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Are high international school fees causing you stress? Here’s a list of affordable, low-cost school choices in Singapore.

EtonHouse Broadrick East Coast campus offering kindergarten, primary and secondary education (to year 9). The school offers the IB programmme for primary and secondary levels.

The holistic curriculum is aimed towards honing learners to be inquirers, risk-takers, thinkers, communicators, open-minded, knowledgeable, reflective, caring, principled and balanced individuals, who engage actively in the community as responsible citizens.

The school is relatively small with around 400+ students providing education for children from three years, currently up to age 13 and above can move to EtonHouse’s new Orchard campus.

The primary school consists of three classes in Early Years and Year 1, with two of Year 1 classes being English language based and one being bi-lingual English and Chinese. The trend toward both English languages only and bi-lingual continues in year 2 (3 and 2 classes respectively), year 3 (3 English language and 1 Bi-lingual), Year 4, (2 of each). Years 5 and 6 offer English language only.

There are teachers for the core subjects and also specialist teachers for STEM (Science, Technology, English and Maths), Music, Visual Arts, PE and Librarian. Staff are predominantly Canadian, British, and Australian with broad international experience. There is also a strong contingent of Chinese speakers. There is also a very strong contingent of Chinese speakers.

EH Broadrick places a particular emphasis on its second language programme which includes Chinese, Hindi and Japanese. Students each take language classes for 45 minutes, four times a week. The school has won the top prize at the Crestar Chinese competition for international school for two consecutive years – a testament to the strong Mandarin foundation it gives its students. All students work towards fluency in at least two Languages – English and one of Mandarin, Hindi or Japanese. Spanish is also offered. Students are supported by a Japanese and a Hindi teacher and 9 Mandarin teachers including a Mandarin Art teacher who is also a professional Chinese Dance teacher.

Coding and programming are a strong focus of their ICT programme with students learning about App development, animation and 3D gaming.

A diverse range of extra-curricular activities (ECAs) spanning a range of sporting, artistic, cultural and recreational activities, are open to students from K1.

EH Broadrick prides itself on being an inclusive family-oriented school with a strong bond to the Parent School Association. With over 50 different nationalities among teachers, students and parents, cultural festivals and celebrations are incorporated into lesson plans activities that involve the whole school.

Invictus International School is located in Dempsey Hill, offering classes for students in Grades 1-8. It is also located in Sentosa for Grades 1 and 2. Invictus is one of Singapore’s smallest schools, it is also one of the only few schools to offer the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Invictus offers a private education without the frills. The school believes that quality education is simple. A strong focus is placed on literacy and numeracy, science, geography, creative arts and IT. Students have three weekly Mandarin classes - and can sign up for advance Mandarin lessons held four days a week after school at an additional cost.

It focuses on concentrate learning within the classroom. The Dempsey campus is located next to a private swimming pool, dance and arts studios which is owned by Invictus and kids have swim lessons throughout the week and also dance and arts classes. There is outdoor space where forest school programs are conducted and learning inside the classroom is incorporated through the naturalness of the surroundings. On both campuses, all teachers are well trained and deliver a high-quality IPC curriculum. Teachers are from New Zealand, China, the US, UK, Australia and Canada.

Parents like this school because of its small and intimate environment for young learners and the excellent teacher to student ratio. Ample time is given to individual students who require help in any subject matter. Others view it as a ‘holding school’ while they wait to get a place at their preferred school.

After-school activities are limited to advanced Mandarin, coding, writer’s workshop, and swimming. Music and dram is outsourced by the school; students are walked to these classes close by the school and parents collect their children (there is no bus service for these activities).

Middleton International School is located in Upper Bukit Timah. The school offers the International Primary Curriculum and the Singapore Ministry of Education curriculum for Mathematics and Chinese. Their comprehensive curriculum, based on the English National Curriculum with references to the UK Key Stages 1 and 2, but adapted for International schools, with emphasis on inquiry-based approach to learning. The school offers a strong second language foundation in Chinese and English as foreign languages. However, the dual teacher arrangement operated in other EtonHouse schools (one English-speaking and one Chinese-speaking native per class), which enables EtonHouse to deliver a strong bilingual programme, is not evident at Middleton.

The Middleton curriculum incorporates integrated specialist programmes including performing arts, and PE along with co-curricular learning to cater to a wide range of interests, styles and talents. Technology is integrated into lessons across the curriculum, which provides opportunities for individual, small group and whole learning. The school offers a well-rounded education that balances a rigorous curriculum with after school activities that are challenging and enjoyable.

Grange Institute describes itself as a ‘small school with big aspirations’, The Grange delivers a broadly-British style of education for primary-age children. There is a strong creative focus in curriculum, and it offers a more relaxed alternative to the very rigorous academic nature of some international and local schools in Singapore. The school follows a January to December academic year, has a close-knit community, and all the characteristics of a village school.

The school’s international team of teachers, predominantly recruited from the UK and Australia, focuses on three learning frameworks. These include proficiency in the core subjects of English, maths and science; thematic, inquiry-based learning; and a creative approach to the visual arts music. Two standout features of the curriculum are the Creators in Residence, which focuses on creating works of art in the school’s art room and multi-purpose hall, and the Garden to Table project, which ‘teachers essential life skills in a fun engaging and hands-on-way.

This small campus may feel understated compared to some other larger international schools, but it feels cosy, welcoming and authentic. Also with its vegetable plots, butterfly garden and natural wildlife. This school can offer plenty of rich outdoor learning experiences.

The Perse School Singapore is a boutique international British school in Singapore delivering a strong primary education in a unique, nurturing environment, in a friendly, small school setting. The Perse, Singapore is owned by developer Chip Eng Seng, which also owns White Lodge Pre-schools in Singapore. The school is accredited by The Perse UK, which visits the campus twice a year.

This school appeals to families who are searching for a standalone primary school with a strong reputation in Cambridge Primary Education roots. They offer Singapore Mathematics and daily Mandarin classes, along with English, Science, Geography, History, Art, Music, PE, Global Perspectives and Digital Literacy. Included in the school fees is 16 swimming lessons every year along with field sports. While the school is not a high-tech campus, it does give dedicated time and resources to technology in education. Such as, 1:1 iPad programme, a coding programme and a focus on digital literacy. Apart from classroom learning, students are involved in a wide range of extra-curricular clubs. Many of these are operated off-campus – some of these include: football, cricket, netball, softball, gymnastics, and yoga. A strong feature of this school is the strong pastoral care programme run by the head of wellbeing.

Razum International School is a boutique international primary school in Singapore that provides education for children 5 to 12 years old (Years 1-7). Low teacher-student ratio (max.18 students per class) allows students to benefit from individual attention, and gives teachers the capacity to adjust curriculum to offer personalized education. Our curriculum is based on Singapore English, Singapore Math, and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). We deliver enquiry-based learning which promotes curiosity and engagement.

The main curriculum runs until 1pm, followed by optional extracurricular activities (ECAs) to 3pm. A 4-hour academic day means we can deliver core content without interruption and at a child's best learning time. Children can use ECAs to develop skills in art, music, dance, drama, sports and more.

Besides the spacious, naturally lit classrooms located on one floor. The cozy campus has a library, an arts and craft room, an outdoor playground and an indoor play space.

Global Indian International School (GIIS)

The school is renowned for its high academic standards and strong focus on educational excellence. The school has been honoured with prestigious international and national awards over a part of 6 years for achieving excellence in school education. GIIS was Singapore’s first international school for Indian expats. It has expanded from 1 campus to 3 campuses across Singapore.

It’s state-of-the art SMART Campus (Asia’s first SMART campus) offers an extensive curriculum that includes PYP, Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme, IBDP, Chinese-English Bilingual Programme – all of which are surrounded by Nextgen learning facilities (40 skill-based studios).

In line with the Indian curriculum, the GIIS school years runs from April to April and new students need to take an entrance exam from Grade 1. The education philosophy of all three GIIS schools, is the Nine Gems education methodology. This holistic learning programme the needs of individual learners and the changing needs of a growing child.

One World International School

The Nanyang campus of One World International School (OWIS) is one of the most affordable schools in Singapore. The ethos of the Nanyang campus: “Will be to deliver an excellent international education at a moderate fee”. The campus opened in January 2018 and offers the IB PYP, and for the secondary level, it offers IGCSEs and IBDP. OWIS is part of the Global Schools Foundation (GSF), a Singapore -based not for profit organization that has historically focused on schools and curricular targeting Indian families - similar branding and owners to GIIS. Students have access to specialist instruction in art, design technology, drama, and music. Students can also join one-to-one tuition in music from Grade 1. The OWIS model teaches about their immediate relationships with family and friends and their overall development, health, and intellectual development. The focus is on personal growth, social life and expanded horizons, so to ultimately improve career development prospects.