At a glance
The Alice Smith School, known locally as KLASS, began in 1946 when Alice Fairfield Smith opened a small class for British children in Kuala Lumpur. It is recognised as the country's first international school and is unusual in being run as a charitable foundation, so any surplus is reinvested rather than distributed. It is an accredited member of the Council of British International Schools and a founding member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia, and it is inspected under the British Schools Overseas framework. You can place it within the wider market of international schools in Kuala Lumpur through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum; Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE; A Level |
| Stages | Preschool to Year 13, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Accreditation | COBIS accredited member, founding FOBISIA member, inspected as a British School Overseas, member of CIS |
| Fee band | Premium (see the Kuala Lumpur fees guide) |
| Campuses | Primary on Jalan Bellamy, Kuala Lumpur; Secondary in Seri Kembangan, Selangor |
Curriculum and academics
Alice Smith teaches the National Curriculum for England, adapted for an international cohort. The primary campus runs the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2, while the secondary campus delivers Key Stage 3, then Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, and a two year A Level sixth form. Pupils leave with A Levels that universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, North America and across Asia read directly, and the school reports a record of progression to selective universities. Families should ask for the most recent destinations data rather than relying on summary figures.
What sets the school apart is the depth of external oversight. As a long established British school it carries inspection under the British Schools Overseas framework as well as COBIS accreditation, an unusual combination for the region. It is one of the anchor names whenever parents weigh the British curriculum options in the city.
The Alice Smith School fees
The Alice Smith School fees sit firmly in the premium band for Kuala Lumpur, comparable with the other long established British schools. Annual tuition rises by year group, and the sixth form is the most expensive stage. Because the school is a not for profit foundation, fee income is reinvested in the school rather than returned to owners, though that does not make it inexpensive. We do not publish a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year; the school 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, budget for a registration or assessment fee, a refundable deposit, a one off capital or building levy and optional school bus charges. These line items are standard across premium Kuala Lumpur schools and can add a meaningful sum in the first year.
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Admissions
Admission runs on a rolling basis across the academic year, which starts in August. The most contested entry points are the early years and Year 7, where waiting lists form well ahead of time, so families relocating to Kuala Lumpur should register as early as a place is foreseeable. Assessment is age appropriate, from informal observation and a taster session for the youngest children to curriculum based assessment in English and mathematics for older applicants, alongside school reports and references. Sixth form entry is conditional on IGCSE grades, and the school may interview the family.
Location and who goes there
The school runs two distinct sites. The primary campus on Jalan Bellamy sits centrally near the Lake Gardens and the diplomatic quarter, convenient for families in central Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar and the embassy belt. The secondary campus on Jalan Equine in Seri Kembangan is south of the city, a purpose built site with extensive sports and performance facilities that draws families from the southern suburbs as well as commuters from the centre. The community is genuinely international, with British, other European, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese and Australian families well represented. For the broader picture of where families settle, 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 The Alice Smith School, 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 The Alice Smith School fees?
Fees sit in the premium tier for Kuala Lumpur, with tuition rising by year group and the sixth form the most expensive stage. As a not for profit foundation the school reinvests fee income, but it is not inexpensive. The school revises fees annually and issues the current schedule on request; budget separately for registration, a deposit, a capital levy and optional bus fees.
Is The Alice Smith School a good school?
It is Malaysia's oldest and one of its most established British international schools, with COBIS accreditation, British Schools Overseas inspection and a long record of A Level progression to selective universities. Whether it suits your child depends on stage, budget and which campus fits your location.
What curriculum does The Alice Smith School follow?
It follows the National Curriculum for England, with Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and a two year A Level sixth form. The primary campus runs the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2.
When do The Alice Smith School applications open?
Admission is rolling across the August to June academic year, but the early years and Year 7 fill earliest, so register as soon as a place is foreseeable. Sixth form entry depends on IGCSE results.
Where is The Alice Smith School located?
The primary campus is on Jalan Bellamy in central Kuala Lumpur and the secondary campus is on Jalan Equine in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, south of the city.
