Parent Reviews
"A couple of years ago, we realised our boys (now 14 and 11 years old) would benefit from a more structured education system. So, we visited almost every school in the city, and when we met Mr Paul Friend, the founding principal at NLCS Singapore, we expected the meeting to be like the other school tours. But we were wrong.
Mr Friend has a clear vision of what the school stands for, and we appreciate that the school doesn't want to be everything for everyone. The NLCS ethos is unique and inspiring. While the school is very rigorous in academics, the focus is on creating a learning culture and fostering a growth mindset in the classroom. Good results are a natural outcome of this, and as parents, we witness this daily in our children.
Teachers are the foundation of a good school—and this is evident in NLCS, where the classrooms are welcoming and dynamic. Extra tuition has become the norm, but our children don't feel the need for it because they know they can go to their teachers for help at any time. From the homework assignments and school activities, we can see the effort and thought the teachers put in to prepare students for the IB diploma. Our boys hold themselves accountable for their learning and study for tests independently. Also, their time management skills have improved tremendously.
The school has very detailed curriculum guides, and the teachers communicate with parents regularly and with transparency. So now, we know exactly how our children are progressing. The McCabe lectures, house competitions, academic societies, various clubs and an impressive range of CCAs provide different and exciting learning experiences. The pastoral care is outstanding, and the tutors engage fully with their students. Our boys are thriving here. NLCS is everything that we have wanted in a school.
" - Seema and Sahir Malkani (Junior/Senior School parents)
"My own experience of being a student at North London Collegiate School UK had the most profound impact in shaping me as a person and a professional, and it can be captured through two words: purpose and creativity. Firstly, as a result of my educational experience, I am deeply purpose driven, as are many of my school friends. Secondly, creativity is incredibly important to me. There is no typical “NLCS” mould and subsequently there is wonderful diversity in the way that North Londoners live their purpose – from film, to physics, public service, medicine, media and tech. At school, we were encouraged to be creative and explore, which has led to many Old North Londoners achieving excellence in a variety of fields. Through my own experiences of being a student at NLCS UK, I observed the ethos of the school brought to life in three key ways:
Firstly, NLCS sets the bar high – excellence is table stakes. The philosophy was that whatever you do, do it to your best. Push yourself to your boundaries. This developed students with real grit. Secondly, we were surrounded by teachers who were passionate about their subject matter. Passion is infectious and encourages interest and inquiry. Coming from a very mathematical family, I always remember my French teacher, Mrs Renaudon Smith, whose passion led me to love language and literature in a way that I never knew I could. Thirdly, the school immersed students in a culture of inspiration between each other, among teachers, and in the stories shared. At NLCS, we were inspired to know and feel that we could do anything that we wanted – to live a life with no limits.
" – Aarti Thapar (Junior/Senior School parent and NLCS Alumna)
"We’ve lived in Singapore since 2014 and both our children were born here. What drew us to NLCS (Singapore) is its long-standing record of academic excellence combined with a modern approach to student development. We were looking for an all-around stimulating environment and are very happy with the curriculum as well as the broad range of extracurricular activities offered by the school.
Our daughter often comes home raving about the classes and projects she did in school. There never seems to be a dull moment. She’s a complete bookworm and loves to immerse herself in the school libraries. There were times when she would return home with books checked out from the senior library! We appreciate how she is always encouraged to go down different rabbit holes and really discover the joy of reading.
We have immense faith in the Principal, Mr Paul Friend, and his vision for the school in the years ahead. The philosophy of nurturing, inspiring and academically challenging students to reach their fullest potential is an admirable aspect of the school and resonates with our own aspirations for our children.
"- Anastasia Koltovich-Gao (Junior School Parent)