With three daughters who have different interests, photographer Katie Martin-Sperry is pleased to have found a school with a wide array of co-curricular programmes that caters to each of her daughter’s niches – these on top of impressive academic offerings! Read on for this mum’s review of Tanglin Trust School.
It’s not unusual for siblings to have different personalities and interests. Take photographer Katie Martin-Sperry’s three girls for example: while the girls are all sporty and artistic, big sister Sophia is a gymnast and dancer; her sister Skye is a footballer and budding artist; and Misha, the youngest, enjoys singing in the Infant Choir.
All three girls attend the same school and get to pursue their unique passions with equal opportunities. That’s possible because their school, Tanglin Trust School, offers over 400 co-curricular activities (CCAs) for students to choose from. It even has a new vibrant Junior Arts Centre that provides the girls with avenues to stretch their creative streak.
Want to know what else Katie and her family love about Tanglin? Here’s her full review of the school.
Can you share some of the most important things you were looking for in an international school, and how does Tanglin fit the bill?
We actually approached the school searching process with a very open mind. There’s only one non-negotiable, which is that we wanted a school that follows the English curriculum. Tanglin offers just that, and has such a great reputation in terms of academic results, fantastic facilities, and a caring school environment.
But what really stood out for us was the school’s purpose. Tanglin is a not-for-profit school that’s run by a charitable trust which exists solely for the benefit of its students. We felt this was reflected in everything the school has: from the quality of the facilities to the teaching, as well as the long term vision of the school. It requires generations of investment, strong commitment, and time to get to the scale Tanglin is at now. So the school’s longevity, heritage, and tradition are some of the deciding factors for us as well.
On top of that, we’re reassured by the number of wonderful families we knew who are part of the school. Knowing that our girls would be surrounded by bright, kind, and engaged children was another significant draw for us.
What impressed you most about Tanglin’s academic offerings?
The school produces strong academic results, which is no surprise because we’ve experienced the support the school provided from a learning perspective firsthand. The level of individual attention each child receives is remarkable. Teachers have taken the time to identify each of the girls’ strengths and areas for development. They put the right support and tools in place to ensure the girls are confident, capable, and wholeheartedly supported. Whether it’s a learning challenge or encouragement to develop a particular talent, every child is known, understood, and nurtured as an individual. It’s no small feat for a school of this size.
How about CCAs – your daughters are active in sports and the performing arts, how has Tanglin supported their interests?
Tanglin’s CCA programme is exceptional. These activities have become weekly highlights for the girls, and it’s wonderful to see them discover new interests, nurture their passions, and develop skills beyond the classroom.
Sophia gets to do gymnastics while discovering a love for dance through the school’s Academy: Arts Dance Programme. She enjoys performing in school productions too.
Skye is equally sporty and thoroughly enjoys football; she even got the chance to join a training session with Crystal Palace Academy coaches, thanks to Tanglin! She’s also a budding artist and was thrilled to be invited to join the Academy: Arts programme. We’ve seen her flourish creatively, plus she’s always eager to recreate techniques she learned in class when she’s at home.
Our youngest, Misha, is a member of the Infant Choir. We wouldn’t be surprised if she follows closely in her sisters’ footsteps.
Now that our two eldest girls are moving into Middle School, the curriculum and future opportunities on offer have naturally become a greater focus for us. We recently toured the Senior School and were genuinely impressed by the breadth of opportunities available. From Film Studies and professional music recording studios, to the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Year 9 Highlands Programme, the range of experiences on offer is huge!
For a family like ours who believe that education is far more than just academic results, the combination of its strong curriculum and outstanding CCAs assure us that our children aren’t only challenged academically, but are also encouraged to grow through meaningful experiences.
You mentioned that the facilities at Tanglin are fantastic, can you elaborate more on that?
We’ve been incredibly fortunate to join the school as the Centenary Building was taking shape, The girls have loved making the most of its fantastic sports facilities, and more recently, the Junior Arts Centre – which we felt was a great addition. It really opened up opportunities we never imagine they could pursue, like contemporary dance.
Is there a community for parents at Tanglin?
We’ve been lucky enough to experience the school from many different perspectives. As a photographer, I’ve had the privilege of photographing some of Tanglin’s memorable moments: like the Sixth Form graduations, special events, and of course, my own children along the way.
The sense of community is yet another thing that sets Tanglin apart. Whether you’d like to be highly involved, or simply join in from time to time – there are opportunities for every parent. I often find myself working from the co-working space between sport fixtures and school pick-ups, while bumping into friends along the way. There’s always something to look forward to at Tanglin as the school plans loads of activities throughout the year. There’s the House Fun Run, Family Movie Nights, Christmas Fair, and Summer Fete; our children are always eager to get involved as a family.
What do you value most about Tanglin?
We feel the school has delivered beyond our expectations. Before joining, a school the size of Tanglin felt hugely intimidating for our eldest, who was then four. We’ve been with Tanglin for seven years, and we can confidently say that each stage of the journey – from Infant, to Junior, and now Senior School – has provided our children a truly nurturing environment.
Thank you for speaking to us, Katie!
This post is in partnership with Tanglin Trust School.
