One World International School Singapore

Founded as part of the Global Schools Foundation network, OWIS operates from three campuses in Nanyang (Jurong), Newton, and Digital Campus (Punggol), serving students from Early Childhood through Grade 12. The school follows IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE, and IB Diploma Programme pathways, with annual fees ranging from $21,749 to $36,704. Under a unique arrangement with the Singapore government, OWIS rents a former local school campus in Jurong with restrictions limiting any single nationality to under 30% of the student body, creating an intentionally diverse international environment.

Teacher discussions consistently describe OWIS as one of Singapore's lowest-paying international schools, with employment reviews on platforms like Glassdoor showing only 16% positive business outlook. Recent concerns include high staff and student turnover across campuses, with multiple teachers departing from Punggol and Nanyang locations in 2024. More seriously, reports have emerged of incidents including sexual harassment cases, vaping problems, and inappropriate teacher conduct, suggesting management challenges that extend beyond compensation issues. The school operates on a budget airline model, charging extra for language classes, learning support, and sports activities beyond basic tuition fees.

Strengths

• Reasonable fees compared to premium Singapore international schools
• Diverse international student body with nationality caps preventing dominance by single groups
• Parent reviews highlight good communication and teaching quality
• Multiple campus locations across Singapore
• IB and Cambridge curriculum pathways available
• Active parent community with WhatsApp groups and parent committees

Considerations

• Very low teacher salaries leading to staffing challenges and high turnover
• Recent reports of serious incidents including harassment and inappropriate conduct
• Additional fees for language classes, learning support, and activities
• Poor employment reviews suggest management and workplace culture issues
• Limited public information about academic results and university placements
• Operates as budget option rather than premium educational institution

Academics

IB Diploma (May 2025): Average score of 33 points (World Average: 30.58); 100% pass rate; Highest score: 40 points; 25% of students scored 35+ points (OWIS Academic Results). IB Diploma (2024): Average score of 34 points (World Average: 30.32); 95% pass rate; Highest score: 45 points; 77% of the cohort of 37 students scored 30+ points (OWIS Academic Results). Cambridge IGCSE (June 2025): 51.8% A -A grades; 78% A -B; 95% A -C (OWIS Academic Results).

School life

Sports Offered: Athletics (track and field), Basketball, Football, Handball, Gymnastics, Dance, Badminton, Archery, Cricket (practice pitch), Sprints, Long jump, Javelin (OWIS Sports). Arts & Music: Art & Design, Music theory and appreciation, Drama, Black box theatre (Punggol) (OWIS CCAs). Clubs & Programmes: Language clubs (Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish), Soccer Club, STEAM and Digital Learning, Outdoor Learning (OWIS Learning).

Campus Sizes: Nanyang Campus is 3.2 hectares (7.9 acres); Digital Campus (Punggol) capacity of 1,500 students (WhichSchoolAdvisor). Nanyang Campus Facilities: 32,000+ square meters of learning spaces; Science labs; Art, Music, and Drama studios; All-weather pitch (football), Athletics track, Multi-purpose courts, Basketball courts, Climbing wall, Bikes and trikes area. No swimming pool (deliberate choice) (OWIS Nanyang).

Student body

Total Enrolment: Approximately 1,100 - 1,200 students at Nanyang Campus; Digital Campus designed for 1,500 students (OWIS About). Nationalities: 70+ nationalities; strict 30% nationality cap per country (OWIS Diversity). Student-Teacher Ratio: Early Childhood 1:10 to 1:12; Grade 1 1:12; Grades 2-12 1:24 (HoneyKids Asia).

• Parents repeatedly describe OWIS as a budget-friendlier IB option in Singapore, with a notably international student mix.
• A flagged academic-satisfaction split: roughly a third of parents in published surveys report satisfaction with academic outcomes; two thirds do not.
• Parents praise communication with teachers, the parent-committee structure and a strong sense of belonging for their children.
• International teachers post that OWIS is one of the lowest-paying schools in Singapore, with the package well below what teachers need to live in the city.
• The school is run by the same parent group as Global Indian International School and rents a former local-school campus from the Singapore government, with a contractual cap on any one nationality.
• A historic 2021 incident: a former OWIS teacher was fined SGD 4,000 for swearing at a police officer while drunk outside Jurong Point.