International Schools offering British Education

Everybody has their own preferences, even in matters concerning education. This is why SchoolAdvisor has come up with a list of international schools in Malaysia offering the British National Curriculum.

In the British education system, students are taught to learn by questioning, problem-solving and creative thinking rather than by the mere retention of facts, hence giving them analytical and creative thinking skills that they will need in the working world.

In 2012, a 40% cap was removed on the number of Malaysian children who were able to attend international schools in the country and no new limitations put in its place. Today, international schools in Malaysia are legally entitled to enroll up to 100% Malaysian nationals if they choose. Most of the leading schools aim for a 50:50 ratio of local and expatriate children, representing within their intake an increasingly popular overarching international school ethos that combines both local culture and English-medium, internationally oriented learning.

As a result of the removal of restrictions, the number of international schools in Malaysia has increased from 108 in 2012 to 170 today, and the number of students attending international schools in Malaysia has grown by almost 30,000 to 71,500. Kuala Lumpur is the leading city with 36 international schools and many schools there are seeing significant demand from local families.

See: The best of British education in Malaysia

1. ELC International School

Founded in 1987, ELC is currently home to about 715 students. With two campuses; Sungai Buloh Campus (1987) and the Cyberjaya Campus (2010), the school's curriculum and teaching methods are modeled after the best practices of Britain and Malaysia, and it keeps to a set of traditional values that provide the ethos of "excellence, loyalty & commitment", the hallmark of the school.

2.  Alice Smith School

The Alice Smith School, established since 1946 in Kuala Lumpur offers an exceptional combination of the best of British education delivered within a truly international community, enriched by the variety of cultures that characterize our increasingly global world.

3. Garden International School

Garden International School (GIS) is one of the world’s leading international schools with a strong academic track record.

Accredited by the Council of International Schools, GIS is one of the oldest and most distinguished schools in Malaysia with two locations in Kuala Lumpur, the Early Years Centre in Desa Sri Hartamas and the main campus in Mont Kiara. GIS provides British-based education for students from 3 to 18 years of age across our Early Years Centre (Nursery to Reception), Primary School (Year 1 to Year 6) and Secondary School (Year 7  to Year 13).

The school has been teaching the National Curriculum for England and Wales with modifications designed to meet the needs of international students. With over 2,000 students, GIS is the biggest private co-educational school in Malaysia.”

4. GEMS International School, Tropicana Metropark

The learning environment is carefully crafted to suit every stage of a child’s development. All GEMS Schools are accredited and/or affiliated to internationally acclaimed education organizations, such as the Cambridge International Examinations.

5. Sri KDU International School

The curriculum at Sri KDU is based on a child-centered instructional approach with emphasis on reading, writing, and basic arithmetic skills. Their sports facilities are quite new and well maintained. 

6. Sri Bestari International School

Sri Bestari International School (SBIS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Land and General Berhad, the sister school to the well-established Sri Bestari Private School that has been championing excellence in education for the past 22 years. SBIS aims to inspire the children towards a growth mindset by educating, training and imparting noble values to young men or women to be the outstanding professionals and leaders of tomorrow. Both schools envision to continuously challenge the students, to not only realise the children's potential but to exceed it by providing a holistic and global learning experience through continuous reflection and engagement.

7. Help International School

Established in January 2014, HELP International School (HIS) is one of the fastest growing international schools in Malaysia, with a population of over 1,200 students and over 150 experienced and passionate teachers from all over the world. Its school motto - “Life in All Its Fullness” - translates into a vision of empowering students to enjoy a full school life and preparing them to live significant lives as adults, equipped with leadership skills.

8. Kingsgate International School

Founded in 2017, Kingsgate International School is set to become Malaysia’s premier international school. They offer a kindergarten through year 13 programme based on the International British curriculum.

The school takes pride in becoming the first choice of educational institution for students in the region. They are committed to a programme that reflects both the school community's high expectations for academic rigour and a commitment to service leadership through deep connections to the global community.

9. St Joseph's Institution International School Malaysia  

Established in 2007, St Joseph’s Institution International is part of Singapore’s 7 Lasallian schools with roots dating back to 1852. Throughout the years, SJII has grown into one of the best and most respected institutions in Singapore with a significant number of its students being scholarship holders and pursuing their tertiary education at the most prestigious universities around the world.

10.Cempaka International School

Students of Cempaka Schools, or better known as Cempakans are expected to excel in academic and sports fields while maintaining the spirit of gentlemanliness, a winning combination that has proven time and again by the Cempaka School's passing rate of 100 % examinations.

11.Tenby International School

The English National Curriculum (UK) is implemented between Years 7 and 9, whereby students are exposed to an all-around learning process that covers subjects from English, foreign languages, history and geography to mathematics, sciences, ICT and P.E.

12. The International School @ Park City

The school has the capacity to cater education of 1,000-1,100 students. Students of The International School @ Park City attend worldwide academic events such as the MATHLETICS, where they compete with students from other nations via online applications offered by the school.

13. Eaton International School

Eaton International School is founded by educationalists with an individual track record of over 20 years in private and international education. The school offers a creative and personalized learning environment which places great emphasis on academic rigor and an inspiring learning experience for the students.

14. Taylor's International School

TIS follows an International Curriculum based on the highly valued National Curriculum of England, that culminates in IGCSE examinations and qualifications. Although the emphasis is given to global perspectives, the International Curriculum embraces Asian values and literacy in Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. The programme offers four key stages of learning, from Early Years, Primary to Secondary. 

15. Kingsley International School

Kingsley International School offers the Cambridge International Curriculum of England from Nursery to Year 9 while the Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum is offered to the Year 10 Year 11 and Year 12 students onwards.

16. Regent International School

17. Maz International School

18. Asia Pacific International School (APIS)

APIS was developed as a component of the APIIT Education Group. The International School was unveiled in 2012 and aims to deliver quality education based on the vision of a true International school with an emphasis on intellectual, emotional and personal growth.

19. British International School Kuala Lumpur

BISKL, one of the schools under the British Schools Foundation that lists institutions in countries from Russia to Brazil seeks to provide a fulfilling environment for its students through offering the English National curriculum and encouraging community involvement. It aims to fill the need for a quality British education and provides education from pre-nursery years to Year 13.

20. Sri Dasmesh International School

21. Nexus International School 

Nexus International School uses the International Primary Curriculum at the Primary school level and then move onto the British National Curriculum in Secondary school.

Secondary School study culminates in the IGCSE exams (Years 10 & 11) and students have the option of pushing forward with an International Baccalaureate diploma (Years 12 & 13).

22. Rafflesia International School

Rafflesia International & Private Schools: Dedicated to the vision and mission to be the school of choice with international recognition and offering the International UK curriculum and the national Malaysia Primary School curriculum, Rafflesia International & Private Schools Puchong campus stands tall as an education establishment.

 *Due to the popularity of the British Curriculum in Malaysia, this list will be updated from time to time.