Cities / Singapore / St Francis Methodist School Singapore
St Francis Methodist School Singapore
Founded in 1960 as an all girls school with just 27 students, SFMS has evolved into a co educational institution serving local and international families at its Upper Bukit Timah Road campus.
In brief
Founded in 1960 as an all-girls school with just 27 students, SFMS has evolved into a co-educational institution serving local and international families at its Upper Bukit Timah Road campus. The school offers an unusually broad range of qualifications including Cambridge Primary, IGCSE, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (authorized in 2020), Pearson Edexcel International A-Levels, and the Australian AUSMAT programme. This flexibility allows families to choose pathways based on their university destination preferences, whether targeting UK, Australian, or international universities through the IB route.
Parent feedback consistently emphasizes the school's caring environment and individual attention from teachers, with several reviews noting significant improvement in children's academic performance and confidence. The Methodist foundation provides a values-based education framework while welcoming families of all backgrounds. However, some recent reviews express concerns about student behavior and academic rigor, suggesting the school may face challenges maintaining consistent standards as it has grown from its small founding community.
Strengths
- Multiple curriculum pathways (IB, Cambridge, Australian AUSMAT) offering university destination flexibility
- Caring teachers who provide individual attention and go the extra mile for students
- Clean, well-maintained campus environment
- Values-based Methodist education welcoming families of all backgrounds
- Strong track record with 65 years of educational experience
- Quality accreditations including EduTrust and Singapore Quality Class certification
Considerations
- Mixed recent parent reviews with some concerns about student behavior and academic standards
- Limited visibility in Singapore's international school discussions compared to tier-one institutions
- Relatively small scale may limit subject options and extracurricular breadth compared to larger international schools
- Fee structure not publicly available, requiring direct contact for cost planning
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Primary 1–2 | 7 | SGD 13,828 |
| Primary 3–4 | 9 | SGD 13,828 |
| Primary 5–6 | 11 | SGD 13,828 |
| Year 7–8 | 12 | SGD 16,493 |
| Year 9–10 (O-Level / IGCSE) | 14 | SGD 17,612 |
| Year 11–12 (WACE) | 16 | SGD 18,284 |
| Year 11–12 (IBDP) | 16 | SGD 23,806 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment Fee | SGD 373 | |
| Application Fee | SGD 821 |
Reviews
- Parents and online posters in Singapore describe SFMS as a more affordable international option, often listed alongside ICS, Invictus and OWIS for families on tighter budgets.
- The school runs a January to December calendar (not Singapore's August intake), which posters flag as a deciding factor for some incoming families.
- Reviews praise teachers as caring and dedicated, with a values-based pastoral tone tied to the school's Methodist roots.
- Recurring complaint: class sizes have been called "huge" with some sections above 30, despite marketing of small-class promises. Parents cite a gap between admissions messaging and reality.
- Mixed feedback on instructional language (English with Mandarin support); some parents see this as inclusive, others see it as inconsistent with international-school billing.
- One recurring positive: leadership has acted on parent feedback in the past, with cafeteria food and uniform changes cited as examples.
Positives
- Affordability vs Singapore peers. Posters consistently list SFMS among Singapore's lower-fee international options, useful for families priced out of larger schools.
- Caring teachers and pastoral focus. Reviews describe dedicated teachers and a values-led tone tied to Methodist heritage.
- Responsive leadership on operational issues. Parents cite past changes to food and uniforms in response to feedback.
Considerations
- January start calendar. School runs a January to December year, not the Aug-Jun calendar most international schools in Singapore use.
- Class size gap between marketing and reality. Parents flag classes above 30 students against advertised small-class promises.
- Mixed-language instruction. Some classes use Mandarin alongside English; opinions split on whether this matches international-school billing.
Leadership
Mr Lee Hak Boon
Mr Lee Hak Boon is the Principal of St Francis Methodist School (International) in Singapore, a position he has held since at least 2023. He brings Singapore education, having previously served as Principal of Catholic High School (2003-2014), Loyang Secondary School (2015-2017 and 2018+), and Xinmin Secondary School (1998-2002).
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
Academic results
- Result IB DP avg 37.8 points 2021 (first cohort), 100% 30+ points, 80% 35+ points, highest score 45 points
- Result WACE 2023 ATAR scores include 99.5, 99.05, 94.45
- Result IGCSE scores include 2A* 3A 1B
- Result GCE O-Level scores include 7-8 Distinctions (L1R5 6-7 points).