International Schools Offering The British Curriculum

Many international schools in Malaysia offer a British-based curriculum that follows the National Curriculum for England. This curriculum sets out the programme of study and targets for all subjects and is divided into year blocks called Key Stages (KS). Learners are formally assessed at the end of each key stage.

The first KS is Early Years for learners ages two to five, followed by the primary level called the KS1 (ages 5 to 7) and the KS2 (ages 7 to 11). Secondary levels consist of KS3 (ages 11 to 14) and KS4 (ages 14 to 16). In KS4, students take formal examinations set by Examination Boards such as the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), Pearson Edexcel and the OxfordAQA International Qualifications.

At the pre-university level, learners ages 16 to 18 go through KS5. The various key stages help teachers to have an overview of a learner’s academic progress.

Subjects Covered 

Various core and compulsory subjects depend on the school year, but many schools go beyond the standard requirements and offer complementary subjects.

The subjects that are compulsory for students to take are:

• English Language and Literature 

• Mathematics 

• Science

• History 

• Geography 

• Physical Education 

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) or Computer Science 

• Art and Design 

• Music

Schools also often teach:

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) 

• Citizenship 

• Modern foreign languages 

It’s important to note that the specifics can vary and some international schools might offer additional subjects or variations based on their location, the needs of their students and any specific requirements set by relevant educational authorities. 

Exam Boards

Examination boards such as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), Pearson Edexcel, and OxfordAQA International Qualifications administer formal assessments at the end of Key Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16). These assessments play a pivotal role in evaluating students' academic abilities within the British-based curriculum adopted by international schools in Malaysia.

The CAIE exam board offers qualifications such as the IGCSE, O Level, A Level and Pre-University. At the GCSE, CAIE offers over 70 subjects, and a student must take a minimum of five and may not exceed 14 subjects (the maximum). Typically, some schools make certain subjects compulsory such as Maths, Science and English.

Pearson Edexcel is primarily used for GCSE and A Level exams (as well as for some vocational exams like the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and for Functional Skills). Pearson offers several programmes and credentials for students between the ages of 14 and 19 in addition to providing credentials in over 50 subject areas, including the core subjects of Maths, Science and English. However, there are more than 300 options for topics or subjects associated with the various work-based and NVQ competency certifications, and Edexcel is a popular option for Business, Technology and Educational Council (BTEC) and NVQ qualifications.

The OxfordAQA International Qualifications offer certifications in about 60 different topic areas, with various requirements and levels of qualification offered within each subject area. The three fundamental courses – Maths, Science and English – as well as a wide range of languages, humanities, ICT-related fields, physical education, and creative subjects are covered. OxfordAQA also offers Applied General and Levels 1, 2, and 3 credentials in a range of skill-based subject areas, including Business, Science and Chemistry, as well as independent extended projects.

International Schools Offering the British Curriculum 

Here is a list of international schools that offer the British curriculum. Some of these schools offer the Cambridge curriculum.

Kuala Lumpur 

1. Alice Smith School 
2. Aspiration International School 
3. Beaconhouse Newlands Early Years 
4. Cempaka Schools 
5. Cranbridge International School 
6. Garden International School 
7. Hibiscus International School 
8. International Islamic School Malaysia 
9. Primrose International School 
10. Sayfol International School 
11. Sri Bestari International School
12. Sri Dasmesh International School 
13. St. John's International Primary and Secondary School
14. Taylor's International School 
15. The International School @ParkCity 
16. UCSI International School 

Selangor 

1. Alice Smith School 
2. Arrows International Secondary School 
3. Asia Pacific Schools 
4. Beaconhouse Schools 
5. Beaconhouse Newlands International School 
6. Cempaka Schools 
7. Eaton International School 
8. Elc International School 
9. Global Modern International School 
10. Global Oak Tree Scholars International School 
11. HELP International School 
12. HIS International School 
13. IDRISSI International School 
14. Inspiros International School 
15. Kueen Lai International School
16. King Henry VIII College 
17. Kingsgate International School 
18. MAHSA International School
19. Maple Leaf Kingsley International School 
20. MAZ International School 
21. Mutiara International Grammar School 
22. Orbix International School 
23. Rafflesia International & Private School 
24. R.E.A.L Schools 
25. SAINT International School 
26. Seven Skies Islamic International School 
27. Sri KDU International School 
28. St. Joseph's Institution International School Malaysia 
29. Straits International School 
30. Taylor's International School 
31. Tenby Schools 
32. The British School of Kuala Lumpur 
33. TLS International School 
34. Victoria International School 

Pulau Pinang 

1. Pelita International School 
2. Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) 
3. St. Christopher's International Primary School 
4. Stonyhurst International School 
5. Straits International School
6. Tenby Schools 
7. The International School of Penang (Uplands)
8. XCL International School 

Johor 

1. Austin Height Private & International Schools 
2. Crescendo-HELP International School 
3. Marlborough College Malaysia 
4. Orbix International School 
5. Paragon Private & International School 
6. R.E.A.L International School 
7. Repton International School 
8. Seri Omega Private & International School 
9. Tenby Schools, Setia Eco Gardens 

Perak 

1. Asia Metropolitan International School (AMETIS)
2. City Harbour International School 
3. EdQuest International School 
4. Seri Botani International School 
5. Tenby Schools 
6. Westlake International School 

Negeri Sembilan 

1. Epsom College 
2. Kolej Tunku Ja'afar
3. Matrix Global Schools 
4. Nilai International School 
5. Zenith International School 

Sabah 

1. Charis International School 
2. Jesselton International School 
3. Kinabalu International School 
4. Vision International School

Sarawak 

1. Knewton Global Schools 
2. Lodge International School 
3. Tunku Putra-HELP School 
4. Woodlands International School 

Terengganu

1.  Ekhlass International School 

Melaka 

1. Oakrich International School 

Labuan 

1. Labuan International School 

Putrajaya 

1. International Modern Arabic School 
2. Nexus International School 

Kelantan 

1. Kelantan International School 

Pahang

1. Highlands International Boarding School 

In summary, the British curriculum is a popular curriculum offered by many international schools in Malaysia because of its well-structured and coherent progression of learning from early childhood all the way to pre-university through the various stages. The curriculum leads to the IGCSE examinations at the end of secondary school. At the pre-university level, students commonly sit for the A level. Universities and employers around the world recognise the A level qualification.