International schools post-Covid: how school communities across the globe are welcoming new families

After two years of lockdown and Covid-induced travel bans, it finally feels as though the green shoots are on their way. The pandemic forced many families across the globe to put relocation plans on ice – but with the world slowly but surely opening up again, we’re hearing from more and more people who are now pressing ahead with long-awaited plans to move abroad, be it for work, family or lifestyle reasons.

Relocating to a new country in ‘normal’ times is daunting, but in the midst of a pandemic, it’s downright dizzying. And with families unable to move during the height of lockdown, international schools undoubtedly took a hit, with admissions on hold and many pupils unable to return.

So with applications picking up again, what is the current outlook for international schools around the world – and what are they doing to help families settle into both a new country and a new school community? We spoke to a handful of schools in , , and Dubai to find out how they are getting on, and asked those who have recently made the move themselves to share their experiences.

, Singapore

As the oldest British international school in south-east Asia, Tanglin Trust School is high on the educational hit list for families arriving in Singapore. It’s truly international too – despite pupils here being predominantly British, there are more than 50 nationalities on the school roll.

Thankfully, the pandemic didn’t deter some from making a move to Singapore. ‘When we found out about our relocation from Hong Kong, the first thing we researched was schools,’ say Mr and Mrs Mansour, whose children joined Tanglin Trust last year. Another family, the Nguyens, told us how they moved to Singapore from Australia last summer, ‘at the height of the restrictions in both countries’.

Both families are full of praise for the school’s efforts to help them settle in during such a topsy-turvy time. We love the sound of the parent ambassadors’ scheme where, in normal times, existing parents (many of whom are expats themselves) show prospective parents around the campus. New students are also allocated a pupil buddy, who will offer to meet up with them as soon as they arrive in Singapore. And although masks and bubbles might still be in place for now, parents are being included as best they can. ‘We have met the children’s teachers on Zoom frequently, and there is a parent class rep who is always on hand to help,’ confirm the Mansours.

Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai, UAE

Dubai was recently voted one of the top global cities for its handling of the pandemic – and this accolade is clearly having a knock-on effect on relocating families. ‘We have seen an increase of over 500 new students this academic year, and the majority of families have cited their reasons for moving as the detrimental effect of long-term European lockdowns, the impact on their child’s education and the rebalancing of a better work/life situation,’ says Alison Roberts, the head of marketing and admissions at the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai.

‘The pandemic has certainly changed families’ perception of what’s really important – including a safe, yet cosmopolitan home location. Dubai ticks all these boxes, and as a result, has seen a significant rise in the number of Europeans moving to the city, particularly from western Europe.’

Still in its relative infancy at just six years old, SISD has capacity to grow with demand – and as a result, it’s been able to comfortably accommodate a recent surge of interest. The influx of new pupils has also supported the school’s vision to be a truly multicultural school, with more than 90 nationalities represented in the current pupil body.

‘As a school, we are very aware that most of the new families will be joining from overseas, so we set up regular parent events, coffee mornings and class engagement activities,’ continues Ms Roberts. ‘We have a very inclusive parent body who embrace new joining families, and our parent committee ensures new families feel part of the school community very quickly. One of our core values is “together”, and we absolutely practise what we preach.’

, Thailand

Considered to be among the top 10 international schools in Thailand, Regents International School Pattaya’s community is usually made up of one-third Thai and two-thirds international families – but there has been a definite uptick in applications from Chinese families over the past year, the school tells us.

Expats who have recently arrived from overseas confirm that one of the school’s greatest strengths is the way it welcomes new families, helping them settle into not just the campus, but Thailand as a country too. Parents are invited to become a Regents Ambassador, representing their country within the wider school community, while the Parent Supporters Group Committee creates a formal link between staff and parents, charged with organising events such as parent cooking classes and Christmas carol services.

‘We were concerned about making a move in the midst of Covid, but from the admissions process to our final move, the school’s care was first rate,’ say the Krishnakumar family, who recently arrived from Jakarta. ‘The teachers understood our relocation challenges, helped ease the pressure on us and our children and stayed positive throughout. We couldn’t have asked for more.’

, Singapore

Dover Court International School’s weekly enquiries are, the school tells us, nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. Zoe Hancock, director of admissions and marketing, says that it’s partly because, compared to many other countries in the region, Singaporean schools have managed to by and large remain open, making the territory an attractive destination for expat families.

The school community is part of what makes Dover Court so special. New starters are welcomed with a family buddy (in addition to an individual pupil buddy), and the 60 nationalities across the school reflect the inclusive vibe. The parents’ association works tirelessly to organise social events such as barbecues and quiz nights to keep everyone feeling connected.

‘Moving to a different country is always stressful – even more so with a teenager,’ one family who have just joined the school told us. ‘In an ideal world, we would have physically visited various schools before making a decision, but this was not possible and we had to do the entire process remotely. Our first physical visit to the school was just amazing – from a lovely campus to great teachers and an awesome environment, Dover Court has it all. In some schools, the focus is only on academics, but Dover Court focuses more on the holistic development of children, which is so essential in today’s world.’

, Malaysia

'Relocating to another country thousands of miles away from our support system has been quite an adventure,’ say one family who joined ISKL, Malaysia’s first accredited IB World School, this January. But that hasn’t stopped them feeling incredibly welcome – the community vibe here is exceptionally strong, with new parents told all there is to know not just about the school itself, but also about life in eastern Kuala Lumpur’s Ampang district, where the vast 25-acre campus is located. ‘Weeks before our arrival, ISKL’s admissions team made themselves available to guide us and answer any questions, despite the time difference.’

New families are automatically enrolled in the school’s hugely active PTA, with regular events including coffee mornings and dinner and dancing laid on throughout the the academic year. ‘Peer helpers’, meanwhile, buddy up with new students to help them find their feet.

There are more than 60 nationalities at the school, but that certainly doesn’t seem to set anyone apart. ‘New students feel like everyone is in the same boat and on the same journey, no matter the culture, belief or country you come from,’ says Grade 8 student Thibaud, who started as a pupil here in January.

Photo credit: The International School of Kuala Lumpur

, Thailand

Founded in the 1950s to offer a British-style education to the children of English-speaking expats, Bangkok Patana is one of the oldest and best international schools in Thailand – and head Matthew Mills is a real champion of his community. During lockdown, he made a point of going into school every day (when the rules allowed) in an effort to keep community spirit alive and kicking.

We’ve heard heaps of praise for the parent community here, with lots of newcomer coffee mornings arranged for recent relocators. The active Parent Teacher Group hosts a wide array of events to help celebrate the diversity within the school (on International Day, everyone wears their own national dress and samples different global cuisines), which is certainly something it pays more than just lip service to. ‘The teachers wanted to learn some Turkish words to help our children feel comfortable and connect with them,’ says Mr Bulut, whose family have moved to Thailand from Turkey.

New pupils are partnered with a buddy to make the transition easier, and parents were quick to tell us of staff’s conscious efforts to ensure children feel settled. ‘Everyone was very supportive, and follow-ups were made by the admissions team so that both we and our child migrated very easily into this new environment,’ adds the father of another new arrival from India.

, Singapore

More than 200 new families joined this co-ed, all-through school after the winter break this year. ‘We provided orientation sessions for our parents to get a better understanding of the day-to-day life at CIS, but also the opportunity to meet other new parents,’ says the school’s CEO Johan Stromsater. ‘The students are also very happy with our buddy programme, which gives them a first friend at CIS and someone to help them settle in.’

‘We loved that we immediately felt welcome,’ say Marjolein and Ton van den Bosch who, despite joining the school pre-pandemic, appreciated the teachers’ extra efforts to make their children feel at home after arriving in Singapore from the Philippines. ‘Another important factor was that there are students from 70 nationalities here – and with an emphasis on global citizenship, CIS is truly unique.'

Indeed, there are more than 100 languages spoken within the school community. And with such diversity, CIS is well aware that it’s not just the school that expats want to get to know. At the start of each academic year, the PTA invites external vendors to its annual fair, who come armed with information about activities and businesses across the territory, helping relocators become part of the wider Singaporean community too.

, Thailand

There’s no doubt that international schools in Thailand have had a very bumpy ride thanks to Covid – but things are moving in the right direction again for KIS, which despite not being a big-name heavy-hitter stands out for its solid results, small class sizes and a genuine community feel.

‘We are seeing a slow uptick in applications, tours and interviews from international families, so things are moving in the right direction,’ says Câline Fonteneau, the school’s director of admissions and marketing. ‘The military coup in Myanmar, as well as dissatisfaction with some online learning programmes, helped feed our admissions funnel in particular.’

‘We do have some brave families that started in the midst of this craziness – remote learning, lockdown in Bangkok and all. I was one of those individuals, and it’s been an appreciated but slow-moving return to normalcy. Despite moving at a chaotic time, what has helped me to stay grounded and connected is being part of a caring school community. The friendships my children are forging are also expanding their worldview, be that of religions, languages or cultures. I am also grateful for the teachers who have worked tirelessly as we navigate Covid, pivoting between online, hybrid and in-person learning throughout this academic year. It’s a really lovely community with some very kind students.’

, Malaysia

Epsom College is a relative newcomer on Malaysia’s international school scene, and in the past has, on the whole, attracted more Asian families than it does expats (50 per cent of the current student population in Malaysian) – but thanks to its relatively small size, parents praise the school’s top-notch pastoral care and support of the school community. ‘I have always felt welcome to visit, interact, challenge the status quo and be heard,’ says Mr Van Der Veen, who has two children in Year 9 at the school.

This summer, the school is launching the Mouratoglou Tennis Programme, designed to equip talented young athletes with a pathway towards a professional career. Created in partnership with the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice, the school is hoping this may lead to a boost in student numbers from Europe and the Americas.

The school’s parent group, Friends of Epsom College in Malaysia, is open to both current and former parents, a signal of the strength of the community here well after pupils leave.

To find out more about the best international schools across the globe, visit our guides to , , , , , and .

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International schools post-Covid: how school communities across the globe are welcoming new families

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