At a glance
R.E.A.L Schools traces its history to 1985, when it began as a single small school in Cheras and grew, over four decades, into a group running both private national schools and international schools across several campuses. The Kuala Lumpur base is the Suria Campus in Cheras, with sister campuses in Shah Alam in neighbouring Selangor and in Johor Bahru further south. What sets the group apart is its dual offer: a Cambridge international stream that leads to Cambridge IGCSE, and a Malaysian national stream that follows the country's own curriculum. That makes R.E.A.L a practical option for families who want an English medium, internationally examined education without the premium fees of the established expatriate schools, as well as for Malaysian families choosing the national route. Our hub on international schools in Kuala Lumpur sets the group alongside its peers, and our guide to the cheapest international schools in Kuala Lumpur places it in the value tier.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and programmes | Cambridge international curriculum to IGCSE; Malaysian national curriculum stream |
| Stages | Early years to secondary |
| Founded | 1985 (group origins in Cheras) |
| Accreditation | Cambridge Assessment International Education for the international stream |
| Fee band | Value (see the Kuala Lumpur fees guide) |
| Campus | Suria Campus, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (plus Shah Alam and Johor Bahru) |
Curriculum and academics
The international school at R.E.A.L follows the Cambridge curriculum, the most widely taught British based framework outside the United Kingdom, leading students towards Cambridge IGCSE at the end of the secondary years. IGCSE is examined externally by Cambridge, which gives leavers a recognised, transferable set of qualifications at 16 that opens onward routes to sixth forms, pre university programmes and universities both in Malaysia and abroad. Alongside this sits the private national school, which teaches the Malaysian national curriculum for families on that pathway. English is the medium of instruction in the international stream, and the breadth of the Cambridge programme covers languages, mathematics, the sciences, humanities and the arts. Because the two streams run within one group, parents can weigh an international and a national education in the same place, which is uncommon and useful for mixed nationality families. Set against the wider field, the group sits towards the affordable end of the market rather than competing with the premium IB and American schools.
R.E.A.L Schools fees
R.E.A.L Schools fees sit in the value band for the city, comfortably below the premium international schools, which is much of the group's appeal. Within that, the Cambridge international stream is priced above the Malaysian national stream, and fees vary by campus and year group. We do not publish a single headline figure here because the group revises fees each year; the admissions office issues the current schedule on request, and you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond tuition, plan for a registration or application fee, a refundable deposit and optional school bus charges. Use our fee calculator to model the full first year cost before you commit, since the value tier still carries the usual one off charges.
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Use our fee calculator to estimate tuition plus the registration, deposit and bus extras across the value tier. Free and independent.
Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the school year. International places at each campus are limited, so families relocating to Kuala Lumpur should enquire early and confirm which stream and campus they are applying to, since the group runs more than one. Assessment is age appropriate: a settling visit and observation for the youngest children, and a review of previous school reports along with placement assessment in English and mathematics for those joining the secondary years. The admissions team will advise on whether the international or national stream is the better fit given a child's background and the family's plans. The school typically asks for school records and may meet the family before confirming a place.
Location and who goes there
The Kuala Lumpur campus sits in Cheras, a large, well established residential district in the south east of the city, on a green ten acre site rather than in the expatriate heavy enclaves to the north. That location, and the value fees, mean the community leans towards Malaysian and regional Asian families alongside expatriates who prefer a more local, less corporate setting. The Cheras base is convenient for families living across the eastern and southern suburbs, and the group's Shah Alam and Johor Bahru campuses extend the same offer into Selangor and the south. For the wider picture of where relocating families settle and how the school neighbourhoods compare, return to the Kuala Lumpur city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended R.E.A.L Schools, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are R.E.A.L Schools fees?
R.E.A.L Schools fees sit in the value tier for Kuala Lumpur, below the premium international schools, with the Cambridge international stream priced above the Malaysian national stream. The group revises fees each year and issues the current schedule on request. Budget separately for registration, a deposit and optional bus charges.
Is R.E.A.L Schools a good school?
R.E.A.L Schools is a long established Malaysian education group founded in 1985, offering a Cambridge international stream and a national stream across several campuses. Whether it suits your child depends on stage, budget, the campus and whether you want the international or national pathway.
What curriculum does R.E.A.L Schools follow?
The international school follows the British based Cambridge curriculum, leading to Cambridge IGCSE, while the private school side offers the Malaysian national curriculum. Families choose the stream that fits their plans.
When do R.E.A.L Schools applications open?
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the school year. Because the group has limited international places at each campus, families relocating to Kuala Lumpur should enquire early.
Where is R.E.A.L Schools located?
The Kuala Lumpur campus is the Suria Campus in Cheras, in the south east of the city, with sister campuses in Shah Alam in Selangor and in Johor Bahru.
