Australian International School Malaysia in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia

Australian International School Malaysia is the first and only International School in Malaysia offering an Australian Curriculum, delivered by Australian teachers, and following the Australian school year.

Australian International School Malaysia Curriculum

The Australian International School Malaysia offers the 13 year school curriculum devised by the New South Wales (NSW) Board of Studies (BOS), with which the school is registered. This is the curriculum used for all schools in the state of NSW, Australia with the BOS having its headquarters in Sydney. It is a rigorous curriculum that aims to cater for students at all academic levels. It is flexible with a strong emphasis on discovery, understanding, research, analysis and communication. It expects students to master appropriate information but is not a system based on rote learning. Students are expected to take risks with aspects of the syllabus and, with the guidance of teachers, to learn from mistakes. The BOS curriculum is reflected in the statement made by the school: “educating explorers for the 21st century”.

The curriculum is divided into a number of KEY LEARNING AREAS which ensure that a broad pattern of study is followed by all students. The courses of study are compulsory until Year 8. In Years 9 to 10 there is a core of compulsory subjects and a range of electives is introduced. Full specialization is delayed until the final two years of study (Years 11 and 12). At this point a course in English is compulsory and students select a range of subjects to meet their ability and their aspirations for further study.

The 13 year NSW system is divided into Stages. They are:

1. Early Stage 1 – Kindergarten (5- 6 years of age)
2. Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2 (6-7 years in Year 1 and 7-8 years in Year 2)
3. Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4 (8-9 years in Year 3 and 9-10 years in Year 4)
4. Stage 3 – Years 5 and 6 (10-11 year in Year 5 and 11-12 years in Year 6)
5. Stage 4 – Years 7 and 8 (12-13 years in Year 7 and 13-14 years in Year 8 )
6. Stage 5 – Years 9 and 10 (14-15 years in Year 9 and 15-16 years in Year 10) Year 10 students attain the School Certificate
7. Stage 6 – Years 11 and 12 (16-17 years in Year 11 and 17-18 years in Year 12) Year 12 students attain the Higher School Certificate.

The school follows the NSW school year – commencing in late January and finishing around mid December. The year is divided into 4 terms of approximately 10 weeks each.

The language of instruction in the school is English.

Australian International School Malaysia Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA)

Students participate in the ECA programme which takes place on Monday to Thursday afternoons from 3.20 pm to 4.20 pm. This programme aims to broaden the experience of students and assist in the development of skills and interests other than academia. All students from Year 3 are expected to participate in at least one ECA each semester. ECA runs for two semesters (semester 1 is terms 1 and 2 and semester 2 is terms 3 and 4). Some ECAs are offered all year whereas others are offered on a semester basis.

The ECA programme is made up of school sports (such as, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Netball, Touch Football) and a variety of other activities. These vary from Martial Arts, Circus Skills, Art and Dance to Cooking, Cubs and Brownies, Swimming lessons, Model United Nations and the Year Book. The scope of activities changes depending on the availability of appropriate teachers or outside providers. Most of the activities are conducted by teachers.

Malaysian Citizens

Following the new policy introduced by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) in June 2006, Malaysian citizens may enroll in international schools. As a part of the conditions established by the MOE all Malaysian citizens will study:
Bahasa Malaysia
Aspects of the National Curriculum, particularly Geography, History and Moral Studies for those who do not study Agama.
These studies should be taught substantially in Bahasa Malaysia.

All Year 3 to 8 students are required to attend an extra Malaysian Studies lesson (one hour per week) after school during the ECA time. Year 9 and 10 students have the appropriate hours within their Malaysian Studies elective. Malaysian Studies is the course that contains all MOE requirements. This requirement does not apply to Years 11 and 12.

All Malaysian citizens who are Muslim must study Agama. International Muslim students may apply to study Agama. These classes (one hour per week) are scheduled in the afternoon during the ECA programme.

Attendance at Agama and Malaysian Studies is a condition of enrollment and takes priority over attendance at ECA.

Australian International School Malaysia Entrance Assessment

All students entering the school are required to sit for an entrance assessment in literacy and numeracy appropriate to the year level they are applying to enter. These tests are devised by the school with the aim of comparing the performance of the potential entrant to students currently within the school. They provide the school with a guide to the student’s ability and can highlight learning difficulties that would need to be addressed should enrollment take place.

Entrance by Applicants from English as a Second Language (ESL) Background

Students whose first language is not English and/or have attended schools where the language of instruction was not English will be required to be assessed. This assessment is used to ensure that the student has sufficient English to cope in an English speaking classroom. Students who are admitted will usually require ESL support as a condition of enrollment. Further information is available on this website regarding ESL.

Basic Skills

During term 1 students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit for the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA). This is a basic skills test in literacy and numeracy devised by the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) in Melbourne. Parents are provided with information from the ISA later in the year once it is sent to the school by ACER. The school uses this information, in conjunction with internal assessment and testing, to identify specific areas for development and identifies specific students who may require assistance.

Reporting

An important aspect of a rigorous academic system is appropriate reporting. The school issues full school reports twice a year – at the end of term 2 and the end of term 4. These are supplemented by shorter progress reports at the end of terms 1 and 3.

The academic reports differ between Junior, Middle and Senior Schools but all reports aim to provide comprehensive information about student performance; the relationship of the performance to the syllabus outcomes provided by the BOS and an indication of whether or not the performance is equivalent to what would be expected given the age and stage of the student.

Along with academic reports students are provided with a Digital Portfolio. This supplements the written report by providing samples of students’ work, in written, photographic and video form, as well as students’ reflections on their work.

Australian International School Malaysia Enrollment Procedures

Step 1: Application
Submit the completed application form, application fee and all the required documents to the Admissions Department. The application is only complete when the school receives all the required documentation. Incomplete form or documentation will not be processed until all required documents have been submitted to the school. Please refer to Application Checklist for details.

Step 2: Availability of Places
Admissions Officer reviews the application received and parents will be advised whether a place is available in the requested year group.

Step 3: Assessment
Applicants are scheduled for an assessment which consists of Literacy and Numeracy tests only after the application for admission is completed and the school has confirmed that there is a place in the requested year group.
The assessment is applicable for Year 1 to Year 12 applicants. In exceptional cases, these tests may be organised through the applicant’s current school for Year 3 and above.

Step 4: Interview
Applicants will be interviewed by the Principal / Assistant Principal. Either one or both parent or guardian is required to be present during the interview.

Step 5: Admission & Registration
Successful applicants will receive an offer letter from the school.
The acceptance of the offer must be made on or before the specified date as indicated on the offer letter.
Payment of the enrollment fee and all other fees payable are required to confirm the place. The enrollment fee paid is non refundable if cancellation is made by the parent thereafter.

Step 6: Orientation
Students starting on the first day of each term are required to attend an orientation morning.

Step 7: Approval from Ministry of Education (MOE) – Malaysian students only
Parents will be notified by Admissions Officer upon receipt of an approval letter from the MOE.
Malaysian students are only allowed to start school upon receipt of the approval letter from the MOE.

Step 8 : Commence school – First Day of School
New students will report to the Admissions Office (F7) at 8:45am and will be taken to the class by the relevant Head of School.

Location Map of Australian International School Malaysia

Australian International School Malaysia Contact Details

Australian International School Malaysia
22 Jalan Anggerik,
The MINES Resort City,
43300 Sri Kembangan,
Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.

Tel: +6(03)8943 0622
Fax: +6(03)8948 4522
Email: admin@aism.edu.my