The Alice Smith School - Primary Campus

The Alice Smith School's Primary Campus is located on Jalan Bellamy, a pleasant, leafy area adjacent to the old Royal Palace. Its central location means it is well-served by public transport, with various bus routes and proximity to train and monorail stations, providing connectivity across Kuala Lumpur. The surrounding area is an established neighbourhood, allowing for relatively easy access to central amenities, residential areas, and other parts of the city.

The Primary Campus is structured into Early Years (preschool to Year 2) and Junior (Year 3 to Year 6).

The school is a co-educational institution and does not offer boarding facilities.

The school provides learning support for students at the Primary Campus through its dedicated Learning Support Unit (LSU) department. This team of Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) work with students, teachers, and parents to create individual education support plans. Support can include one-on-one lessons or small group withdrawals. The Primary Campus specifically offers in-house access to professional services such as a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and specialist dyslexic support, though spaces for these programmes are limited and may incur additional costs. Progress is carefully tracked and reported to parents termly.

The Alice Smith School has a strong affiliation with the United Kingdom. It is recognised as the first British international school in Malaysia, established in 1946.

The school does not have an affiliation with a particular religion

The school day runs from 7:40 AM to 2:20 PM for most, with Early Years having a soft start (7:40 AM - 8:15 AM).

Break is 9:50 AM - 10:20 AM.

Lunch varies by age group (Early Years: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM; Years 1-2: 12:20 PM - 1:20 PM; Years 3-6: 11:40 AM - 12:20 PM)

The school offers a school bus service covering most major residential areas in Kuala Lumpur. This service is managed by a transport provider. Parents can utilise the Bus Buddy app to view their child's bus routes, timings, and track location, as well as manage schedules. While not a door-to-door service, common stop points are established. Morning pick-ups typically occur between 6:30 AM and 7:10 AM. Buses for normal dismissal depart around 3:00 PM, with later departures for optional after-school activities.

Lunch is scheduled for all Primary students with year-group specific timings: Early Years 12:00–13:00; Years 1–2 12:20–13:20; Years 3–6 11:40–12:20.

The Alice Smith Schools Association (the Association) was incorporated in 1950 as a company limited by guarantee. The School is governed by the Council of Governors, composed of 15–18 governors including trustee-nominated and appointed governors and the PTA Chair. The Association is a not-for-profit organisation; all resources are directed to the development and well-being of its students. The Association holds an AGM and files audited financial statements in accordance with the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards, the International Financial Reporting Standards and the Companies Act 2016 in Malaysia.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (Preschool to Year 2, ages 3-7), the curriculum focuses on play-based learning, following the British Curriculum. For Years 3 to 6 (ages 7-11), the Primary curriculum uses flexible, cross-curricular units to connect subjects to the real world, encouraging student-initiated questions.

At the Primary Campus, the school places a strong emphasis on fostering social and emotional development through direct, face-to-face interaction, particularly in the Early Years. The learning environment is designed to be physically and emotionally safe, encouraging student agency where children take ownership of their learning through play-based exploration and discovery. Teachers actively create opportunities for children to express themselves, build confidence, and develop foundational social-emotional competence. The "soft drop-off" option for younger students also helps create a sense of comfort and connection between home and school.

The school is not a specialist SEN institution but provides support for students with Special Educational Needs. The Learning Support Unit (LSU) assesses applications on a case-by-case basis to ensure the school can meet individual student needs. The LSU team assists with various needs, including dyslexia and attention difficulties, primarily through in-class support and small group withdrawals. The Primary Campus also has direct access to a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and specialist dyslexic support, working collaboratively with external agencies when needed.

The Primary School provides support for students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) at the Primary Campus through its Multilingual Learner (MLL) programme within the Learning Support Unit. Following an assessment, which may include an interview, students requiring EAL support can access personalised assistance. This enhanced language programme offers one-to-one or small focused group withdrawal sessions and in-class support. The MLL teacher regularly monitors and assesses student progress. This additional support is provided during the school day and incurs an extra cost to parents.

At the Primary Campus, the school focuses on fostering a physically and emotionally safe learning environment, particularly for younger children. The emphasis is on building foundational social and emotional skills through positive interactions and a nurturing atmosphere.

The Alice Smith School is deeply committed to safeguarding and child protection. Its policies and procedures are aligned with UK Government guidance and international standards, ensuring the welfare of all children is paramount. The school implements robust safeguarding practices, including rigorous safer recruitment processes for all staff and adults working on site, and conducts appropriate background checks. A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a Child Protection Team are in place with clear roles, ensuring all concerns are reported and addressed promptly. All school staff receive regular training on child protection, and students are educated on how to keep themselves safe. This commitment to safeguarding extends to all school-arranged activities, whether on or off campus.

The Alice Smith School was founded in 1946 by Alice Fairfield-Smith, an experienced teacher and biology graduate from Harvard University, who sought to provide a suitable education for her own daughter in Kuala Lumpur. Starting in her home, the school quickly grew, leading to the formation of The Alice Smith Schools Association (ASSA) in 1950. ASSA, a not-for-profit educational foundation registered in Malaysia, took over the administration, placing responsibility with a Council of Governors. This unique ownership structure ensures that all resources and any surpluses are reinvested directly into the school for the benefit of the students. The Primary Campus was opened in 1955 and had significant expansions over the years.

The Alice Smith School fosters a vibrant and inclusive community that celebrates diversity and unity. With students representing over 50 nationalities, the school regularly hosts cultural events such as the annual "International Day." This event provides an opportunity for students, parents, and staff to celebrate various cultures, languages, and traditions through colourful displays, traditional dishes, and activities. The strong community spirit is also evident through alumni engagement and various school-wide events listed on the school calendar, encouraging participation from all members of the Alice Smith family.

The Alice Smith School benefits from an active and diverse Parent Teacher Association (PTA), which plays an integral role in enhancing school life and fostering community. The PTA Committee, comprising parents and staff, meets regularly to support school initiatives and organise events. They manage Class Rep (for Primary) and Year Rep (for Secondary) WhatsApp groups to help new and existing parents connect. Common events organised by the PTA include the Back to School Social, Halloween events, Christmas Bazaars, Staff Appreciation days, Spring/Summer Fairs, Parent Coffee Mornings, and Quiz Nights. These events aim to strengthen community ties, create a welcoming atmosphere, and raise funds for school improvements and local charities.

The Primary Campus at Jalan Bellamy is adjacent to the former Royal Palace and has grown into a modern, spacious and flexible centre of learning with generous green spaces for play. The campus provides purpose-built facilities designed to support a positive, modern and stimulating learning environment. The Jubilee Centre features a ground-level dining hall with capacity for over 200 and an open-air, sunken play area; the upper floors include a parents' deli, administration offices, transport and catering offices, large meeting rooms, the uniform shop and a roof garden for educational purposes. Other facilities include Early Years classrooms with shared indoor play areas and outdoor spaces, Key Stage 1 and 2 classrooms, ICT suites (Windows and Apple Mac), two libraries with dedicated staff, a Balinese Garden, an Art Studio, a Science classroom, a Design Technology workshop, soundproofed music rooms and an assembly hall. A multi-million three-storey sports centre, Smurthwaite Gym, an all-weather artificially-turfed sports field, a swimming pool and a basketball court support physical education.

Smurthwaite Gym is a multi-storey sports centre on the campus. The facility includes an all-weather artificial turf sports field suitable for outdoor activities. A swimming pool is available for lessons and recreational use. A basketball court supports team games and PE activities. These spaces underpin a comprehensive physical education and sport programme for students.

ICT suites (Windows and Apple Mac) support digital learning. The campus has two libraries with dedicated staff to support reading and research. An Art Studio provides space for visual arts and creativity, while a Science classroom enables practical experiments. A Design Technology workshop supports making and problem solving. An assembly hall serves as a venue for events and whole-school gatherings.

Enrichment opportunities, experiences and events are offered across the Primary program. Specialist teaching is provided in Languages (Mandarin, French or Bahasa Malaysia) and in PE & sport, swimming, music, art and computing as part of the curriculum. The English National Curriculum is delivered with an international setting and the program emphasizes global citizenship and character development.

The Primary Campus is located at 2 Jalan Bellamy, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the phone number +603 2148 3674. The school has two campuses, with the Secondary Campus at 3 Jalan Equine, Taman Equine, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia, and the note that the campuses are about 20 minutes apart.

The Primary curriculum emphasizes a broad, balanced learning program that includes art, music, and drama as part of weekly subjects.

The Language Programme for the Primary phase includes French, Bahasa Malaysia, and Mandarin, supporting multilingual development from Year 1 to Year 6.

The Primary experience includes time for language practice, reading, writing, and collaborative activities that foster discussion and teamwork within a British curriculum framework.

The school highlights a safeguarding-focused environment and a community-oriented culture as part of its daily practice.

The school follows an Intent, Implementation, and Impact model for its Primary curriculum, aiming to enable all students to flourish and thrive through a clearly mapped knowledge, skills, and vocabulary progression.

Across Key Stages 1 and 2, English, maths, science, computing, music, PSHE, wellbeing, languages, humanities, art & design and PE/swimming are taught weekly, supporting well-rounded development.

Languages offered to primary students include Mandarin, French and Bahasa Malaysia (specialist teaching in the early years). In the secondary program, languages available are Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, French and Spanish, reflecting the school's emphasis on language learning across the full age range.

The Primary Campus provides language study as part of its program, with specialist teaching in Mandarin, French or Bahasa Malaysia for Years 1–2; English is used for instruction and learning across the primary curriculum; additional language exploration occurs in the broader school program including secondary.

COBIS Beacon Status Awards (June 2024): The school was awarded two prestigious Beacon Status Awards for "Ethos & Values" and "Student Leadership in the School." These awards recognise unparalleled excellence in adhering to COBIS standards and a commitment to sharing best practices with other schools worldwide.

Spear's Schools Index 2025 (March 2025): Alice Smith School earned a place among the "Top 100 Private Schools Globally" and was ranked "one of the best in Asia" in the Spear's Schools Index, recognising its world-class education and holistic student development.

International School Awards 2021 - Winner, Inclusion Category (August 2021): The school won for its "KLASS Student-Support Programme," which empowers students to lead on in-class support, demonstrating an outstanding initiative in fostering an inclusive learning environment.

Independent Schools of the Year - Finalist (British International School of the Year category - 2020, 2021, and shortlisted again for 2022): Alice Smith School has been consistently recognised as a finalist in this prestigious award, which celebrates the success stories of independent schools and British schools overseas in the UK.

International School Awards 2019 - Winner, Pastoral Initiative Category: This award recognised the school's excellence in pastoral care, highlighting its commitment to student wellbeing.

Eco Schools Bronze Award: The Primary Campus Eco Club earned this award for its hard work and dedication to making the school more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

British School Overseas (BSO) Status (Department for Education, London): Alice Smith School is accredited as a British School Overseas, indicating that it meets the standards required for schools in England. This provides assurance about the quality of the British education offered. They were graded as 'outstanding' in their 2019 report.

Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) Founding Member: Being a founding member of FOBISIA indicates the school's long-standing commitment to high-quality British education and collaboration with other leading British international schools across Asia.

Council of International Schools (CIS) Member: Membership in CIS reflects the school's dedication to high-quality international education, promoting global citizenship and continuous improvement through a peer-driven accreditation process.

Independent Schools Council (ISC) Member: This membership connects Alice Smith School with a network of independent schools in the UK, often implying adherence to a set of educational and operational standards recognised within the independent school sector.

East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) Member: EARCOS membership highlights the school's engagement with a community of international schools in East Asia, fostering professional development and collaboration among educators in the region.

Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Membership: The Primary Campus Principal's membership with IAPS means the school has been recognised as meeting the quality standards for prestigious prep schools, making it the first and only school in Malaysia to achieve this kitemark of quality.

Ministry of Education's 5-Star Quality Standards Award for Private Education Institutions (SKIPS): Both the Primary and Secondary Campuses received this prestigious award, which is the highest possible rating from the Ministry of Education in Malaysia, affirming the school's high quality standards.

doris recommends that you start by speaking to admissions. This connects you directly to the school's admissions team who can respond with answers, more information, and next steps.

Consider attending an open house or school tour. For a deeper understanding of the school's environment and facilities, parents are encouraged to arrange a visit. At the Primary Campus, tours are typically held weekly with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Complete the online application form. The first formal step involves submitting a comprehensive online application. This requires providing necessary documents such as your child's birth certificate, recent school reports, and passport copies for both the child and parents. After submission, you should receive an email acknowledgment.

Participate in an assessment. All applicants are required to complete an assessment, which varies depending on the child's age. This assessment helps the school determine if they can meet the student's needs within their age-appropriate class. For non-English first language speakers, a short interview may be conducted to assess English proficiency.

Receive and accept an offer. If your child is successful and a place is available in the relevant year group, the school will issue a formal offer letter detailing the fees and terms. To secure the place, parents must accept the offer and pay the indicated fees by the stated deadline before the student begins school.

The school does not offer scholarships for the Primary Campus.

When an application is received and assessed, if a place is not immediately available in the child's age-appropriate year group, the applicant will be placed in this "waiting pool." The assessment process determines whether a child is suitable for an offer of a place or for placement in this pool. Offers from the waiting pool are made when a vacancy arises. It is important to note that placement in the waiting pool is not a guarantee of a place, but rather an indication that the child is deemed suitable should an opening occur. Assessments remain valid for twelve months, though follow-up assessments may be required if a place is not taken up within that timeframe.