Crescendo-HELP International School vs R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru
Crescendo-HELP International School and R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru are both in Johor Bahru, about 8 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary) and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Crescendo-HELP International School also offers IPC, British, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels, and R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru also offers EYFS. Published annual fees are MYR 25,200 - 35,000 at Crescendo-HELP International School and MYR 13,020 - 28,450 at R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru, which puts Crescendo-HELP International School roughly 45% higher. Crescendo-HELP International School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru from 3 to 16. Crescendo-HELP International School is the larger school, with around 1,150 pupils to R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru's 500. Typical class sizes are 25 at Crescendo-HELP International School and 20 at R.E.A.L Schools - Johor Bahru.
IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils
Pupils
1,150
Pupils
500
Typical class size
Typical class size
25
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2008
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Crescendo-HELP International School is located at PTD 204446, Lebuh Cemerlang, Taman Desa Cemerlang, 81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor, Malaysia. The school is strategically positioned in a growing suburb of Johor Bahru and sits adjacent to Crescendo International College, allowing for shared educational and infrastructural benefits.
In terms of public transport, CHIS is accessible via Causeway Link route 6B, which connects the Johor Bahru Sentral railway station to the Ulu Tiram Bus and Taxi Terminal. Taxis and ride-hailing services like Grab are also widely available.
CHIS benefits from its proximity to NSK Trade City, food kiosks, and well-known outlets such as McDonald's. The nearby township of Ulu Tiram also houses a number of small retail stores, clinics, and service providers, offering additional convenience for school families.
Location
REAL International School is located in Masai, in the eastern part of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The campus is about 25 minutes from the Johor–Singapore Causeway and is accessible via the Pasir Gudang Highway. The area is mainly residential with nearby shops and amenities, and transport links support commuting from central Johor Bahru and surrounding suburbs.
Stages
Stages
CHIS provides educational program spanning from:
Early Years: Ages 3–5 Primary School: Years 1–6 Secondary School: Years 7–11 Pre-University: A Levels
Stages
The international school is structured into four main stages: Early Years (ages 3–5), Primary (ages 5–11), Lower Secondary (ages 11–14), and Upper Secondary (ages 14–16). Students progress through the Cambridge International Curriculum, culminating in IGCSE examinations in Year 11.
School type
School type
CHIS is a co-educational day school and does not offer on-campus boarding facilities.
School type
It is a co-educational international school offering day schooling only. There are no boarding facilities at the Johor Bahru campus.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Crescendo-HELP International School has established The Learning Pathways (TLP) Department to deliver personalised learning support tailored to individual student needs. This department is led by a team of specialists in Inclusion and English as an Additional Language (EAL), and provides a tiered system of support. Students are assessed and placed in short, medium, or long-term instructional pathways based on their specific learning challenges. Teaching takes place in both small-group and larger class settings, and is aligned with the UK’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) framework for children and young people aged 0 to 25, ensuring structured and inclusive educational support.
The TLP Department employs a data-driven approach, starting with baseline assessments that evaluate students’ abilities in spelling, reading, and writing. Based on these diagnostics, students are grouped according to the severity of their learning gaps, and appropriate support measures are implemented. Progress is reassessed after 12 weeks to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. If a student does not demonstrate the expected growth, an additional layer of support is introduced to intensify the learning assistance and improve outcomes through more focused, individualised attention.
CHIS offers several targeted intervention programmes through the TLP team. The Catch-Up Literacy Intervention Programme improves reading fluency and spelling through a kinesthetic, phonics-based approach that has shown remarkable gains up to 24 months of reading progress in just six weeks. The EAL programme supports students with low verbal and vocabulary skills by addressing all core language domains: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Additionally, the school provides 1:1 Specific Learning Disability (SpLD) sessions for students with diagnosed conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, or dyspraxia. These sessions, conducted three times a week, offer tailored tutoring, exam prep support, and structured study guidance to help students overcome specific learning barriers.
Additional learning support
The school provides limited additional support for students with mild learning needs, typically managed within the classroom by teachers. There is currently no dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) department or specialist staff indicated on the school’s site.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have a country affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school does not have a formal affiliation with any particular country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
CHIS is a secular institution with no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation and operates as a secular institution.
School day structure
School day structure
Primary School:
Monday to Thursday: 7:50 AM – 2:40 PM Friday: 7:50 AM – 12:15 PM
Secondary School:
Monday to Thursday: 7:50 AM – 3:10 PM Friday: 7:50 AM – 1:15 PM
These timings are without Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).
School day structure
The school day begins at 8:00 AM for all levels. Early Years finishes at 1:10 PM from Monday to Thursday and at 12:00 PM on Fridays. Primary students attend until 3:40 PM Monday to Thursday and 12:40 PM on Fridays. Secondary students have the longest schedule, ending at 4:10 PM Monday to Thursday and 1:10 PM on Fridays. Breaks and lunch are incorporated between morning and afternoon lessons.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school offers a school bus service.
Bus service details
The school offers a private bus service covering various residential areas around Johor Bahru. Transport routes and pricing are managed by third-party providers in coordination with the school. Parents are advised to confirm availability and stop locations directly with the campus during enrollment.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
General Fees (All Levels) -Application Fee: RM 250 (one-time, non-refundable) -Registration Fee: RM 2,000 (one-time, non-refundable; due upon offer acceptance) -Deposit (Refundable): RM2,500 (Primary & Secondary), RM 5,000 (A-Level) -Resource Fee (Primary to Secondary): RM 600 per year -Technology Fee: RM 750 (for Year 3 onwards, spread across 3 years)
Annual Tuition Fees Year 1 & 2: RM 25,200 Year 3 & 4: RM 26,460 Year 5 & 6: RM 27,090 Year 7 & 8: RM 28,350 Year 9 – 11 (IGCSE): RM 31,500
A-Level Programme Fees (Years 12–13) -Tuition Fee for Full Course (2 Years): RM 35,000 Paid across 5 terms: RM 7,000 per term -Lab Fee (Per Science Subject for Entire Course): RM 960 -Resource Fee (Entire 2-Year Course): RM 2,400 Paid across 5 terms: RM 480 per term -Special Bursary for CHIS Students: RM 5,000 discount available
These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, except the deposit, which is refundable under the terms of the Admission Contract.
Annual Tuition Fees (Payable Termly)
Early Years * Tuition: MYR 10,620 * Supplementary Fee: MYR 2,200 * Tech Fee: MYR 200 * Total: MYR 13,020 per year
Primary (Years 1–6) * Year 1–2: MYR 21,280 * Year 3: MYR 19,600 * Year 4: MYR 22,900 * Year 5: MYR 19,890 * Year 6: MYR 23,190
Secondary (Years 7–11) * Year 7: MYR 24,620 * Year 8: MYR 25,360 * Year 9: MYR 25,690 * Year 10–11: MYR 28,450
Each year’s fee includes tuition, a MYR 2,800 supplementary fee, and a MYR 500 tech fee, except for Early Years.
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms * Fees can be paid annually (by August) or termly, with due dates in August, January, and April. * A 2% monthly surcharge applies to late payments. * A 3% discount is available for full-year payments made via bank transfer or cash before August.
Other Costs * Uniforms, books, visa fees (for international students), and administrative charges are not included in the tuition fees and are charged separately as applicable.
Refunds * Tuition, registration, and application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. * Deposits are refundable under specific conditions outlined in the admission policy.
Payment Methods * Annual Payments: Bank transfer and cash. * Termly Payments: Bank transfer, cash, credit card, and cheque. * Payments should be made to R.E.A.L Education Group Sdn Bhd, and proof of payment must be submitted via email or fax.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Crescendo-HELP International School (CHIS) offers a British-style curriculum anchored in the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) framework. The school provides academic journey beginning from Early Years (Ages 3–5), continuing through Primary (Years 1–6) and Secondary (Years 7–11), and culminating in the Cambridge A-Level Programme (Years 12–13). At the Primary level, CHIS integrates the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), emphasizing thematic, inquiry-based learning to develop key competencies in literacy, numeracy, and personal growth.
As students advance into the Secondary years, they follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE curriculum, where they are offered a broad range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, and Languages. The IGCSE programme culminates in internationally recognized examinations, preparing students for pre-university pathways. In the Sixth Form, CHIS offers Cambridge International AS & A Levels, allowing students to specialize in subjects aligned with their university and career aspirations. Subjects include Further Mathematics, Psychology, Economics, and Computer Science, among others. The curriculum is supported by pastoral care, university guidance, and leadership development, aiming to cultivate academic excellence and personal growth.
Curriculum details
REAL International School Johor Bahru follows the British Cambridge curriculum across all school stages. In the Early Years (ages 3–5), the school adopts the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), focusing on learning through play and development in communication, numeracy, and creativity. The Primary School (Years 1–6) uses the Cambridge Primary Programme, which covers English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives, and ICT, along with Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. In Lower Secondary (Years 7–9), students follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum with more subject specialisation. The Upper Secondary (Years 10–11) prepares students for the IGCSE examinations, typically taken at age 16, in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, ICT, and Business Studies. Co-curricular subjects like Art, Music, Physical Education, and Robotics are integrated throughout all stages.
Schedule an assessment date via email or phone at least one day in advance. On the assessment day, submit the application form along with a non-refundable RM250 application fee.
The assessment serves as a baseline to determine the most suitable grade placement for the child.
Upon successful assessment, a Letter of Offer is sent via email. Parents have 10 working days to sign and return the letter.
Submit all required documents, including identification, birth certificate, previous school reports, and medical records.
Pay the registration fee, refundable deposit, one term's school fees, and miscellaneous fees.
Once all steps are completed, the student's enrollment is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Book a school tour or attend an Open Day (optional but encouraged). Families can arrange to visit the Johor Bahru campus to view the facilities, observe classroom settings, and speak with school staff. Tours are typically arranged directly with the admissions team and provide a clearer understanding of the school environment.
2. Submit an application form and required documents. Families will be asked to complete a formal application form and provide relevant documents such as academic records, passport copies, birth certificate, and immunisation records. A one-time application fee of MYR 1,500 is payable at this stage.
3. Student assessment and interview. Applicants may be asked to complete a placement assessment or attend an interview, depending on the year level and prior academic background. This helps the school determine appropriate class placement and any additional support needed.
4. Offer and acceptance. Successful applicants will receive an offer letter. Upon acceptance, families must pay a registration fee (MYR 5,000), deposit (MYR 10,000), and the first term’s fees. The Admissions Office will then guide families through onboarding, uniforms, and other first-day preparations.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The CHIS Founders' Award recognises students with strong academic ability, leadership potential and a collaborative mindset. The award offers a bursary towards school fees, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards given to the most deserving candidates. It is open to students who are planning to join us in Year 7 or to continue their A Level studies in Year 12 and Year 13.
Crescendo-HELP is also providing a 5% Bursary , which is a reduction from the published Primary and Secondary annual school fees, not only for the first year but for each year that the student remains in school.
Scholarships
REAL International School Johor Bahru does not currently advertise academic or other scholarships on its official platforms. Fee reductions may be available through sibling discounts and promotional rebates for early or full-year payments. Families are encouraged to check directly with the school regarding any available financial incentives or temporary offers at the time of application.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does not have a waitlist.
Waitlist
REAL International School Johor Bahru does not publicly operate a pool system or formal waitlist. Admissions are generally processed on a rolling basis, subject to availability in the requested year group. In cases where classes are full, the admissions team may offer to place a student on an informal waiting list and notify families if a place becomes available.
