Singapore National Academy

Academic Culture: Rigour Through a Dual-Curriculum Approach

The Singapore–Cambridge Blend

At its core, SNA's academic programme draws from two internationally respected educational traditions. The school is both a Cambridge International School and a Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) partner school, giving students access to globally portable qualifications while benefiting from Singapore's rigorous pedagogical methods.

In the primary years, the curriculum follows Singapore's structured approach to Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Studies. Students also study Mandarin Chinese as a second language and Bahasa Indonesia as a third language — reflecting the school's multicultural context in East Java.

Secondary Pathway: IGCSE and AS-Level

In secondary school (approximately Years 7–11), students sit Cambridge IGCSE examinations across a broad range of subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Media Studies. Senior students (Years 12–13 equivalent) progress to Cambridge AS-Level, with subjects including Information Technology and Media Studies among those available.

This Cambridge pathway ensures that SNA graduates hold qualifications recognised by universities worldwide, giving them flexibility in pursuing higher education in Singapore, the UK, Australia, the US, and beyond.

National Academic Recognition

SNA's academic programme gained national prominence in 2025 when a student achieved Top in Indonesia at the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards for AS-Level Information Technology. Another student received a High Achievement Award in AS-Level Media Studies. These results place SNA among the strongest Cambridge schools in Indonesia.

The school has also produced students successful in the iPSLE (international Primary School Leaving Examination), with two students securing scholarship offers in 2025 — a testament to the strength of the primary curriculum.

Assessment and Learning Environment

Classrooms are air-conditioned and equipped with IT infrastructure. The school maintains a wet laboratory for science experiments, a dedicated IT laboratory, and a lecture hall for senior academic programmes. Maximum class sizes of 25 students in primary and secondary ensure individual attention remains feasible.

Language Across the Curriculum

With English as the medium of instruction and Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia as compulsory subjects, SNA students develop genuine multilingual competence. Optional languages including Japanese, French, Spanish, German, and Hindi further extend linguistic opportunities for motivated learners.

Philosophy: More Than Academic Achievement

Singapore National Academy (SNA) was founded on the conviction that education extends far beyond reading and writing. The school's official philosophy states: "Education is more than just learning how to read and write… It also helps us become better versions of ourselves. And it broadens our perspectives…"

This belief underpins everything from classroom instruction to extracurricular programming. SNA's mission — "Nurturing our Young into Good Sons and Daughters, Lifelong Learners and Active Citizens, Grounded in Values" — reflects a commitment to producing graduates who are not merely academically capable but morally grounded and civically engaged.

Values at the Core

The school operates around six core values captured in the acronym PIAGET: Passion, Integrity, Adaptability, Grace, Excellence, and Teamwork. These values are embedded across the school's culture, from daily interactions to co-curricular programmes and assessments.

Holistic and Experiential Learning

SNA actively integrates technology into its curriculum from the earliest years, encouraging students to engage with digital tools as a natural extension of learning. Beyond the classroom, the school emphasises project-based and activity-based learning approaches that mirror real-world challenges. This includes development camps, experiential journeys, and outdoor learning opportunities that build resilience and adaptability.

A 'Second Home' Culture

Founders envisioned SNA as more than an institution — a second home where parents, teachers, and students form a genuine partnership in learning. This community-centred ethos is reflected in the school's pastoral approach, small class sizes (maximum 25 students per class in primary and secondary), and emphasis on personal relationships between educators and families.

Global Citizenship

Through the multilingual curriculum (English, Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, with additional foreign language options), students are prepared for a globalised world. The school's vision — "Creating A Better World Through Education" — signals an outward-looking aspiration: graduates should not only succeed personally but contribute positively to society at large.

History: Building an International School Community in East Java

Origins (2004)

Singapore National Academy was established in 2004 as part of the Singapore Piaget Academy Foundation, a private educational group operating in East Java, Indonesia. The school was created to address a gap in quality international education for both expatriate families and aspirational Indonesian families in the Surabaya metropolitan area.

From its founding, SNA offered education from Pre-K (age 2) through to Grade 12 (age 18), making it one of the few full K–12 international institutions in the region at that time. The choice to align with Singapore's curriculum was deliberate — Singapore's education system was internationally regarded for its rigour in mathematics, science, and languages, and the school sought to provide that same standard in Indonesia.

Growth and Expansion

Over the following two decades, SNA expanded its campus footprint within the Surabaya/Sidoarjo corridor, with campuses in Waru and Darmo. This geographic expansion allowed the school to serve a broader catchment area in East Java's most populous urban region.

The school also deepened its curriculum offering over time, adding Cambridge International qualifications (IGCSE and AS-Level) alongside the Singaporean curriculum framework. This dual-track approach allows students to pursue internationally recognised qualifications while benefiting from the structured methodology of Singapore's education system.

Recent Recognition

In 2025, SNA achieved national recognition when a student won the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Award for Top in Indonesia in AS-Level Information Technology — a significant milestone that underscores the school's growing academic strength. Additionally, two SNA students secured iPSLE scholarship offers in 2025, demonstrating the school's strong alignment with Singaporean academic benchmarks.

Today

After more than 20 years, SNA continues to operate as a private international school under the PIAGET group, serving students aged 2–18 with a blend of Singaporean rigour and holistic development principles.

Community: Where Families, Teachers, and Students Partner in Learning

A Mixed International Community

Singapore National Academy serves a diverse student population drawn from both the local Indonesian community and expatriate families based in the Surabaya and Sidoarjo areas of East Java. Unlike some international schools that cater primarily to one demographic, SNA has historically welcomed both groups, creating a genuinely multicultural campus environment.

This diversity is reflected in the school's trilingual curriculum: English instruction is complemented by compulsory Mandarin (reflecting Singapore's linguistic heritage and the local Chinese-Indonesian community) and Bahasa Indonesia (for integration with the national context). Students can also elect additional languages — Japanese, French, Spanish, German, or Hindi — further enriching the cultural and linguistic tapestry of the school.

The 'Second Home' Philosophy

A distinctive feature of SNA's community culture is its explicit positioning as a second home. The school's founders and current leadership emphasise that SNA is not merely a place of learning but a nurturing environment where students feel safe, valued, and known as individuals. This philosophy is operationalised through:

• Small class sizes — maximum 25 students per class — ensuring teachers can build meaningful relationships with each learner
• Direct involvement of the Vice Principal, teachers, and counsellors in the admissions process for younger students (ELC to Year 1), signalling that pastoral care begins before a child even formally enrols
• Co-curricular activities spanning sports, arts, STEM, and service, providing students with multiple avenues for belonging and achievement beyond academics

Parental Partnership

SNA actively involves parents in the school community. The admissions process itself encourages campus visits and trial classes before enrolment decisions are made, allowing families to experience the school culture first-hand. This collaborative approach to school-family relations is consistent with the Singaporean education tradition, where parental engagement is viewed as essential to student success.

A Welcoming Entry Point

For families new to Surabaya — whether Indonesian or expatriate — SNA's Enrolment Team provides personalised guidance through the admissions process, including grade placement assessments and campus tours. The presence of a dedicated Head of Admissions (Ms. Fenny Kodradjaja) and a named Principal (Mr. Peter G. Araman) suggests a school community where leadership is visible and accessible.

Unique Features: What Sets SNA Apart

National Cambridge Excellence

In 2025, SNA became the Top in Indonesia school for AS-Level Information Technology at the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards — a significant distinction that places the school among Indonesia's elite Cambridge institutions. This is not an isolated achievement; the school also produced a High Achievement Award winner in AS-Level Media Studies in the same year, and iPSLE scholarship recipients in the primary section.

For a school based in Sidoarjo/Surabaya rather than Jakarta, these results are particularly noteworthy and suggest strong teaching quality in technology and humanities subjects.

An Unusually Diverse Extracurricular Offer

SNA's extracurricular programme is broader than might be expected for a school of its size. Alongside conventional offerings such as basketball, badminton, dance, and art, the school offers:

• Scuba Diving Club — a genuine rarity in K–12 international schooling, offering students certified underwater diving experience
• CrossFit and TRX — contemporary fitness disciplines that reflect the school's investment in student health and wellbeing
• Model United Nations (MUN) — providing academic enrichment and global awareness beyond the classroom
• Robotics Club — supporting STEM ambitions through competitive robotics
• Media Club — developing journalism, videography, and digital communication skills
• Floorball — a Scandinavian-origin team sport rarely seen in Indonesian schools, reflecting the school's international influence

This breadth of offering reflects SNA's commitment to discovering and developing every student's unique talents, consistent with its holistic education philosophy.

Multilingual Programming

Very few international schools offer eight languages on a single campus. SNA teaches English (medium of instruction), Mandarin (compulsory second language), Bahasa Indonesia (compulsory third language), and five elective foreign languages: Japanese, French, Spanish, German, and Hindi. This linguistic diversity prepares students for a genuinely international future.

Singaporean Heritage in an Indonesian Context

SNA's unique positioning as a Singaporean-curriculum school operating in Indonesia creates a distinctive academic culture. Students benefit from Singapore's globally respected approach to mathematics and science while navigating a culturally Indonesian environment — a combination that produces graduates comfortable in both regional and global settings.