Who Owns Australian International School Singapore?

Australian International School Singapore was founded in 1981 in Singapore, making it one of the city-state's oldest international schools. The school was established to serve the Australian expatriate community in Singapore, which had grown significantly during the 1970s and 1980s as Australian companies and professionals expanded their presence in Southeast Asia.

Singapore has long been one of Asia's most important financial, commercial, and logistics hubs, attracting a large and diverse international community of professionals from around the world. Australian companies have been particularly active in Singapore, given the country's role as a gateway to Southeast Asian markets and its strong trade and investment ties with Australia. The Australian expatriate community in Singapore has historically been one of the city-state's largest national communities, creating sustained demand for Australian curriculum education.

Australian International School Singapore was established to meet this demand, offering the Australian curriculum to students from early childhood through secondary school. The Australian curriculum is the national curriculum framework used in Australian schools, covering English, mathematics, science, humanities, arts, technologies, health and physical education, and languages. Students completing the Australian curriculum at secondary level receive the Higher School Certificate (HSC) or equivalent Australian state qualifications, which are recognized by Australian universities and by universities internationally.

Over more than four decades, Australian International School Singapore developed a reputation as one of Singapore's leading international schools, serving not only Australian families but also families from other countries who value the Australian curriculum's emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and holistic development. The school built a diverse student body drawn from Australian families, other expatriate families, and Singaporean families seeking an internationally oriented education.

Singapore's international school market is one of the world's most competitive and sophisticated, reflecting the city-state's position as a global hub for business, finance, and professional services. The market includes schools offering British, American, Australian, International Baccalaureate, and other internationally recognized curricula, serving a large and diverse international community.

Australian International School Singapore became part of Cognita Schools as part of Cognita's strategy to build a strong portfolio of premium international schools in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Cognita's Asian school portfolio includes schools in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian markets, providing a network of premium international schools across the region.

Under Cognita's ownership, Australian International School Singapore gains access to Cognita's global educational resources, curriculum development support, teacher professional development programs, and the broader Cognita network of more than 100 schools across 20 countries. Cognita's philosophy emphasizes preserving each school's individual identity and local character while providing access to global resources and best practices.