Overseas Family School

Coordinates: 1°18.087′N 103°49.901′E / 1.30145°N 103.831683°E / 1.30145; 103.831683

Overseas Family School (OFS) is a privately owned Pre K-12 International school, providing education in the English language medium for overseas families living in Singapore. It started in 1991 with roughly 50 students^[3], today Overseas Family School has 3550 students from 74 nationalities^[2]. It is one of the largest international schools in Singapore.

OFS is the first, and one of at least two schools in Singapore, that is authorised by International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to offer a full International Baccalaureate education from age three to senior high school (Pre K-12).

OFS offers a Study Preparation Program (SPP) for students for whom English is a second or other language (ESOL). It helps students to quickly learn to read, write, listen to and speak English while also doing their usual school subjects. About 400 students are in SPP classes.

OFS faculty is a team of international teachers. Students study languages chosen from French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish or English.

OFS is accredited K-12 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, California, USA (WASC), authorised by IGCSE Cambridge as an Examination Centre and registered by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore

Academic Program

Kindergarten 

Students aged 3–5.

Elementary School 

From age six in Grades 1-5. Curriculum is the enquiry based Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning for all students.

Middle School 

Students in Grades 6-8. Curriculum is the integrated Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning for all students.

High School

• OFS High School Graduation Diploma - OFSD

  For the OFSD, students earn subject credits allocated by internal assessment for all work in four years of High School, backed by US Accreditation.

• Students may also sit external examinations:

  • Junior High (Grades 9-10) IB MYP and IGCSE 

    International Baccalaureate Middle Years Diploma and International General Certificate Secondary Education.

  • Senior High (Grades 11-12) IB Diploma : International Baccalaureate Diploma or Certificates.

    A rigorous, two year, integrated program of study.

    International Baccalaureate Diploma, a widely accepted qualification for entry to universities worldwide, with advanced placement for good subject scores.

Academic Facilities

The Overseas Family School campus is situated on 11 acres (45,000 m²), with ten buildings clustered around its sports facilities. ^[4]

The school has 117 classrooms, eight science labs, nine computer labs, five art studios, six music rooms, four basketball courts, a drama theater, and an auditorium. The five School libraries have a collection of more than 35,000 volumes controlled by the Winnebago computer software system. The libraries have a collection of Proquest Periodical Database facilities. All classrooms are equipped with an Apple iMac with e-mail and Internet facilities. All rooms are air-conditioned, carpeted, linked by a campuswide computer network, and equipped with audiovisual equipment and learning resources.

Athletics

The Overseas Family School provides a sports program and participates in interschool competition in badminton, cricket, netball, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and golf. These events take place at the School, or students travel by bus to other venues. The school has four shaded outdoor basketball courts, two indoor multipurpose gymnasiums, a playing field with soccer pitches, and tennis courts. A baby pool is provided for kindergarten and a 25-meter pool for the elementary students, and middle school students and high school students.

Extracurricular activities

A large number of extracurricular activities are offered during the school day as well as after school and on weekends. Students must choose one activity and may change their selection each quarter. Each member of the faculty is involved in at least one sport, cultural, special interest, or academic activity. Extracurricular activities include soccer, rugby, table tennis, aerobics, tae kwon do, karate, jewelry making, Ultimate Frisbee, cricket, Bishan Home, Chess Club, basketball, drama, choral music, calligraphy and crafts, Scouts, Guides, Student Voice (student representation and leadership)Brownies and community service.

Criticism

The Overseas Family School has been criticized by parents and teachers for the use of funds in the school^[5]. It seems that the school's funds are being hoarded by the directors, resulting in poor facilities and over-crowdedness.

The school also seems to be used as a waiting place by students applying for other schools in Singapore.

MUNOFS

After participating in Model United Nations Conferences around the world, the school had its own MUN Conference in 2009. The conference was held February 13-15, 2009 at the school. The conference had delegate numbers in the hundreds. Guest speaker was Mr.Dumas of the Canadian High Commission Singapore who gave the delegates a speech entitled "We Are All Diplomats". The participating schools came from around Singapore.

Some of the schools represented were Overseas Family School Middle and High school, Singapore American School, Canadian International School Singapore, Evergreen Secondary School, Ang Mo Kio Secondary School, Global Indian International School Singapore and Anderson Junior College.

Reference

1. ^ http://www.ofs.edu.sg/about-ofs/background/
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.ofs.edu.sg/about-ofs/campus/
3. ^ http://www.ofs.edu.sg/images/about-ofs/history-chart.jpg
4. ^ http://www.ofs.edu.sg/about-ofs/campus/facilities/
5. ^ http://sg.theasianparent.com/articles/ofs_singapore_review

External links

• School website