What’s the surest way to find the right school for your kids? The Kemps shared their top tip: check out the school’s community.
There’s so much to consider when you’re choosing a school for the kids. From the curriculum and teaching approach, to facilities and available co-curricular activities (CCA)… and we haven’t even got to the practical stuff like logistics and budget.
Having navigated the school-searching process in Singapore, Craig and Nicola Kemp have one tip to share with parents who are new to Singapore, “Look beyond the facilities and focus on the community, because great schools are made of great people.” The Kemps believe that a strong, values-driven community can create a foundation for student success. This is because it provides children with a learning environment where feel supported, inspired, and are empowered to achieve their best. Read on for their story on how their search for a “great school” led them to a truly great community in Stamford American International School.
How long have your daughters been with Stamford American?
Chloe and Ella have been attending Stamford American since they were two, which was when I (Craig) first joined the school as a teacher. They’re now in Grade 1 and 5 respectively. So, the girls have had the pleasure of experiencing both the Early Learning Village and ‘big kids campus’ in Woodleigh.
Although I’ve left the school and started my own consultancy, we chose to let the girls continue at Stamford American, and we’ve not regretted it for a second.
Why did you opt to let the girls continue at Stamford American?
We decided to let the girls stay in Stamford American as we’ve seen, and are continuing to see them grow academically and personally in the school. Its intentional blend of academic excellence with holistic development allows our daughters and their peers to develop into confident learners. But most importantly, they feel safe, supported, and challenged in school.
The school’s inquiry-driven approach feels similar to something we’ve experienced back home in New Zealand, which we value very much. However, it’s Stamford American’s culture of care and strong sense of community that really stood out for us. We see it not just in its curriculum – which is personalised to meet every child’s unique needs – but also in the everyday interactions of the school community. This school culture fosters kindness, curiosity, and excellence; all of which we see in our daughters embody as they grow. It reminds us of a Māori: “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata”, which translates to “what is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people”.
As an educator with my own consultancy firm, I know firsthand how hard it is to achieve this, and thus we’re truly impressed with the school. On top of a strong curriculum, Stamford American has passionate teachers, facilities that support a wide range of learning experiences, and a commitment to instil global citizenship among its students. All these are what we look for in a school for Chloe and Ella, and this school has exceeded our expectations.
What do Chloe and Ella like about their school?
They love their teachers and the friendships they’ve made. The teachers and students made our girls feel at home from day one. There was real care taken in helping them settle in, understand the routines, and make friends. The teachers made them feel seen, heard, and supported. Plus, our daughters benefit from the diversity of their friends’ backgrounds.
As the girls are artistic and love sports, they also enjoy the variety of CCAs on offer, as well as arts and sports activities. They’ve had the chance to explore music, science, drama, technology, and sport in Stamford American’s inspiring environment and world-class facilities which spark creativity and deepen learning. We felt that all these make a real difference to their schooling experience, which is why they’re always so proud to show their school off to friends and family!
You advised to check out the school community when choosing a school – what’s the best way to do so?
Book a school tour! This is the best way for you to meet the teachers and leadership team. Take your time to talk to them, and you’ll quickly get a sense of whether the school feels like the right fit for your family. The people truly make the difference.
Thanks for sharing, Craig and Nicola!
This post is in partnership with Stamford American International School.
