St. Joseph's Institution International

A Competitive and Selective Process

Admissions to SJI International are openly described as competitive. Demand for places consistently exceeds availability, and all applicants — regardless of grade — undergo a formal assessment process. This typically involves:

• Written assessments in English and Mathematics, calibrated to the applicant's current year level.
• Student and/or parent interviews, allowing the school to assess fit with its Lasallian values, communication skills and overall potential.
• School reports and academic records, reviewed as evidence of prior performance and conduct.

For scholarship applicants, the assessment is more intensive — including presentations and extended interviews — reflecting the additional scrutiny applied to candidates seeking financial recognition.

The Admissions Pool

One of the most distinctive features of SJI International's admissions process is the Admissions Pool — a formal waitlist system for candidates who are not immediately offered a place but who meet the school's standards. Rather than a simple rejection, the school retains these applicants' files and considers them should a vacancy arise. This system is particularly relevant for mid-year or off-cycle applicants, and families are advised to apply early and remain on the Pool if initial entry is not possible.

Application Deadlines and Timelines

The school operates annual intake cycles beginning in January. Key deadlines for the 2026 academic year are:

• Grades 7–8: Applications close 10 May 2026.
• Grades 9–11: Applications close 30 August 2025 (for January 2026 entry).

Families are strongly encouraged to attend an Open Day (typically held in September) before applying.

Scholarship Programme

SJI International offers a well-developed Scholarship Programme that provides partial fee support to exceptional students. Awards include:

• Lasallian Scholarship — recognising academic merit combined with Lasallian values.
• Leadership Scholarship — for students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their community.
• Sports Scholarships — including a notable partnership with Lion City Sailors FC for football.
• Arts Scholarships — for students with exceptional creative talent.

Scholarship holders are expected to contribute actively to school life — through clubs, service activities and leadership roles — reinforcing that financial support is tied to community contribution, not grades alone.

English Proficiency and EAL Support

As all instruction is delivered in English, applicants must demonstrate age-appropriate English proficiency. However, the school's EAL support programme means that students who are strong academically but still developing their English are not automatically excluded. Placement in EAL classes may be recommended following the assessment process.

A Mission Rooted in Tradition

SJI International was founded in 2007 as the international arm of Singapore's oldest Catholic boys' school — St. Joseph's Institution, established by the De La Salle Brothers in 1852. Rather than simply replicating a traditional Catholic school model, the founders envisioned a school where Lasallian values could be expressed through a globally competitive, inquiry-based curriculum.

The school's mission — "Enabling students to learn how to learn and learn how to live as Lasallian people for others" — captures this dual ambition precisely. It is not enough to achieve high grades; students are expected to develop as compassionate, service-oriented individuals who contribute to their communities.

Five Core Values in Practice

The five Lasallian values — Faith, Service, Community, Excellence and Respect — are woven into daily school life rather than treated as abstract ideals.

• Faith is expressed through the school's Chapel activities, spiritual reflection opportunities and the broader moral framework that guides pastoral care.
• Service is embedded in the curriculum through community service requirements, social action projects and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme.
• Community is fostered through a diverse student body spanning 40+ nationalities, House activities and collaborative learning structures.
• Excellence drives the school's consistently strong academic outcomes — a 2024 IB average of 38 points and 100% pass rate reflect this commitment.
• Respect underpins the school's anti-bullying policies, inter-cultural dialogue and its Positive Behaviour framework.

Holistic Education in a Global Context

The school's learning philosophy explicitly integrates character formation alongside intellectual development. Its curriculum is described as holistic, inquiry-based and student-centred — students are encouraged to ask questions, think critically and connect learning to real-world contexts.

This is particularly visible in the IB Diploma Programme, where Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirements compel students to go beyond subject-specific knowledge. The IGCSE years (Grades 9–10) serve as a strong academic foundation, while the Elementary School's International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) introduce thematic, cross-disciplinary learning from the earliest years.

The result is a school where academic ambition and personal values development are treated as inseparable — and where the goal is not merely university admission, but the formation of well-rounded, globally aware citizens who are ready to serve others.

A Three-Stage Academic Journey

SJI International structures its academic programme across three distinct stages, each with an internationally recognised curriculum:

1. Elementary School (Prep 1–Grade 6): The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) provide thematic, inquiry-based learning that develops both academic skills and international-mindedness from the earliest years. A bilingual (English-Chinese) immersion option is available, making the school particularly appealing to families who value early multilingual development.

2. High School Years 1–2 / Grades 9–10: Students follow the Cambridge IGCSE programme, building a broad foundation across sciences, humanities, languages and the arts. IGCSE results serve as an indicator of readiness for the IB Diploma.

3. High School Years 3–4 / Grades 11–12: The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) forms the capstone of the academic journey. Students choose six subjects at Higher or Standard Level, supplemented by the compulsory Theory of Knowledge course, Extended Essay and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) component.

Exceptional IB Outcomes

The school's IB results have been consistently strong and are well above global averages:

• 2019 cohort: Average score 37.7 points; 38.1% scored 40 or above; 19% scored 42 or above.
• 2024 cohort: Average score 38 points; 100% pass rate (all 207 candidates earned the Diploma); 39% scored 40 or above; 26% scored 42 or above.

The world average IB score is approximately 30–31 points, making SJI International's performance — approximately 7–8 points above average — a strong indicator of the academic quality of both teaching and student selection.

Support for All Learners

The school's academic culture is not purely exam-focused. A dedicated Success Team at each year level — comprising homeroom teachers, learning support specialists, EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers and counsellors — ensures that students of varying abilities and language backgrounds can access the curriculum effectively. This support structure means that students who are strong academically but not yet fully fluent in English are not automatically excluded from the school's rigorous programmes.

University Destinations

The school's graduates proceed to leading universities worldwide. While specific destination data is not fully published, recent IB cohorts have included students admitted to universities in the UK, US, Singapore, Australia and across Asia. The 2024 graduating class of 207 IB candidates reflects the scale and ambition of the school's academic programme.

The Lasallian Family Model

SJI International's approach to pastoral care is shaped directly by its Lasallian heritage, which emphasises the school as a family — a community in which every student is known, valued and supported. This is not merely aspirational language; it translates into a structured, multi-layered support system that operates at every year level.

The Success Team Model

At the heart of the school's pastoral infrastructure is the concept of the Success Team — a year-level team comprising:

• Homeroom Teachers and Teaching Assistants, who are the first point of contact for students and families and monitor day-to-day wellbeing and academic progress.
• Learning Support Teachers, who provide specialist assistance for students with diagnosed or emerging learning needs.
• EAL (English as an Additional Language) Teachers, who support students for whom English is not a first language.
• School Counsellors, who offer both proactive wellbeing support (e.g., transition programmes, stress management) and responsive one-to-one counselling.
• School Nurses, who manage physical health needs and medical support within the school.

This integrated team model means that a student experiencing difficulty — whether academic, social, emotional or linguistic — is unlikely to fall through the gaps, as multiple professionals are monitoring their progress simultaneously.

Anti-Bullying and Positive Behaviour

The school has a formal Positive Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy, which establishes clear expectations for conduct and robust procedures for addressing bullying when it occurs. This policy reflects the school's broader commitment to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students regardless of nationality, religion or background.

Chapel and Spiritual Life

While SJI International is a Catholic school, it welcomes students of all faiths and none. Chapel activities and spiritual reflection opportunities are part of school life, but participation is structured to be inclusive and respectful of religious diversity. The spiritual dimension of the school's culture is experienced primarily through its values framework rather than through mandatory religious practice.

Transition and Family Support

Given the mobile, internationally diverse nature of its student body — with families frequently relocating to and from Singapore — the school places particular emphasis on supporting students through transitions. New student orientation, buddy systems and parent engagement programmes help families settle into the school community quickly.

A Truly International Student Body

SJI International's community of approximately 2,074 students represents more than 40 nationalities, making it one of Singapore's most internationally diverse schools. While the largest cohorts tend to come from Singapore (permanent residents and citizens), South Korea, the UK, Australia and various European and Asian countries, the school's culture is genuinely multicultural — students routinely collaborate across cultural, linguistic and religious boundaries.

This diversity is a deliberate feature of the school's identity. The Lasallian tradition historically emphasised education for all backgrounds, and SJI International carries this forward in an international context by actively valuing the perspectives that different nationalities bring to classroom discussions, service projects and co-curricular activities.

Over 100 Co-Curricular Activities

The school's co-curricular programme is extensive, with over 100 clubs and activities offered across sports, arts, academics, service and languages:

Sports: Basketball, Football/Soccer, Rugby, Volleyball, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, Dance, Kendo, Martial Arts, Squash, Athletics, Gymnastics, Swimming, Canoeing (Ocean Sprinters), Taekwondo, Netball.

Arts & Performance: Drama, Musical Theatre, Film/Video Production, Visual Arts, Ceramics.

Music: String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Choir/Jam Sessions, Music Ensembles.

Academic & Competitive: Model United Nations, DELF French Language Certificate, Debating Team, Science Club, Mathematics Olympiad, Chess Club, School Journal/Publications, Coding Club.

Service & Leadership: Community Service Club, Eco-Club, Duke of Edinburgh's Award (EDP), Chapel Activities, International Cultural Exchange Club.

Language Clubs: Chinese, Korean, Tamil, Japanese, and other language cultural clubs reflecting the school's diverse community.

Service as a Core Commitment

Community service is not optional at SJI International — it is embedded in both the school's culture and its formal curriculum requirements (particularly through the IB CAS component). Students engage with local and international service projects, reflecting the Lasallian principle of living for others rather than merely for oneself.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme provides a structured framework for service, physical challenge, skill development and adventurous activities — connecting the school's community values to internationally recognised youth development standards.

Parent and Alumni Community

The school was itself founded by the alumni community of the original SJI, and this tradition of strong community involvement continues. Parent engagement is actively encouraged through the school's events calendar, parent-teacher meetings and volunteer opportunities.