What Questions Should I Ask on a Tour an International School in Singapore?

Whether you’re a family already living on the Little Red Dot, or you’re considering moving to Singapore with your family, one of the biggest considerations can often be which international school you should send your children to. With many of the international schools in Singapore sharing top IBDP results or IGCSE results, it can be hard to work out where to start. In this article, we’ll share some of the most frequently asked questions that our Admissions Team hears, as well as the responses they share to help families when considering which international school in Singapore to choose.

Before You Book Your International School Tour in Singapore

As soon as you start researching international schools in Singapore, you will quickly find that there are a lot to choose from. From our own research, we know that many families will shortlist around 7 schools before visiting. Some of the reasons families shortlist schools include:

• Quality of teaching staff
• Academic results
• Pastoral support
• Recommendations from friends and family
• Diversity of school community
• Specific curriculum requirements

Families have also told us that they use a variety of ways to research schools before deciding where to tour. From Singapore-based publications like HoneyKids and Expat Living to global school directories such as WhichSchoolAdvisor and The Good Schools Guide, parents use a variety of online sources to seek reviews of potential schools. More and more, families also use Facebook forums like the Singapore Expat Schooling Group, or ChatGPT to find answers before approaching a school.

Once you have decided which schools you would like to visit, the best way to see a school is via an Open Day or a personalised school tour. Many international schools in Singapore will offer virtual tours or virtual open days for families living abroad which can really help you to shortlist schools if you are planning a look-see visit to Singapore.

Top 10 Questions to Ask On an International School Tour in Singapore

1. Your 2026 IBDP/IGCSE results are very good. Does your school enter every student into the IBDP/IGCSE exams? What happens if a student isn’t making the progress you might expect?

Our answer:

We are very proud of our 2026 results. At IBDP, our learners scored an average of 35.8, with two learners achieving a perfect score of 45, and two more learners scoring 44. However, as an inclusive school, we are just as proud of our learners who achieved scores in the 20s and 30s. In fact, some of our learners opted to take the IB courses pathway so that they could choose subjects that aligned with their future goals and have since gone on to leading institutions like Italia Conti Performing Arts Academy in London, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. We work closely with learners and families and our Careers and University Guidance team to make sure that they are set up for success at a best-fit university or higher education institution.

Similarly, at IGCSE, our learners achieved incredible outcomes. Overall, 50% of the grades awarded were scored 9-7 or A*/A. Impressively, our learners scored on average 4.31 grades higher than their predicted grades, showing how we challenge our learners to achieve beyond their potential. We do this through regular teacher check-ins with learners, as well as creating a culture of aspiration in our learning spaces like IBDP learner, Ollie, describes here.

2. How does your school deal with challenging behaviour?

Our answer: 

At Nexus we address challenging behaviour through a preventative, restorative, and relationship-driven framework.

Our primary focus is always prevention. We build strong, positive relationships with learners and keep them engaged with inclusive, high-quality learning. When expectations are clear and learners feel safe, most behavioural issues are minimised.

When challenging behaviour does occur, we never ignore it. Rather, we respond with restorative practice rather than purely punitive action. We guide our learners through a structured reflection process to help them understand what happened, recognise who was affected, repair any harm done, and agree on how to move forward constructively.

If a challenge persists, we collaborate with our pastoral support team, counsellors, and parents to address the underlying root causes and provide targeted support so that everyone can benefit from an enjoyable learning environment.

3. How do you update us about our child’s progress or important notices?

Our answer: 

We know that a strong home-school partnership is essential to your child feeling successful at school. We work very closely with families to keep you informed of your child’s progress. In addition to reports and parent-teacher conferences each semester, we also keep you updated throughout the school year. In Primary, this may be through our “Window into the Classroom” through the SeeSaw App, and in Secondary school, this is mainly done through clear feedback on your child’s learning submitted through our Canvas Learning app. Parents are also welcome to meet with their child’s teachers at any point during the school year to discuss their child’s progress.

To keep families informed with important notices, as well as sharing exciting learner achievements and opportunities, we send a weekly school Nexus News newsletter via email. Primary families also receive a weekly Homeroom Highlights email with updates and key information specific to their class.

We know that strong communication is an important part of school life, especially when managing busy lives. That’s why we’re especially proud that 90% of our parents agreed that we have excellent school communication in our most recent parent survey.

4. How can students get involved in sports at your school? Is it competitive or recreational?

Our answer:

At Nexus, sport is intentionally designed to be inclusive, encouraging, and accessible to every learner—regardless of their starting skill level. We strongly believe that physical activity plays a key role in overall student wellbeing, so we offer a dual pathway featuring both recreational sports and competitive opportunities.

For learners looking to try a new sport, stay active, or enjoy activities with friends, our wide range of recreational CCA clubs provides a supportive, low-pressure environment. For those who thrive on competition, we are also proud to have teams compete at top levels within international school leagues across Singapore and the region (such as ACSIS and FOBISIA). We are also home to one of the top swimming teams in Singapore with learners representing national teams across the globe, as well as being the ACSIS High School Swim Champions for four years in a row. You can learn more about some of our other sporting achievements here.

Whether your child is taking their very first swim lesson in our Olympic-sized pool or competing in regional athletic championships, our dedicated coaching staff ensures every learner is empowered to reach their personal best.

5. What opportunities do your students have to perform in music or drama?

Our answer:

From Primary school through to Secondary, every learner gets regular opportunities to discover their creative voice, whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes. Throughout the academic year, learners can participate in full-scale musical productions, senior plays, choir ensembles, rock bands, and orchestra performances.

Performances take place in our purpose-built two-tiered auditorium or black box theatres, as well as at venues across Singapore including Singapore Botanic Gardens and CHIJMES. There are also opportunities through the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) to perform across the region at music competitions like Battle of the Bands.

We also have an extensive instrumental programme where learners can be taught by expert peripatetic teachers either 1:1 or in small groups and work towards Trinity ABRSM examinations. Learners at Nexus also have the opportunity to take part in LAMDA classes/examinations as part of our CCA programme.

6. What kinds of CCAs other than sports and music do you offer, and are they run internally by teachers or by external vendors?

Our answer:

We offer a rich Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) programme with over 100 different options ranging from STEM, coding and strategy games like Dungeons and Dragons and Shogi to public speaking, Model United Nations, visual arts, the school newspaper and eco-sustainability clubs. CCAs at Nexus start from Kindergarten and are available right through until Year 13.

Many of our CCAs are led and run by our own passionate staff, allowing learners to build deeper relationships with their teachers outside the traditional classroom setting. To complement our internal offerings, we also partner with trusted external specialist providers for niche activities like roller blading, robotics, dance, or competitive gymnastics.

By offering a rich balance of teacher-led and expert-led activities across distinct CCA seasons each year, we ensure our learners can pursue existing passions while discovering completely new interests.

7. How do you help new students and families settle in, especially if they join mid-year?

Our answer:

We know that moving schools—and often moving to a new country—can feel like a big transition, which is why our onboarding process starts long before a learner’s first day on campus.

Before you start, you’ll have an orientation session with our staff to set your whole family up for success. Following that, all new learners are paired with a dedicated “Buddy” in their homeroom or tutor group who helps them navigate the campus, introduces them to friends, and guides them through their daily routine. Our pastoral team, homeroom teachers/tutors, and counsellors keep a close eye on all new arrivals, checking in regularly during their first few weeks to ensure a smooth academic and social transition.

For parents, our active Nexus Community Group (NCG) hosts coffee mornings and evening meetups termly, as well as interest groups like walking, strength classes and mahjong on a weekly basis. Joining mid-year is very common across top international schools in Singapore, and our warm community is uniquely experienced at making new families feel right at home from day one.

8. If I could speak to a current parent with similar aged-children to mine, what do you think they would say?

Our answer:

They would likely highlight the genuine sense of warmth, openness, and community at Nexus. Parents frequently tell us that their children genuinely look forward to coming to school every morning—which is perhaps the best feedback we could ever ask for!

They would share how much they appreciate our innovative learning environments and how teachers tailor learning to individual needs rather than taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach. They would also mention our approachable, communicative teachers and the strong sense of collaboration between home and school.

Most of all, they would tell you that Nexus is a place where their children feel truly known, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. You can read more about what our families think on our website.

9. How many nationalities are typically in one class and what is the general makeup of your school community?

Our answer: 

We are proud to be a vibrant, global community representing over 60 different nationalities. In any given classroom, you will typically find learners from 8 to 12 different national backgrounds learning alongside one another.

To maintain a balanced, truly international perspective, we carefully manage our nationality mix so that no single culture dominates the school culture. This rich cultural diversity is woven directly into our curriculum, celebrating different viewpoints, global citizenship, and international mindedness every day.

For our families, this means your children are growing up with a global mindset, forming friendships with peers from all corners of the world right here in Singapore.

10. What are some of the things that the school is looking to continually improve?

Our answer: 

As a progressive international school in Singapore, we model the same lifelong growth mindset that we teach our learners. We are constantly reflecting on how we can enhance the educational experience at Nexus.

Like many schools, we continue to review how we can best support our learners and their families when it comes to technology. We are working closely with our Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship to ensure that our learners develop not just digital literacy but digital maturity, where learners understand when and why AI can be used effectively and ethically.

As our school grows, as do the needs of our learners which is why we’re also pleased to have refreshed our learning spaces. In the past year, we have updated some of the primary learning spaces with flexible sliding walls, as well as improvements to Early Years cafeteria spaces. In secondary school, we’ve also updated the IB common room so that it better suits the needs of our learners and their independent learning time. We’ve also converted bus bays into multi-sports areas with increased numbers of pickleball and basketball courts, as well as recreational space.

We always report updates like these to our Nexus community as well as take on feedback about where else we can continue to improve. In the works for this year is an exciting new playground space for our Year 1 & 2 learners.

Choosing the right international school is a significant milestone for any family, but asking targeted questions during your visit will give you clarity and confidence in your decision. By digging deeper into academic pathways, community culture, pastoral care, and co-curricular offerings, you will gain a genuine picture of how a school supports every child’s growth. Ultimately, finding the right fit comes down to choosing an environment where your child feels happy, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Experience the Nexus Advantage in Person

Selecting the right international school in Singapore is a major decision for your family, and nothing replaces experiencing a school’s culture firsthand.

If you are currently shortlisting schools or planning a visit, we would love to welcome you to our state-of-the-art campus in Aljunied. Book a personalised school tour or register for our next Open Day to meet our leadership team, see our learning spaces in action, and discover why families thrive at Nexus International School (Singapore).