Prince of Wales Island International School - Tanjung Bungah

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah is located in a residential coastal suburb on the northern side of Penang Island, Malaysia. The area is popular with both local and expatriate families and sits between George Town and Batu Ferringhi. It is well-connected by public roads and accessible by car from most areas of Penang. The school is situated near the beachfront, offering a quiet environment close to essential amenities.

The school caters to students aged 3 to 13, from Nursery (Early Years) through to Year 8 (Lower Secondary). The structure includes Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery & Reception), Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2), Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6), and Key Stage 3 (Years 7–8). Students typically continue on to POWIIS Secondary in Balik Pulau for IGCSEs and A Levels.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah is a co-educational international day school. It does not offer boarding facilities. All students attend on a day-only basis.

The school provides support for students with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), including dedicated Learning Support and English as an Additional Language (EAL) staff. Pupils with mild to moderate needs are supported within mainstream classrooms or through targeted interventions. Additionally, the school collaborates with peripatetic specialists (Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy, and Counselling) onsite to support students holistically.

The school follows the English National Curriculum, but it is not formally affiliated with the UK government. It is privately owned and open to all nationalities.

POWIIS does not have any religious affiliations.

The school day typically begins at 8:00 AM and ends by 3:00 PM, with variations by age group. It includes a morning break and lunch break, with younger children often finishing slightly earlier. Co-curricular activities take place after school hours on selected days.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah offers a school bus service with designated routes across Penang Island and the mainland. The service is operated by an external provider, and families can arrange transport directly with the provider. Fees vary depending on distance and service type.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through to Key Stage 3. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), learning is play-based and focuses on personal, social, and emotional development alongside early literacy and numeracy.

Key Stage 1 and 2 (Years 1–6) continue with core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science, supplemented by History, Geography, Computing, Music, Art, Physical Education, and Languages (including Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia).

In Key Stage 3 (Years 7–8), students study a broader subject range in preparation for the IGCSE pathway, which is offered at the Balik Pulau campus from Year 10 onwards. The curriculum is designed to provide continuity, with specialist teachers introduced from early primary years in subjects such as Music, Art, and PE.

Students are also offered opportunities in co-curricular learning and community engagement as part of their holistic development.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah does not publicly disclose a formal Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programme.

Elements of SEL are embedded within the Early Years Foundation Stage through the focus on Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED). From Year 1 onward, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is taught as a discrete subject and includes themes such as healthy lifestyles, relationships, and respect for diversity. In Key Stage 3, subjects like Drama and Outdoor Education also contribute to students' social and emotional growth through teamwork, self-expression, and resilience-building activities. While these components support aspects of SEL, they are not described as part of a dedicated SEL framework.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah runs a dedicated Learning Support Team providing classroom differentiation, small-group interventions, and one-to-one instruction for students with mild to moderate learning needs. Support includes on-site Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy, and Counselling, delivered by peripatetic specialists. This is a mainstream school with inclusive SEN provision, but it is not a specialist SEN institution.

EAL support is formally provided for multilingual students, with structured EAL classes to help them fully access the academic curriculum. These run from Early Years through Key Stage 3, with ongoing language development to aid integration.

The school’s Wellbeing mission states they aim to nurture emotional, psychological, and social health by providing safe spaces and encouraging open communication. The school does not publicly disclose specific provisions, staff roles, or programmes focused solely on mental wellbeing for the Tanjung Bungah campus.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah maintains a comprehensive safeguarding framework to ensure student well-being and safety. All staff, including volunteers and contractors, undergo rigorous background checks, including identity verification, qualification review, and criminal record screening from both local and international authorities. Annual safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff, with additional 'Train the Trainer' sessions to maintain best practices. The school implements a detailed Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, outlining procedures for identifying and responding to concerns. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Amy Dennis, who works closely with school leadership. A safeguarding working group regularly reviews policies and procedures, and all child protection concerns are formally reported and documented.

1. Attend a school visit or Open Day. The school offers scheduled visits to help families explore the campus and observe learning in action.
2. Complete the age-appropriate assessment.

Nursery–Year 1 (ages 3–6): A 30-minute session with the Principal.
Years 2–3 (ages 6–8): A 1-hour session with the Principal, including reading and writing.
Years 4–6 (ages 8–11): A CAT4 test (1.5–2 hours) with the Registrar, followed by a 30-minute Principal interview.
Years 7–12 (ages 11–17): A CAT4 test plus a 15-minute interview with the Principal.
3. Submit required documents. Parents should provide the completed assessment registration form, the student’s current English-language school report (if applicable), and a copy of their passport or national ID.
4. Receive the decision and enrolment details. If a place is offered, the school will send an official offer letter with details of deposits, tuition fees, and payment deadlines.

POWIIS Tanjung Bungah offers scholarships to both existing and new students entering Year 7 or Year 8. Each scholarship provides a 15% discount on annual tuition fees and is awarded in one of the following categories:

Academic Scholarship:
Awarded based on high CAT (Cognitive Aptitude Test) scores, a teacher or tutor recommendation, and demonstrated exceptional academic ability. Evidence of success in external academic competitions or subject-specific achievements is also considered.

Creative Arts Scholarship (Art or Design Technology):
Candidates must present a portfolio of work and/or show achievement in external examinations or competitions relevant to the discipline.

Performing Arts Scholarship (Music or Drama):
Assessed through a performance or portfolio, along with evidence of success in validated music/drama exams or competitions (e.g., ABRSM, drama festivals).

Sports Scholarship:
Candidates must show evidence of representation at state or national level, or participation in school sports teams at representative level or above. Certification of involvement in competitive events is required.

All scholarship recipients must maintain an exemplary attendance and behaviour record. Scholarships are performance-based, reviewed regularly, and may be withdrawn with one term’s notice if students do not continue to meet the expectations
.

The school does not publicly mention a waitlist or pool system.