Tanglin Trust School

Did you ever hear of a school that survived a world war and a forced closure? Tanglin Trust School, right here in Singapore, has such a story. It’s a tale of resilience, adaptation, and a commitment to education against all odds. Tanglin Trust School began its journey in 1925, founded by Anne Griffith-Jones. It was the first British international school in Southeast Asia. The school started humbly within the Tanglin Club with just five students. It quickly grew, offering a British-style education that allowed expatriate families to keep their children in Singapore, rather than sending them to boarding schools in Britain. Then came 1942 and the Japanese occupation. The school was forced to close, and Griffith-Jones, along with many other British expatriates, was interned. But the story of Tanglin Trust School doesn’t end there. After the war, the school reopened, continuing its mission. In 1981, three schools under the Tanglin Trust merged onto the current Portsdown Road campus. This created a unified institution offering education from nursery to sixth form. Today, Tanglin Trust School stands as a testament to its enduring legacy. It’s a thriving international school with approximately 2,800 students from over 50 nationalities. It offers both A-Levels and the IB Diploma, a unique offering in Singapore. This school has consistently achieved outstanding results, with graduates often securing places at top universities worldwide. Tanglin Trust School is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents a continuous thread of British education woven into the vibrant tapestry of Singapore. It survived war, adapted to changing times, and continues to thrive as a leading international school.