How big are class sizes?
Class sizes vary according to the school year, but are generally no more than 25.
What facilities do you have?
Book a tour to see our amazing Campus and Facilities and see the progress of our upcoming STEAM building, opening in September 2023.
Does the school offer any after school activities?
There are a wide range of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) on offer to all age groups from from Year 1 (TIS) / Standard 1 (SST) upwards, covering all areas of interest including sports, STEAM, media, languages and more. All students are required to participate in CCAs.
What is the House System?
Every student is assigned to one of four Houses when they first arrive. These Houses compete against one another in school sports, arts and academic competitions, offering students the chance to develop a healthy competitive spirit while providing a focus of identity beyond their year group.
As we have the benefit of being a relatively small school, we believe that the House system is very important in order to build a tighter-knit school community.
Are students involved in organising school activities?
Student leadership is very important to us. Our Prefects (Primary and Secondary in TIS/SST) and School Council representatives (Secondary in TIS/SST) are expected to work as a team to organise events across the school, thus developing leadership and problem solving skills.
We believe that learning is about developing the whole person, and this means students must be regularly challenging themselves inside and outside the classroom.
How much parent involvement is there in school activities?
There is an active Parents Association that meets regularly with the Senior Leadership of the school. The role of the Parents’ Association is to facilitate contact between parents and staff, while offering new parents a supportive community to be part of at the school. The association also regularly organises events for the school community such as festive celebrations and fun fairs.
Parents also have the opportunity to raise issues or discuss learning with teachers and leaders through regular parent forums and parent teacher conferences. In addition, parents of all year groups are regularly invited to school performances, events and competitions to share in the learning and progress of their children.
Where do most of the families in the Tenby Schools Penang community live?
Where do your teachers came from?
Our teachers come from all over the world, with a large community of teachers coming from the UK. We have a good mix of expatriates and locals, and all our teachers hold degree level qualifications.
What are the differences between the International and National streams?
First, the academic calendar. The Malaysian National Curriculum runs on the calendar year of January to December whereas the International Curriculum runs from August to July.
The main difference is in terms of the qualifications students work towards. Sekolah Sri Tenby (SST) students complete the Malaysian public exams – SPM – whereas International School (TIS) students undergo IGCSE exams. Both curriculums can access A Levels as a pre-university qualification.
As for the medium of instruction, all lessons in TIS are delivered in English, while lessons in SST are delivered in either Bahasa Melayu or English according to subject.
In terms of skill development and our approach to learning, there is very little difference between the two curriculums. In both streams, the goal is to help children become better learners who can absorb the most from the lesson in front of them. This extends outside the classroom too, and both SST and TIS students share the same school grounds and facilities, meet each other during CCAs, and are part of the same big Tenby family!
What does the school do to help children develop their English?
The school offers a number of differentiated programmes to support children develop their English. We run an English Language Centre (ELC) where we provide intensive English lessons to students with little or no English. There are additional costs for enrolling in this centre. In addition, the school has a specialist Department who support students who have English as an Additional Language and we also provide Assistant Teachers to support our younger students in the lessons.
See Learning Support for more.
What are the materials and aids used by the school to teach?
Teachers have access to a wide range of materials depending on the subject and the lesson. Teaching aids include online materials, apps and interactive software, textbooks, and even teacher created materials.
How does the school assist students who are researching further studies?
Our dedicated Careers and Guidance counsellor has experience in supporting students through the process of applying to and getting ready for university. Plus, students are supported by the Future Pathways programme under International Schools Partnership, where they’ll attend workshops and talks hosted on campus or online.
How long does the admissions process take?
We strive to make the admissions process as smooth as possible, while taking time and care to give each prospective student’s application the attention it deserves. Generally, the full admissions process takes around 1 to 2 weeks from the initial application until the confirmation of a place, during which time your child will be required to sit for a standard assessment of their cognitive abilities.
Please see our Admissions page for more information.
Do I need to pay a fee to apply for a place at Tenby?
Yes. A non-refundable application fee of RM500 (for both TIS an SST) will be charged and needs to be attached alongside all required documentation at the application stage.
If your child is successful in securing a place in the Tenby Schools family, you will then be asked to pay a non-refundable registration fee (RM3500 for TIS, RM1000 for SST) within the offer deadline to secure your child’s place. All fee payments such as deposit, term fee, Miscellaneous Fee and Intensive English Support fee (if applicable) must be made before the start date of school.
Please see our Admissions page for more information.
How can I pay my application fees?
Application fees may be paid in cash, credit card by a cheque drawn from a Malaysian bank in Ringgit, or by wire transfer. Our bank details are in the Fee Schedule document, which can be found on the School Fees page.
How does the school determine what year group my child will be placed in?
Students will be placed in year groups according to their date of birth. Our academic year cut-off date is 31st August every year for Tenby International School and 31st December for Sri Tenby School. Students entering Early Years must have turned 3 by the 1st of September, and so on as they progress up the school.
To see a full year group chart, please refer to our Admissions page.
How much are school fees?
Fees vary according to Year Level and whether your child is in our International or Private National stream. You may see the school fees here.
What other fees are parents expected to pay for?
In addition to school fees parents also need to pay for their child’s:
- CCAs (if paid CCA’s are selected)
- Educational visits (as advised)
- Meals (either at the canteen or through supplying a packed lunch)
- Required textbooks and equipment
- Transport (if required and payable directly to the transport company)
- Uniform and sports kit
My child’s English is not very good. Can I still apply?
As both our International and Malaysian National schools teach in English, it is important that all students can access English at a level where they can participate in the learning offered. Your child’s level of English will be assessed during the admissions process and the school will determine whether appropriate support can be provided to improve their English to the level required to access the curriculum appropriate to their age. This support is provided through a number of differentiated programmes.
Please contact admissions.penang@tenby.edu.my for more information.
What is the Curriculum used in Sekolah Sri Tenby?
In Sekolah Sri Tenby, we use the Malaysian National Curriculum, which is the same curriculum used by Malaysian government public schools.
What is the medium of instruction in Sekolah Sri Tenby?
We are approved to teach in English and Bahasa Malaysia under the Dual Language Programme of the Ministry of Education. As such, the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science subjects is English, while other subjects are taught in BM.
Nevertheless, as part of an international community including both schools, Sekolah Sri Tenby students will benefit tremendously in the mastery of both Bahasa Malaysia and English. Furthermore, Secondary students also have the option of sitting for the IGCSE examinations through an arrangement with Tenby International School.
Will students be answering questions in English during the UASA and SPM exams for Science and Mathematics?
Students have the option to answer in both English and Bahasa Melayu, which is in line with the Malaysian public school system.
Is Mandarin being taught at SST?
Yes, it is compulsory for all students from Standard 1 to Form 3 to attend the additional Mandarin language lessons. Students will have the option to choose Mandarin as a subject at the SPM level. They can also opt to take the HSK test.
What are the differences between the International and National streams?
First, the academic calendar. The Malaysian National curriculum runs on the calendar year of March to March whereas the International Curriculum runs from September to July.
The main difference is in terms of the qualifications students work towards. Sekolah Sri Tenby (SST) students complete the Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA) and SPM – whereas International School (TIS) students undergo the Cambridge checkpoint exams and IGCSE exams. Both curriculums can access A Levels as a pre-university qualification.
As for the medium of instruction, all lessons in TIS are delivered in English, while lessons in SST are delivered in either Bahasa Melayu or English according to subject.
In terms of skill development and our approach to learning there is very little difference between the two curriculums. In both streams, the goal is to help children become better learners who can absorb the most from the lesson in front of them. This extends outside the classroom too, and both SST and TIS students share the same school grounds and facilities, meet each other during CCAs, and are part of the same big Tenby family!
