM
Dismissal Time Monday to Thursday: Nursery to Year 6: 2:40 PM Years 7 to 11: 3:20 PM
Friday: All levels (Nursery to Year 11): 1:20 PM
Break Times (Monday to Friday) Nursery & Reception: 9:20 AM to 10:00 AM Years 1 to 4: 8:40 AM to 9:20 AM Years 5 to 8: 9:20 AM to 10:00 AM Years 9 to 11: 10:00 AM to 10:40 AM
Lunch Times (Monday to Thursday) Nursery & Reception: 12:00 PM to 12:40 PM Years 1 to 4: 11:50 AM to 12:30 PM Years 5 to 8: 12:30 PM to 1:10 PM Years 9 to 11: 1:10 PM to 1:50 PM
Friday: No lunch sessions for all year groups due to early dismissal.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school does not publicly provide information about offering a school bus service.
Bus service details
The school offers a bus service.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Day student tuition: RM 7,920 (Nursery) to RM 26,000 (Grade 10–11 and A‑Levels).
Boarding (weekly/annual) ranges RM 22,380–26,400 per year.
Refund Policy & Payment Methods The school does not have publicly available information on their refund policy and payment methods.
Fee details
Early Years (Nursery & Reception) Application Fee: RM 500 (non-refundable) Registration Fee: RM 1,500 (non-refundable) Deposit: One term’s tuition fee (refundable and topped up yearly) Tuition Fee: RM 3,000 per term (3 terms per year) Material Fee: RM 300 per term
After School Programme: Category 1 (2:40 PM – 5:00 PM): RM 800 per term Category 2 (School Holidays 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM): RM 600 per term Combined (ASP + Holidays): RM 1,200 per term International Student Fee (one-time): RM 5,000
Additional RM 150/day applies if weekday boarders stay over the weekend.
Refund Policy Deposit Refund: The deposit (equal to one term’s fee) is refundable if:
All outstanding fees are cleared.
One full term’s written notice is provided before withdrawal.
Non-refundable Fees: Application, registration, and international student fees.
Boarding Withdrawal: A one-term written notice is required for deposit refund, else forfeited.
Late Payments: A 5% per annum surcharge applies to fees unpaid by the 15th day of the term.
Payment Methods Accepted Methods: Cash Cheque Online Bank Transfer Credit Card
Terms: Fees are billed three times a year, prior to each school term.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
City Harbour International School follows the British National Curriculum from Early Years through to A Levels. In the Early Years, the school uses the EYFS framework, focusing on areas like communication, literacy, numeracy, and personal development. The Primary stage (Years 1–6) includes core subjects such as English, Maths, and Science, alongside Art, ICT, History, Geography, Music, PE, and PSHE.
In Secondary (Years 7–9), students continue with a broad range of subjects, leading into the Cambridge IGCSE programme in Years 10 and 11. For Sixth Form (Years 12–13), the school offers Cambridge A Levels, with subjects including Maths, Sciences, Business, Law, Sociology, and Literature.
The curriculum is complemented by compulsory sports, arts, and hands-on learning activities, including outdoor education through a partnership with Outward Bound Malaysia.
Curriculum details
SBIS follows the Cambridge International Curriculum, which is developed in the UK and used worldwide. Students begin with Cambridge Primary (Years 1–6), continue through Cambridge Lower Secondary (Years 7–9), and then prepare for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams in Years 10 and 11. The curriculum includes core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science, along with ICT, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Physical Education. The teaching style is structured and subject-based, and assessments are typically conducted through exams, assignments, and coursework.
1. Application Submission. Parents must complete and submit an official Application Form along with a non-refundable application fee of RM 500.
2. Document Requirements:
For Malaysian students: 4 passport-size photographs of the student Student’s birth certificate (1 copy) Student’s MyKid or Identity Card (1 copy) Copies of academic records from the past year and previous 3 years Father's and mother's identity cards (1 copy each) Father's and mother's passport-size photographs (2 copies each)
For International students: 4 passport-size photographs of the student Translated and endorsed copy of student’s birth certificate Passport and valid visa page (1 copy) Past 3 years’ academic records Father's and mother's passport and photographs (1 copy each) Parent's marriage/divorce certificate
3. Assessment. All applicants sit for a written entrance examination in English and Mathematics. These are age-appropriate tests. The school also reviews recent school reports and may request a confidential reference from the previous school. An informal interview is conducted as part of the evaluation.
4. Offer. Assessment results are issued within 3 working days. Offers depend on academic readiness and available spaces. Class placement decisions are made based on the assessment outcome.
5. Acceptance. Parents must respond to the offer within 7 days by completing the Admission Agreement and Insurance Form. At this point, a deposit equivalent to one term’s course fee is required, along with copies of the student’s birth certificate, passport, or ID card as applicable.
Admissions
Complete Application Form .Parents or guardians must fill in, sign, and submit the SBIS application form along with supporting documents (e.g., ID/birth certificates, school reports, immunisation records, photos). Malaysian and international requirements differ slightly. Applications can be submitted in person, via email, or by post.
Assessment & Interview.Pay the non‑refundable application fee and, if a place is available, the student undergoes an age-appropriate Cambridge-style placement test. An interview with the Principal is required.
Application Review.The Principal and admissions team review the completed application, test results, and interview notes. Parents are notified of the outcome within 7 working days.
Offer & Deposit. If accepted, a Letter of Offer is issued. Parents secure the place by paying the non‑refundable registration fee, the refundable term deposit, and tuition fees before the commencement of term. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed within 10 working days and may reapply later.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.
Scholarships
The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.
