Overseas Family School
Coordinates: 1°18.087′N 103°49.901′E / 1.301450°N 103.831683°E
| Name |
Overseas Family School |
| Abbreviation |
OFS |
| Location |
25F Paterson Road |
| Country | |
| Founded |
1991[1] |
| Enrollment |
3800[2] |
| Type |
Coeducational day college-preparatory school |
| Grades |
|
| Master Policy | To maintain a happy, safe and effective school for overseas families living in Singapore. |
| Colours |
Red, yellow and blue |
| Website |
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 3800 students from 75 nationalities.[2]
OFS is one of the several international 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 Programme (SPP) for students for whom English is a second or other language (ESOL). It helps students to learn to read, write, listen to and speak English while also doing their usual school subjects. SPP has three levels and promotions are considered every quarter. 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 in Singapore by CPE, Council for Private Education.
Elementary School
From age six in Grades 1-5. Curriculum is the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning, including Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and English (for non-English speaking students). Uniforms include red, yellow, and blue polo shirts, with gray short for boys, and gray skirts for girls.
Middle School
Students in Grades 6-8. Curriculum is the integrated Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning, including Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and English.
High School
- 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.
- 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. (WASC)
Study Preparation Programs SPP
This prepares students for study in English, while also maintaining their school subjects. This includes reading, writing, listening to and speaking the English language.
Academic and other Facilities
The Overseas Family School campus is situated on 11 acres (45,000 m2), with ten buildings clustered around its sports facilities.[4]
Athletics
The Overseas Family School provides a sports program and participates in interschool competition in badminton, cricket, netball, rugby, football, softball, tennis, volleyball and golf. These events take place at the School, or students travel by bus to other venues. The school has five shaded outdoor basketball courts, two indoor multipurpose gymnasiums, a playing field with football 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 football, 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.
MUNOFS
After participating in Model United Nations Conferences around the world, the school had its own MUN Conference in 2009. The conference was held on February 13–15, 2009 at the school. The conference had delegate numbers in the hundreds. The 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.
