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Welcome Message from the CEO
This publication celebrates Tanglin Trust School's well-established history in Singapore. The school was founded by Anne Griffith-Jones OBE in 1925, in the grounds of The Tanglin Club, with just five students. Today, on its campus at Portsdown Road, Tanglin is at the forefront of British-based education, providing a unique learning environment to over 2,770 students from Nursery right through to Sixth Form. With over 90 years experience, Tanglin is proud of our history of excellence in education, which is exemplified in our motto ' Generations of Excellence'. Our shared history and heritage has come alive in this publication through the kind contributions of photos, publications, mementos and memories by our Alumni and Friends of Tanglin. A selection is included in this publication. Our Tanglin Alumni office would be delighted to receive additional contributions. A wider selection of heritage resources is available through the online archive. All former students and staff as well as our former parents (Friends of Tanglin) are encouraged to stay connected with Tanglin through our Alumni and Friends of Tanglin Community. The Alumni office strives to facilitate a lifelong mutually beneficial connection through a variety of programmes and events. Several programmes such as the Alumni Grant and Internship Programme are kindly sponsored by the TTS Foundation.
Staff Alumni Robin Stewart visits Tanglin. Mr Stewart taught at Tanglin Prep School in the 1970's.
Established in 2012, TTS Foundation helps to drive sustainability initiatives, encourages student leadership and service activities, gives access to inspirational visitors and significantly enhances our sports and arts programmes. Tanglin’s aspires to be the best school in the world, with a dynamic learning community which nurtures and inspires every individual to be the best they can be and contribute with confidence to our world. The school is committed to ensuring its continued relevance and sustainability so that it remains vital to Singapore and at the heart of the community it serves. Tanglin is proud to be part of the dynamic hub that is Singapore. Whilst the school’s academic traditions and approach to learning are firmly grounded in an enhanced and rigorous English National Curriculum, there are many aspects of school life that have a global focus which is contextualised to our location in Asia. The result is that our students not only achieve excellent results but they are open-minded and develop a natural ability to reflect on the international environment around them.
Tanglin Mission Statement Tanglin Trust School Singapore has a long tradition of providing Britishbased learning with an international perspective. At Tanglin we strive to make every individual feel valued, happy and successful. Responsibility, enthusiasm and participation are actively encouraged and integrity is prized. Working together in a safe, caring yet stimulating environment, we set high expectations whilst offering strong support, resulting in a community of lifelong learners who can contribute with confidence to our world.
Tanglin is a place where children can thrive, inspired by passionate teachers and supported by excellent pastoral care. We are immensely proud of all our students, their achievements and their positive approach to all aspects of school life. I hope you enjoy reading through the pages of this publication which gives a glimpse of our history, our community and the inspiration that is at the heart of our very special learning environment. Craig Considine Chief Executive Officer
Tanglin Alumni interns and volunteers - TTS Foundation Internship Programme August 2017.
Founded in 1925 by Anne Griffith-Jones, in the grounds of The Tanglin Club, to provide high quality British education to children of expatriate families.
Tanglin moves to existing campus at Portsdown Road in 1981.
Traditionally Tanglin was a primary school, however in 1996 we started to accept students in the new Senior School, starting with Years 7 and 8.
In 2001, with new and expanded facilities, we welcomed the first cohort of Sixth Form students. They graduated in 2003 with flying colours.
Introduction of the International Baccalaureate, alongside A Levels, creating a dual pathway for students.
Tanglin is inspected every year within the British Schools Overseas (BSO) framework, recognised by Ofsted. All three schools awarded ‘Outstanding’, the highest possible grade.
Miss Griffith-Jones (Miss Griff) 1890-1973 was awarded the MBE. She arrived in Singapore in 1923 and turned her hand to teaching and, although not having any formal qualifications, in 1925 founded Tanglin School in two huts in the grounds of The Tanglin Club with just five pupils. Many children in those days were sent away to boarding school in England at an early age and Miss Griff saw the gap in the market to provide a British-style education in Singapore so that parents could postpone boarding school (and the inevitable long sea trip and separation) until an older age. The school flourished and was soon spilling out from the huts. Assembly was held in the ballroom and The Tanglin Club even offered the use of the Men’s Bar for the school.
How many Tanglin parents, staff and students have trooped into the GriffithJones (GJ) Hall in the Junior School for gymnastics without realising who it was named after? Like many of us, Anne Laugharne Phillips Griffith-Jones hit the shores of Singapore thinking she would only be here for a short time – in her case, a 3 month holiday with her brother, O P Griffith-Jones. In fact she ended her days in Malaysia at the age of 83 having dedicated half a century to the education of expatriate children in the Malay Peninsular. Miss Griff (as she was affectionately known) was born in 1890 into a distinguished Welsh family. She had been a welfare officer at a munitions factory in Wales during World War I for which she
In 1934 Miss Griff decided to open a boarding offshoot of Tanglin School in the Cameron Highlands. It was thought that the cooler climate offered a healthier lifestyle for growing children and – although the pupils would inevitably board – the journey from Singapore and parts of Malaya was negligible in comparison with the passage back to Europe. European children could now stay in Singapore at Tanglin School until the age of eight and then attend the Cameron Highlands Boarding School (CHS) until they were 12 or 13. A newspaper report from 1939 quotes Miss Griff’s satisfaction with her students’ achievements, “they are mentally very alert and compare favourably with any children at Home Schools, and they have taken their places satisfactorily when they go to England.” The 1940’s were a troubled time for the school in the Cameron Highlands and an outbreak of polio in 1941 meant
closure and relocation for the students and staff. This was swiftly followed by the Japanese Occupation of Malaya and Singapore which was a further blow to both schools’ fortunes. Some families made their escape, while other civilians, including Miss Griff, were interned by the Japanese. Needless to say Miss Griff rose to the challenge of internment at Changi and Sime Road Camp and set about establishing a school in the prison.
Meanwhile Tanglin School in Singapore had gone from strength to strength. It was occupying two buildings: one in Holland Road and one in Orange Grove Road with a combined student roll of approximately 300 pupils. Miss Griff was awarded an OBE for her services to education and in 1962 the Sultan of Pahang bestowed on her the PJK (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian) for meritorious service to education.
Post-war, Tanglin School continued to flourish and was soon the biggest and most exclusive privately-run school in Singapore. Meanwhile the Cameron Highlands School reopened in 1946 and continued to operate until 1950 when the realities of operating a school during the Malay Emergency, necessitated armed escorts for the students at the start and end of school terms. In 1950 the Cameron Highlands Boarding School was eventually forced to close by the Federal Government for security reasons. Miss Griff sold most of the land and school buildings to the British Army.
On 1 May 1958, Miss Griff sold the private company Tanglin School Ltd, to the British European Association (now the British Association of Singapore) for $20,000 and retired to her beloved Cameron Highlands. According to visitors: “Her humble cottage was a little bit of England tucked away in the hills of Malaya” and “tea was always served in the best British tradition with a silver service and immaculate linen.” Miss Griff died at Ipoh hospital in 1973, fifty years after her arrival in Singapore. She is buried at Tapah in the foothills of the Cameron Highlands. Miss Griff's retirement
Tanglin School at Holland Road Cameron Highlands School
Tanglin Prep School
Historical photography sourced from school archives.
A Story of Three Schools
Raeburn Park School
Tanglin Prep School
Singapore’s rising prominence in the world increased the number of expatriates employed in the crown colony. In 1954 Raeburn Park School was established by a group of Harbour Board Officials who were concerned about the shortage of educational facilities for non-service expatriate children. Within 18 months the initial intake of 29 students had grown dramatically to a full-capacity school roll of 210 students. The management of the school was transferred to the British European Association (BEA) in 1960. The BEA also managed Tanglin Preparatory School and decided to convert this school into a non-profit educational Trust, Tanglin Trust Ltd. The newly appointed Board of Governors made a bold move and signed a twenty year lease on an imposing black & white building named ‘Matheran’ on the corner of Tanglin and Jervois Roads. In present day Singapore the Brunei High Commission is located on the school’s former site. On 12 September 1961, Tanglin Preparatory School (TPS) opened with Kathleen Crowe as its Headmistress. The Junior students attended lessons in the main building and a range of purposebuilt classrooms were constructed for the kindergarten children. Memories from former students and teachers reflect carefree days, mentioning afternoon naps from the tropical heat on camp beds and sports days which
incorporated not very politically correct (but very popular) events such as the bunny girls race! “We had to bring a wicker suitcase – about 12 x 8 inches to school. This was my pride and joy! It contained a little towel with my name embroidered on it ‘Jane Willis’, a container of Johnson’s Baby Powder and a thermos bottle of Ribena. After recess all of us in Kindergarten stood in a large circle, toweling off each other’s backs and of course shaking baby powder everywhere!” (Jane Burke – nee Willis) Following Singapore’s independence in 1965, the Harbour Board was replaced by The Port of Singapore Authority, which informed Raeburn Park School that their lease would not be renewed after 1972. The school moved to Alexandra Park into the vacated Royal Army Ordnance Corps Mess and the
Weyhill Prep School adjoining cell block (from which the bars were removed!). Demand for school places exceeded all expectations and in 1971 Tanglin Trust Ltd opened a second school, Weyhill Preparatory School, simply to absorb the numbers on the waiting list. In 1974 Raeburn Park School became the third school under the management of Tanglin Trust Ltd. In 1976 with the final withdrawal of British troops, the school moved to Portsdown Road opposite Weyhill Preparatory School. Raeburn and Weyhill operated separately but shared the playing field between them. When the lease expired on ‘Matheran’ in 1981, the three schools merged to form an Infant and Junior School on the current Tanglin Trust School site at Portsdown Road.
Coming Together to the Present Day In 1981 Tanglin Infant and Tanglin Junior Schools were established following the amalgamation of Weyhill Preparatory School, Raeburn Park School and Tanglin Preparatory School. The schools had a combined school roll of 1,200 students. The school colours were red and grey which were incorporated into the school uniforms. The Infant School was established in the premises vacated by the Weyhill Preparatory School and Raeburn Park School. The buildings were separated by a playing field and renamed ‘North Wing’ (the present Infant School building location) and ‘South Wing’ (the present Senior School building location). The classrooms featured air vents and ceiling fans to encourage air circulation, but no air-conditioning. The Junior School was established in brand new premises with air-conditioned class rooms, a wonderful luxury at that time! Each child entering the school was placed in one of four new houses with Malay animal names: Elang (eagle), Harimau (Tiger), Beruang (Bear) or Singa (Lion). These school house names are still used in the present day Junior School.
Winchester School In 1987 both the Infant and Junior Schools were put under the direction of one Headmistress, Mrs Veronica Goodban, who was previously the Headmistress of Weyhill Prep and Tanglin Junior Schools. In 1994 Mrs Goodban retired after 27 years’ service. Following the introduction of Mr Ronald Stones as the new Headmaster in 1994, the schools were renamed Tanglin Trust School Ltd in 1996. Meanwhile, Winchester School, the Nursery managed by Tanglin Trust Ltd, opened in 1976 in the idyllic setting of Alexandra Park. Raeburn Park School
had occupied the building from 1972 to 1976 before moving to Portsdown Road. For twenty years, until its closure in 1996, Winchester School gave the children who rolled up at its magnificent doorstep each morning, a wonderful introduction to the concept of school, in a beautiful setting. The prospectus described the school as ‘a bridge between home and the bigger school, providing a setting for the first explorations of the young members of the family outside the family circle.’ The opening of Tanglin Trust School in 1996 followed the amalgamation of Winchester School, Tanglin Infant School and Tanglin Junior School. A new uniform was introduced in support of the rebranding of the school and the same design is still in use today. The new air-conditioned Infant block, including a dedicated Nursery unit, was opened on the site of the demolished North Wing in 1996. The school was immediately oversubscribed and long waiting lists were common place at Tanglin and other international schools in Singapore. Hence the Tanglin Board of Governors decided there was a case for extending the school’s age range to Year 8. The
offered. The new sports complex along Jalan Hang Jebat, a short distance from the school, provided much needed additional sporting facilities. Furthermore, in 2010, the new Sixth Form centre, incorporating a state of the art Senior School library, was opened by the Duke of York. In 2009 the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma was introduced into the Sixth Form alongside the existing Advanced Level (A Level) qualification enabling students to choose the academic pathway which best matches their individual strengths and interests. Chinese language provision was also extended across all three schools.
Tanglin Senior School was well received by students and parents alike, and the Board agreed to extend the age range to Year 11, enabling students to stay on at Tanglin to take GCSE’s. To accommodate the expansion, the South Wing was demolished and a new Senior building, along with a swimming pool, opened in 1999. Initially the Senior School used the same house names as the Juniors, but in 2001 four Senior houses were created. Alexandra, Cameron, Raeburn and Wessex, all reflecting key locations in the school’s history. In 2000 Tanglin celebrated its 75th Anniversary and entered the new millennium with a fresh mandate: to open a Sixth Form and provide education for students from age 3 to 18. And so, in 2001, alongside the construction of the new Junior School building to replace the one which had been purpose-built 20 years previously, a Sixth Form Centre (the present Senior School office block) was built. In 2003 the first group of Tanglin students took their A Level examinations with three students having been at Tanglin for fifteen years since Nursery. In 2004 the Headmaster Ronald Stones was awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to education. He retired in 2006 after 12 years of service.
Completed in 2007, the Berrick Building, a six story Sports and Performing Arts Complex was a significant addition to Tanglin’s facilities. It is named after Sandra Berrick, a long serving Chair of the Board of Governors. Following the appointment of Steven Andrews as the new CEO, Tanglin Trust School continued to grow rapidly with over 950 Senior School students by 2009: an increase of 600 in just five years. Tanglin recognised the need to keep pace and expand both in terms of the facilities and academic options
At the start of the 2010-11 academic year, Peter Derby-Crook took over the reigns as CEO. In the same year ‘Our World’ was introduced as the overarching term to describe the vast range of activities undertaken in and out of school to foster the fundamental life skill of caring for the world and all those in it. To enable the children to develop this life skill, the key skills and aptitudes underpinning the Learner Profile attributes were identified and mapped from the day a child enters Nursery through to Graduation. Today all 2,770 students enrolled at Tanglin are actively encouraged, and provided opportunities, to develop the Learner Profile attributes: Balanced, Caring, Risktakers, Knowledgeable, Communicators, Resilient Inquirers, Principled, Openminded, Thinkers and Reflective.
Sport at Tanglin Tanglin School was fortunate to be founded within the grounds of The Tanglin Club, hence from the start aquatics and physical education were an important part of a balanced curriculum: a healthy mind in a healthy body. One of the key objectives when setting up the school in the Cameron Highlands was to provide a refreshing, healthy, natural setting for students with regular jungle walks, riding lessons and PE sessions.
“We used to go for walks every day in a crocodile line around the course and down the jungle paths which were very beautiful.” John Warden – CHS Alumni
Post-war, Tanglin, Raeburn Park, Weyhill Prep and other schools competed against one another in local sports festivals and students in each school competed in annual sports days. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Tanglin children competed against each other within fiercely contested house sports competitions.
“I used to have riding lessons in a clearing in the jungle; we went down a path with long steps, past trees festooned with orchids and Venus fly traps; there were many different brightly coloured butterflies.” Ray Soper – CHS Alumni
Tanglin was a founding member of FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) – previously known as FOBISSEA (Federation of British International Schools in South East Asia). Informal links between interested schools were established in 1984 and were formalised in 1988. In addition to FOBISIA, Tanglin now has a sustained commitment to ACSIS (The Athletics Conference Singapore International Schools) and SEASAC (South East Asia Student Activity Conference). These sporting events promote healthy competition, pursuit of excellence, social and cultural interaction and the development of friendships within the region.
Today, sport is still an integral part of the Tanglin curriculum. The Early Years curriculum aims to build confidence and motor skills through programmes such as the TTS Foundation Nursery Blazing Balance Bikes and Swim & Survive. Junior and Senior students compete in their house teams and against other schools in Singapore and overseas. Additionally our 'Sports for All' philosophy ensures well-developed training programmes are in place and offers students the opportunity to compete in inter-school events. Tanglin students are also offered a large number of sports and activities through our co-curricular activity (CCA) and sports and recreation club (SRC) programmes.
The Arts at Tanglin The creative arts have always played a key role at Tanglin. Miss Griff’s first formal hire in 1925 was a teacher who could play the piano. The children learnt a large number of hymns through which they practised their penmanship and their singing. School Christmas plays and recitals were part of Tanglin life and expatriate life in Singapore, much as they are today. A highlight in 1937 was the chance to perform on the BBC radio which was broadcast all the way back home! “All school assemblies started with ‘All things bright and beautiful’ and we had to get into a long line and hold our elbows on our hips and keep our shoulders well back, then walk into the main hall. Miss Griff was most particular about the elbows.” Hazel Booker – Tanglin School Alumni Post World War II, practising creative arts at the newly re-opened Tanglin School was challenging due to the shortage of supplies and sadly only charcoal was available for sketching. Tanglin’s first ever AS Level Art student was Beth Stead in 2002. Her original art work had to be sent to London for external moderation, the work was then digitally produced and displayed on a computer which was quite a breakthrough in those days! In 2009 an enthusiastic group of students and staff participated in the Singapore Chingay Parade. The costumes and the massive float were all designed and created by the students, supported by the wonderful Art department staff. Today Tanglin has a thriving, vibrant and energetic arts programme which
is a vital part of the school curriculum and plays an important part in wider school life. From Nursery to Sixth Form, there are many opportunities for students to experience music, theatre, dance and art to facilitate creative, social and intellectual development. Throughout the year, across all three schools, there are a range of ensembles, recitals, performances and exhibitions. Tanglin also hosts and participates in many national, regional and international festivals and conferences. Our students are inspired by specialist teachers and, very often, each other. We also invite a variety of Arts practitioners to the school on a regular basis to perform, and to work with the students and inspire the community. In 2017 Tanglin added Design and Technology to the curriculum. The well-resourced Design and Technology suite is located on the ground floor of the Senior School on the site of the former Senior Canteen (where where the 'prata man' used to be and right next to the former 'snake alley'!).
Art is a popular choice for GCSE and A Level and several students each year move onto prestigious Art Colleges around the world.
TANGLIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL SINGAPORE.
Academics at Tanglin From its humble beginnings in an attap hut at The Tanglin Club, academic standards have been an underpinning principle at Tanglin Schools. Obtaining places at prestigious boarding schools in the UK or Australia and the satisfactory transition into education ‘back home’ were key drivers to ensure Tanglin’s expatriate children received a firstrate education. Academic achievement prizes were first awarded back in 1928. Today achievement awards are presented at year group assemblies for academics as well as achievements in sports, the Arts and endeavours beyond the class room. Tanglin welcomes the opportunity for external benchmarking and has always been subject to external inspection. In 1929 the Inspector of Schools in Singapore wrote to the UK government to confirm there was now a viable preparatory school in Singapore to which European children could be sent. He commented: “It promises to be of better standing than usual and should in time compare favourably with schools of a similar type in England.” When the inspectors visited the newly created Tanglin Infant and Junior Schools in 1984, student Andrew Marshall commented: “When they came into my classroom I bit my lip because I thought they were here to see how fast we all could write. They were really here to make notes and compare our school to schools in England.” Today Tanglin continues to be a vibrant co-educational school, now hosting over 2,770 students from 3 to 18
years, representing over 60 different nationalities. Assessed annually within the BSO (British Schools Overseas) framework, recognised by Ofsted, all three schools have been awarded Outstanding, the highest possible grade. Tanglin is unique amongst international schools in Singapore in offering both A Levels and the International Baccalaureate in Sixth Form, both of which yield consistently outstanding academic results to complement the excellent results at I/GCSE. High academic standards continue to be a key driving force of the school, however, equally important, is developing in students the skills to be
life-long learners, to make a meaningful contribution to the community and to lead rewarding and happy lives. This foundation is set by the Infant School and carried through to Sixth Form. When Miss Griff first opened Tanglin School in 1925 with just five students, her aims were simple: to provide organised British-based primary school teaching for the growing number of expatriate children in Singapore. Over the years the school has expanded to increase its numbers and provision, however, Miss Griff’s vision and her legacy continue in the Tanglin Trust School of today.
"A rich and diverse curriculum provides outstanding learning across the school. Leaders are relentless in their ambition to offer pupils not only breadth but also depth in their learning. The curriculum achieves its aim convincingly in equipping young 21st century learners with the relevant skills and knowledge to help them move forward into the unknown and to inspire and excite…" British Schools Overseas Inspection 2018, awarded Outstanding to the Infant School.
Outdoor Education at Tanglin Tanglin has a long history of providing educational opportunities outside the classroom. Even in the early years the benefit of outdoor education for children chartered the course of the school’s history. In 1934 Miss Griff acquired land in the Cameron Highlands to create a daughter school to Tanglin School in Singapore, aimed at teaching older children in a healthy outdoors environment. Overseas trips aimed at expanding the children’s understanding of the ‘natural world’ started at Tanglin Preparatory School in the mid-seventies. In those days children would travel to Taman Negara in Malaysia by train or to Brunei by ship. The first Malacca trip took place in 1979, which makes this the 36th year Tanglin students explore Malacca as part of their Year 5 curriculum. Today, Tanglin’s Outdoor Education programmes are designed to develop the whole person, promoting a holistic approach to learning and decisionmaking, whilst allowing time for reflection on how choices and values influence others and the environment. Balanced, relevant and thoughtprovoking, programmes vary in focus and length, increasing in the level of challenge as students move through the school. In the Infant School students are introduced to the world around them through a variety of imaginative and exciting opportunities outside of the class room with day trips such as Labrador Park and Bollywood Veggies. In the Junior school programmes to Pulau Ubin, Malacca and Sarawak enrich the curriculum by allowing students to use skills learned inside the classroom in a different environment whilst also increasing cultural awareness. Senior year group programmes range from exciting adventure programmes in Gopeng or India to optional discovery programmes such as skiing,
an adventure week in Western Australia, studying art in Bali, and even a chance to travel to Northern India to work in unison with Medical teams from Singapore to offer care and support to the Ladakh community. All programmes aim to give students a sense of independence, resilience and responsibility and are a key part of the school’s focus on developing local, regional and global perspectives in the curriculum as well as being closely linked with the Tanglin Learner Profile. In 2015 an exciting outdoor education initiative involved a heritage trek to the Cameron Highlands. The expedition went to the site of the old school in Malaysia’s central highlands. They also visited the Christian cemetery in Tapah and paid their respects at Miss Griff’s final resting place. “Jungle walks and riding lessons used to be a regular feature of school life. We had riding lessons in a clearing in the jungle. The school maintained its own riding stables down the steps below the main school building.” John Warden – CHS 1939-1941
Facilities at Tanglin
Following 92 years of expansion, relocation, amalgamation and construction, Tanglin’s most recent addition to its campus was the seven storey Nixon Building, which was completed in August 2016. Our campus is set on five hectares in One-North, an attractive setting to the west of the city, offering excellent access from most areas in Singapore.thop. Tanglin’s facilities have transformed over the years, ever since its arrival at Portsdown Road in 1971. New buildings and latest technologies have been introduced to support both the growing student body and latest learning styles. Today, Tanglin’s Infant and Junior Schools incorporate architect-designed classrooms set around bright and colourful common areas to promote a sense of community. Throughout the three schools, the buildings feature large multi-purpose assembly and sporting halls, music rooms, indoor facilities for orchestras and choirs, drama studios, science laboratories as well as specialised learning suites for the study of ICT, Film & Media Studies and Design and Technology. Tanglin also has four well-resourced libraries on campus. Sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, large outdoor playgrounds, full size rugby and football pitches, two climbing walls, long/triple jump pits, netball, badminton and volleyball courts, and a fitness centre.
Caring for the Community Tanglin’s community has always been one of the key pillars underpinning the school. The Tanglin Club hosted the school in the early days, and Tanglin families generously opened their homes to accommodate evacuated school children leading up to the fall of Singapore (World War II). The British Government at the Istana hosted the Cameron Highlands School when it closed due to a polio epidemic and Raeburn Park parents showed resilience when fighting to keep their school open in the seventies. Unwavering support was also given by parents during the SARS epidemic in 2003 and today the PTA continues to be an invaluable link between school, parents and the community. Tanglin’s community has always been, and continues to be, its greatest strength. Giving back to the community and developing community spirit in students has been part of the school’s DNA since the 1920’s when children initiated fundraising for the ‘Waifs and Strays Society’. Over the years many Tanglin, Weyhill and Raeburn children have danced, performed, run, cycled and baked to raise funds for diverse charities in Singapore. In 2005 the entire community embarked on a huge fundraising and outreach project to support schools in Aceh, Indonesia following the Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. Today, Tanglin students understand the importance of social responsibility and caring for the community through local, regional and global perspectives in the curriculum, environmental awareness, cultural visits, overseas trips, fundraising, service projects and the students’ own personal development. Such activities build on the school’s mission statement and in particular its closing phrase, “to produce a community of lifelong learners who can contribute with confidence to our world.”
Tanglin’s Learner Profile attributes, which are firmly embedded in learning and behaviour across all three schools, encourage students, staff and parents to be principled, with a strong sense of social justice and respect for others, to be committed to service and to care about the community and want to make a positive difference to those around them. Through Ch@t (Charities @ Tanglin), all students are encouraged to look beyond their normal sphere of experience and to take an active and meaningful role in supporting charitable organisations and causes in Singapore and globally. Tanglin’s outdoor education programme is designed to develop the whole person, to help bring a subject to life and to provide an opportunity for students to reflect on the world around them. From as early as the Infant School, children develop relationships with local schools in the community, inviting chidren from Chen Su Lan Children’s Home, Jamiyah Kindergarten and Yuhua Primary School to assemblies and concerts. Whilst in the Sixth Form, the service strand of CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) provides opportunities for students to engage with the local
community, including working with Genesis School for Special Education in Singapore and ‘Beyond Social Services’, an initiative which supports local school children in an HDB estate in Tiong Bahru. Tanglin also actively encourages teachers to support and engage with projects beyond school such as ‘Caring for Cambodia’ (CFC). The CFC project is ongoing with continuous support and commitment to the development of teacher training in the area. A good school teaches students to survive and thrive in our ever changing world, but a great school also inspires students to make a difference in the community and our world.
Introducing the TTS Foundation The TTS Foundation was established in 2012 to fund exceptional opportunities and provide members of the Tanglin community with life-changing experiences that support the school’s mission. TTS Foundation helps our community to engage with global issues, supports sustainability initiatives, encourages student leadership and service activities, gives access to inspirational visitors and significantly enhances our sports and arts programmes.
Additionally the TTS Foundation funds initiatives that support the sustainability agenda at Tanglin. For example introducing Entrak software to measure energy use across the different school buildings. Student groups use this to see the impact of energy saving projects. Participation in the arts and sportort Funded programmes aim to broaden the experience of Tanglin students beyond the curriculum. Music Awards are available in the Junior School to encourage students who have shown potential in music lessons to develop their talent further. Whereas Representative Awards are available for those representing the school at overseas sports events, festivals and competitions. The TTS Foundation also supports a wide range of performing arts, creative arts and music events. Development of life skills The Deirdre Lew Service Award is available to encourage Senior School students to learn more about the world they live in, make a positive contribution and exercise responsible citizenship. Meanwhile, former students are eligible to apply for an Alumni Grant. It is intended to give support and encouragement to graduating students to expand their horizons. Whereas our Infant and Junior students learn essential life skills through 'Swim and Survive' and 'Pedal Power', our cycling programme.
Foundation funded projects are enrichment activities or events championed by Tanglin students, staff, parents or Alumni. For example, two Team GB swimmers were at Tanglin for a week to motivate the TTS Merlion swim squads, work with our youngest learner swimmers in the pool and to inspire our Junior and Senior School students with their tough personal journeys to Olympic Games representation.
Engagement with global issues ty Tanglin students have a unique opportunity to benefit from the geographical proximity of cultural and socially diverse communities on their door step. Tanglin endeavours to build sustainable relationships with organisations across the region for the mutual benefit of both communities. For example Tanglin staff are offered grants to provide teacher training in Siem Reap on behalf of Caring for Cambodia.
Inspirational visitors and groups Authors, artists, explorers and experts from diverse fields share their insights and enthusiasm with Tanglin's next generation.
The inside cover and mural designs throughout the brochure are from a collaboration between students and visiting author and illustrator James Mayhew – supported by TTS Foundation.
Tanglin Trust School 95 Portsdown Road, Singapore 139299 t: +65 6778 0771 f: +65 6777 5862 www.tts.edu.sg Tanglin Trust School 196100114C Reg Period: 7/6/2017 - 6/6/2023