School Spotlight: German European School Singapore

We’re proud to represent some of the very best international schools from around the world. In our School and Group Spotlight series, we’ll take an in-depth look at these schools, detailing their history, ethos, location and of course, benefits, to help you choose the school that best suits you.

Snapshot: German European School Singapore

Year founded: 1971
Day or boarding: Day
Segregation type: Co-Educational
Curriculum: IB PYP, IB MYP, IB DP
Instructional language: English
Alternate instructional language: German
Start grade: Kindergarten
End grade: 12

About: German European School Singapore

Founded in 1971 by German parents, the German European School Singapore (GESS) has grown into one of Asia’s leading not-for-profit international schools. Today, it’s home to over 1,850 students from 70 nationalities, making it the largest German school abroad in Asia and a central cultural hub for Singapore’s German-speaking and European communities.

GESS is unique in offering families a choice of two academic pathways – the German Curriculum (culminating in the German International Abitur) or the English-speaking International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. Both pathways are underpinned by a shared commitment to academic excellence, multilingualism, and holistic learning. As a not-for-profit school, every dollar is reinvested into teaching, learning and student experience – a model that helps foster an environment focused purely on educational outcomes, not shareholder returns.

Ethos: German European School Singapore

At GESS, education is about more than just academic achievement. The school’s values, respect, openness and diversity, are central to everyday life on campus. These values guide interactions between students, teachers and families, and help build a community where every child is supported to grow confidently and compassionately.

The school’s mission is to empower students to contribute positively to the world of tomorrow, while grounding them in strong German and European roots. With a focus on holistic, humanistic education, GESS prepares its learners to think critically, act responsibly and engage globally. Whether pursuing the IB or German curriculum, all students benefit from a rich language programme, experiential learning opportunities, and a community culture that celebrates individuality and shared purpose alike.

Facilities: German European School Singapore

In 2018, GESS moved into a custom-designed, state-of-the-art campus at Dairy Farm – a campus imagined by its own students and staff. Set on the edge of Singapore’s largest nature reserve, the school is built to foster creativity, collaboration and wellbeing.

Highlights include:

• 170+ dedicated learning spaces including 23 collaborative learning and maker areas
• 4 STEM labs, including Asia’s only Junior Engineering Programme
• 13 sports facilities including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, football pitch, athletics track and 4 indoor sports halls
• 18 arts and music spaces and 40+ after-school arts programmes
• A dedicated preschool with age-specific classrooms and outdoor play areas
• Three student libraries with over 27,000 books in 14 languages
• Over 5,000 sqm of outdoor green spaces for learning, play and exploration

Beyond physical infrastructure, GESS offers a broad extracurricular programme of over 200 activities, as well as access to real-world learning through its exclusive BeyondClassrooms programme – developed with 15 leading global companies to offer internships, industry talks and hands-on workshops.

Location: German European School Singapore

GESS is located in Dairy Farm, a green, tranquil area in west Singapore, directly next to Dairy Farm Nature Park. The setting offers students the benefits of nature-based play and learning, while still being easily accessible from across the island. The campus location mirrors the school’s philosophy: modern and globally oriented, but grounded in community, nature, and cultural heritage.

For teachers, living in Singapore offers an exceptional quality of life. The city-state is safe, clean and highly connected, with excellent public services and healthcare. Its rich cultural mix, vibrant food scene, and year-round sunshine make it a rewarding and stimulating place to live and work. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure, world-class entertainment, or weekend getaways across Southeast Asia, Singapore offers it all – with efficiency, warmth and an international outlook.

Benefits: German European School Singapore

Flights/Transport: Arrival flights may be provided and employees and their legal dependants may be eligible for a home flight upon the completion of every two consecutive years.

Dependent Opportunities: School fees exemption for eligible dependants.

Medical: Insurance is provided for employees and extended to legal dependants.

Bonus: Eligibility for the annual bonus scheme.

View vacancies at German European School Singapore and apply now.