Australian International School Turns 30

Australian International School (AIS), Singapore’s only school offering both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Australian Higher School Certificate (HSC) pathways, has come a long way from its humble beginnings with 32 students and 7 teachers at Mt Sophia in 1993. Today, as the only southern hemisphere international school in Singapore offering an Australian curriculum-based education, AIS is home to over 2,500 students from more than 50 nationalities at its purpose-built Lorong Chuan campus—and has been voted the “Best International School in Singapore”.

Our Commitment to Our Students

The School started under the leadership of Miss Coral Dixon with 32 students and seven teachers. By the end of the first year, the school roll exceeded 200. In our 30 years, we have remained committed to ensuring our students flourish and live meaningful lives. We pride ourselves on our approach to teaching and learning for our students, offering a holistic education with a strong academic focus on what we call ‘academic wellbeing’. Our enviable education destination and multicultural environment are underpinned by our Australian values that truly make a difference. Every day we live by our three school values: respect, opportunity and achievement.

School children outside the AIS Emerald Hill campus in 1995

30 Years of Growth

Over the 30 years, AIS has had three locations and growing facilities to keep up with constant growth. The school started on a small site at Mt Sophia in Singapore’s downtown arts and heritage district, before moving to Emerald Hill near Orchard Road. In 2002, to accommodate continued expansion, the school secured land for a purpose-built campus at Lorong Chuan in Singapore’s north-east—a leafy residential area with excellent transport links.

Official Opening: A Historic Moment

The Lorong Chuan campus was officially opened on 22 September 2003 by John Anderson, then Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, then Acting Minister for Education for Singapore (now President of Singapore)—a testament to the strong educational ties between Australia and Singapore.

After further growth in 2008, a Preschool and Junior School were added to accommodate the younger children, and in 2010 a new Senior wing with state-of-the-art Science and Technology facilities was added.

AIS constructed its Early Learning Village (ELV) in July 2017. The world-leading space was purpose-built for 18 months to 6-year-olds and inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The natural environment was designed to inspire curiosity and discovery in little explorers and shows AIS’ commitment to investing in the school and the flexible learning offered. In 2021, our Early Learning Program was voted the best in Singapore.

School Leadership Legacy

AIS’s growth has been guided by dedicated leaders whose contributions are honoured across our campus. The school was founded in 1993 by Miss Coral Dixon, whose vision and leadership grew the school from 32 students to over 200 in just one year. The magnificent Coral Dixon Theatre, featuring state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, stands as a tribute to her founding legacy.

Mr Peter Bond served as Principal from 2002 to 2011, leading the school through its move to the purpose-built Lorong Chuan campus. The Peter Bond Secondary School, opened in 2010 for Years 10-12 students, was named in his honour.

Strong Ties with Australia

AIS maintains close relationships with the Australian High Commission and the Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZA), reflecting its role as the heart of the Australian community in Singapore. As a strategic partner of ANZA, AIS co-hosts community events including the annual Great Australia Day BBQ.

In 2013, the school’s 20th anniversary was celebrated at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence, bringing together members of the AIS board, parents, staff, and founding leader Miss Coral Dixon—a testament to the school’s integral place in Australia-Singapore relations.

AIS students proudly participate in ANZAC Day commemorations at the Kranji War Memorial alongside the Australian High Commission and ANZA, honouring the shared history between Australia and Singapore.

Australian Prime Ministers at AIS

AIS has been privileged to host visits from Australian Prime Ministers, further reflecting the school’s significance in strengthening Australia-Singapore relations:

• February 2005: Prime Minister John Howard and Mrs Janette Howard met with AIS students at the Kranji War Memorial during an official Singapore visit
• August 2008: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd held a press conference at AIS and opened a new school building, describing AIS as “a fantastic school” that represents “the absolute importance of education as a bridge between our two countries”

Awards and Recognition

Our commitment to excellence has been recognised by parents and the education community:

• 2022: Singapore International School of the Year – HoneyKids Education Awards (Gold, selected from 34 international schools)
• 2021: Best Early Learning Program in Singapore – HoneyKids Education Awards
• 2022: Value Added Score of 1.02 – exceeding Cambridge University’s “exceptional” benchmark, meaning AIS students consistently outperform their predicted grades

Head of School Mr Simon Leslie & Amelia Woodward, who was the first student to achieve 45/45 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) and went on to study for a Master of Science at Stanford University, USA.

Over 2,000 Year 12 Graduates

AIS is the only school in Singapore to offer both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the Australian Higher School Certificate (HSC)—giving students a unique dual pathway choice for their senior years. With a strong emphasis on sports, the Arts, music and Outdoor Education, AIS ensures students leave school as well-rounded individuals. AIS has had the pleasure of graduating over 2,000 students from its Secondary program, with students achieving top marks in the IB and going on to study at leading universities around the world.

Students Who Achieved Perfect 45/45 IB Scores

• Amelia Woodward (2017) – Stanford University, Master of Science
• Jonathan Ooi (2019) – Cambridge University, Bachelor of Economics
• Arkie Mandziy (2021) – University of Melbourne, Dean’s Excellence Scholarship
• Kaylee Heng (2021) – University of Melbourne, Biomedicine
• Bastien Buwalda (2022) – Macquarie University, Clinical Science

Where Our Graduates Go

AIS graduates have been accepted to leading universities worldwide, including:

• UK: Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, LSE, King’s College London
• USA: Stanford, Brown University, Boston University
• Australia: University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, UNSW, ANU, Monash
• Singapore: NUS, NTU

Notable Alumni

Our graduates continue to make their mark on the world:

• Rachael De Foe (Class of 2011) – Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, Founder of Redefy
• Cat McArthur (Class of 2004) – Tokyo Olympics athlete, Australian Kayaking Team
• Amelia Woodward (Class of 2017) – First AIS student to achieve perfect 45/45 IB, Stanford graduate

World-Class Facilities

AIS has one of the largest campuses in Singapore with world-class facilities, including 188 classrooms, specialist teaching spaces, 3 libraries, the Coral Dixon Theatre, 2 sports fields, 3 tennis courts, 2 swimming pools, and 3 gyms. The 50,000 square metre Early Learning Village features 10,000 sqm of outdoor learning space. Each corner of the school caters to the growing and developing child, with changing discovery spaces attached to every classroom which empower young learners to play to their strengths and interests. Their learning experience extends beyond the classroom, where they can choose from over 300 specialty Co-Curricular Activities such as gymnastics, ballet, sports, drama and language learning, among many others.

Part of the Cognita Global Family

Since 2007, AIS has been part of Cognita, one of the world’s leading independent school groups. Cognita operates over 100 schools across 20 countries, educating more than 85,000 students worldwide. In Singapore, Cognita also operates Stamford American International School and Brighton College Singapore.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate 30 years, we look forward to the decades ahead with excitement and purpose. AIS will continue to evolve—embracing innovation in teaching and learning while staying true to the Australian values of respect, opportunity and achievement that have shaped our community since 1993. We remain committed to nurturing confident, curious learners ready to make their mark on the world.

Learn More

If you wish to learn more about the school or arrange for a tour please contact our Admissions team.