UWCSEA Standard Terms and Conditions
Standard Terms and Conditions
UWCSEA Standard Terms and Conditions
(Effective from 1 August, 2024)
Summary of amendments to
Standard Terms and Conditions
(Effective from 1 August, 2024)
- 1. The College
- 2. Care, Attendance and Behaviour
- 3. Student Health, Medical Matters and Wellbeing
- 4. Admission to the College
- 5. Fees and Additional Payments
- 6. Notice of Withdrawal
- 7. Suspension and expulsion of a student
- 8. Residency Requirements
- 9. Boarding
- 10. Immigration Status and Nationality
- 11. General conditions
- 12. Force Majeure
1. The College
1.1 The College: The College is United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA Dover Campus) and United World College of South East Asia - East (UWCSEA East Campus) which includes the High School, Middle School, Junior School and Infant School at both campuses in Singapore acting by the Governing Body as now or in the future constituted. For the purposes of the Application Fee, Enrolment Fee, Tuition Fees and any other related issues, the two campuses are treated as separate entities.
1.2 The Head of Campus: The Head of Campus (“Head”) is the person appointed by the College on each campus to be responsible for the students and includes those to whom any of the duties of the Head have been delegated including members of the leadership teams of the respective campuses and of the College.
1.3 The Parents: The parents are those who have parental responsibility for the student, including legal guardians. All parents shall be jointly and severally liable to the College. Unless otherwise informed in writing with supporting documentary evidence, the parents named in the Confirmation of Acceptance shall be deemed to have equal parental responsibility. For the avoidance of doubt, in the absence of a notice in writing together with such relevant documents as required by College of a change of family circumstance, the College shall not be responsible for accepting the instructions from one parent without confirmation from the other parent.
1.4 Aim of the College: The College aims to develop ethical individuals with a bias for action who strive to make the world more peaceful and sustainable. The College is committed to high standards of teaching and care and to providing an environment in which students are encouraged to engage across all aspects of the Learning Programme and to live the UWCSEA values.
1.5 Changes at the College: A successful school must initiate and respond to change. The acceptance of a place by the Parents is given on the basis that, in the interests of the College as a whole, reasonable changes may be made from time to time, to these Standard Terms and Conditions, to the size and location of the College and its campuses, to its premises and facilities, to the learning programme (including specific subjects offered), to the structure and composition of classes and the way the College is run, to the rules and disciplinary framework, to the length of the school terms and the school day and to any other aspect of the College.
1.6 Acceptance of Standard Terms and Conditions: Attendance at the College indicates acceptance of current Standard Terms and Conditions and agreement to abide by College Policies. The Fees Schedule and the College Policies as varied from time to time, are part of these Standard Terms and Conditions.
1.7 Waiver of Standard Terms and Conditions: Any waiver is effective only if given in writing by the Head of Campus personally.
2. Care, Attendance and Behaviour
2.1 College Policies: It is a condition of remaining at the College that parents and students accept College Policies. College Policies are available on the website portal and amended from time to time.
2.2 Parents’ Authority: The parents authorise the Head of Campus to take and/or authorise all decisions that safeguard and promote the student’s welfare. Parents consent to such physical contact as the College may deem necessary for teaching and for providing comfort to a student in distress or to maintain safety and good order or in connection with the student’s health. The Head of Campus or their delegate may also consent on behalf of the parents to the student receiving medical treatment if the parents cannot be contacted at the time consent is required. All such expenses incurred will be to the parents’ account.
2.3 Behaviours: The College attaches importance to kindness, integrity and respect. All members of the College community (including but not limited to students, parents, staff, volunteers and alumni) are expected to conduct themselves with these values in mind and to support and uphold the aims of the College and its good name. To this extent, all students and parents shall ensure that they comply with all guidelines and policies of the College and conduct themselves in accordance with the College’s ethos and values. In the event that the College is of the sole view that a student or parent has breached any guideline or policy of the College or the College is of the sole view that an action of the student or parent may affect the good name of the College, the College may, at its sole discretion:
2.3.1. require the student or parent to immediately cease and remedy the offending action in a manner as required by the College;
2.3.2. suspend the parent’s access to or exclude the parent from all premises of the College; and/or
2.3.3. suspend or expel the student in accordance with these Standard Terms and Conditions.
2.4 Attendance:
2.4.1. Parents will use their best endeavours to ensure the student participates in the activities of the College including but not limited to attendance of each school day (unless prevented by illness). In the event that a student is prevented from attending 5 consecutive school days or more by illness, the student shall provide a medical certificate to the College as soon as practicable and in any event, no later than 7 days from the first date of absence.
2.4.2. The student will be required to maintain a satisfactory, minimum attendance over any given period and in accordance with Singapore Government regulations. Failure to do so without authorisation may result in the student being asked to leave the College without any refund of fees. Notwithstanding the minimum attendance as required pursuant to the Singapore Government regulations, the College and the relevant principal shall have sole discretion to determine whether a student may be promoted to the next grade or be required to immediately withdraw from the College in the following term if the student does not attain the minimum aggregate attendance in an academic term as required by the College.
2.5 Student participation in the Learning Programme: The student is expected to participate in all five elements of the Learning Programme including Academics, Activities, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education, and Service.
3. Student Health, Medical Matters and Wellbeing
3.1 Declaration of student’s health: In order to promote positive health and wellbeing within the College community, staff and parents are expected to declare medical, behavioural and psycho-emotional conditions which may affect the student’s capacity to participate in the educational programme or present a greater risk or require individual medical support, and provide a medical report or memo to enable best medical practice is applied and risk of harm or danger is minimised. Failure to provide full disclosure and/or agree to a Medical Action Plan or non-compliance may, at the sole discretion of the College, result in the termination of the student’s position at the College and/or barring of that student’s participation in school activities and trips.
3.2 Concern for a student’s physical or mental health: Where the College has a reasonable concern about a student’s physical or mental health, the College may require the results of a medical or psychological examination before the student is permitted to enter the campus. In the case of Boarding students, students may have to vacate the boarding house until satisfactory results are received.
3.3 Vaccinations: As a prerequisite for enrolment, parents are required to declare fulfilment of or exemption from Vaccination Requirements (VR) (for entry to Singapore), which are a mandatory requirement by the Ministry of Health as set out in the Fourth Schedule of the Infectious Diseases Act (Cap 137).
As a prerequisite for school trips outside the campus, the College may also, in its sole discretion, require certain immunisation prior to such school trips. In such an event, parents shall be required to make declarations confirming that the student has obtained all requisite immunisation prior to the school trips. Failure to provide a declaration confirming that the student has obtained all requisite immunisation may result in the student being excluded from the school trip.
3.4 Medical information: Throughout a student’s time at the College, the College shall have the right to disclose information about the student if considered to be in the student’s own interests or necessary for the protection of other members of the school community and service providers responsible for the duty of care of students. Such information will be given and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
3.5 Medical Action Plan, Duty of Care: Where a student has a confirmed medical condition, a mutually agreed Medical Action Plan with stated and agreed interventions may be required. It is a condition of continuing admission to the College that all agreed medical devices and medication required to support the agreed interventions in the Medical Action Plan are provided free of charge to the College and in the quantity stated in the Medical Action Plan or associated policies to College medical staff, whilst the student is in the custody of the College. Where there is concern, the suitability of the student to participate in school activities, including school trips, is for the Head Nurse or designate to decide.
3.6 Infection control and student illness: Parents agree to ensure that the student will not attend school if the student shows symptoms of an infectious disease. Parents must comply with the College Infectious Disease Policy. Parents are required to provide a medical certificate confirming a contagious condition and detailing when the student is fit to return to school. Parents are required to inform the School if they or the Student have been exposed to a known contagious or communicable disease, illness or virus in Singapore or abroad.
3.7 Medical closure: In the event of a medical event or circumstance within or affecting Singapore or the College that requires the College to be closed by the relevant authorities of the Singapore Government or by recommendation to break a cycle of infection, the College will not be obliged to refund all or any part of the Fees for any period of closure before or after any such event. In this situation, the College will make arrangements, where practicable, to ensure continuity of the students’ education.
3.8 Drugs testing: Parents consent that the Head of Campus may at any time require the student to give a biological sample under medical supervision to test for the use of illegal drugs or other substances damaging to health in line with the College Drugs Policy and Drugs Testing Protocol. A record of such a sample will not form part of the student’s permanent record with the College.
3.9 Safeguarding and risk:
3.9.1 Students: UWCSEA is committed to safeguarding and protecting students and all community members from harm. Child Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The College has the sole discretion to collect and share safeguarding information about individual children with schools the child has attended or will attend.
With regard to alleged incidents of child on child abuse, the College may further, in its sole discretion, impose protective and/or supportive interim measures (“Interim Measures”) after a child safeguarding report is made and before the investigation result, if any, is reached. Interim measures may include but are not limited to:
3.9.1 Imposing non-contact conditions on the student who has been impacted by the safeguarding incident (the “Complainant”) and the party against whom an allegation of misconduct relating to safeguarding has been made (the “Respondent”), where such non-contact conditions may extend to the close contacts of the Complainant and/or respondent;
3.9.2 Moving the Complainant and/or the Respondent to alternative classes and/or accommodation (for boarding students) if the College is of the sole view that such movement is feasible;
3.9.3 Excluding the Respondent from certain parts of the campus;
3.9.4 Excluding the Respondent from specific school trips and/or activities.
3.9.2 Community members: All parents, staff and community members are expected to support the safety and wellbeing of everyone on campus. Access to the campuses is at the discretion of the College and may be withdrawn. Any parent who is deemed to be a risk to themselves or others can be excluded from the campuses and from contact with the community. The College reserves the right to exclude students from the College as a result of parent behaviour that may pose a risk to the community or which brings the College into disrepute.
3.9.3 Police reports: In the event that police reports have been made in relation to a safeguarding incident, the College may in its sole discretion postpone its inquiry until the police have completed their investigation if the College is of the view that its inquiry may affect the police investigation.
3.9.4 Police reports: The College shall report to the police any alleged incidents that fall within Section 424 of the Criminal Procedure Code (including but not limited to offences affecting the human body).
3.10 Parents’ assumption of risk: Except for cases of gross negligence by the College, Parents agree that the student in attending the College or so participating in College activities does so at the student’s own risk and that the College shall not be liable or responsible for any accident, personal injury or death sustained or suffered by the student or any damage to property caused while the student is participating in College expeditions or any other College-related activity.
3.10.1 Parents further agree to indemnify the College from all claims whatsoever and howsoever caused, sustained or suffered by the student whilst participating in College expeditions or any other College-related activity, whether under contract or tort law or otherwise.
3.10.2 Whilst the College will take reasonable steps to screen all adults who come into contact with students, parents accept that students will work with both College staff and external service providers as well as volunteers when participating in College expeditions and other College-related activities.
4. Admission to the College
4.1. Entry to the College: Entry to the College will be subject to the availability of a place and the student meeting the entrance criteria and otherwise satisfying the admission requirements applicable at the time. In all cases concerning the availability of a place, entry criteria and assessments, the decision of the Director of Admissions with regard to admission to the College is final.
4.2. Entrance criteria: Parents accept that entry is subject, amongst other matters, to entrance criteria and that the student may be asked to take a test or to be interviewed in order to ascertain whether the entrance criteria have been met, including testing for the student’s English language proficiency, learning support needs and/or academic level. Parents agree that responses in all testing must be solely those of the student. If it subsequently becomes apparent that this has not been the case, it will lead to the withdrawal of the offer of a place or removal from the College without refund of any fees paid.
4.3. Offer and acceptance of a place by payment of Acceptance Fees: If a place is offered, parents must submit a signed Confirmation of Acceptance and payment of the Acceptance Fees by the date set out in the offer documents (‘the offer deadline’). Where an offer has not been accepted by the offer deadline, the offer will be regarded as lapsed and the place may be offered to another family.
4.4. Acceptance Fees: The Acceptance Fees for Day Students comprise the Enrolment Fee plus the Tuition Fees and Development Levy (the latter two hereinafter referred to as the ‘Term Fees’) for the first term the student will be in attendance. The Acceptance Fees for Boarders also includes the Term’s Boarding Fees.
4.5. Acceptance Fees for offers made to commence after the Start of Term: If a place is offered after the commencement of Term, the Acceptance Fees will comprise the Enrolment Fee, the prorated Term Fees (including the Boarding Fee in the case of a Boarder) payable for the term that has commenced, and the Term Fees (including the Boarding Fee in the case of a Boarder) for the following term.
4.6. Prorated fees: Where a student joins part way through an academic term, the Term fees (including the Boarding fees in the case of a Boarder) will be prorated across the full academic year and not across the term of entry.
4.7. Forfeiture of fees upon cancellation of acceptance: The Acceptance Fees, as described in Clauses 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 will be immediately forfeited where, for any reason, acceptance of a place is cancelled by the parents or enrolment is cancelled, or an offer is withdrawn, by the College, before the student commences at the College. The College shall have the sole discretion to consider exceptional cases on written request by the parents.
4.8. Increase in fees prior to commencement: Where there is an increase in Term Fees in between the time parents sign a Confirmation of Acceptance and the student starting at the College, the increase will be invoiced separately prior to the student starting at the College.
4.9. Moving between campuses: Campus transfers will generally not be possible. In exceptional circumstances, a campus transfer may be considered only in the following circumstances:
4.9.1 in the case of the IB Diploma Programme, where a subject is offered at one campus and not at the other and where that subject can be shown to be essential for a student’s further education pathways; or
4.9.2 for a student’s mental health and wellbeing. Where a student’s well being is at significant risk in their current campus, despite a variety of support measures having been tried over a substantial period of time, and a move to the other campus, in the judgement of the relevant Principal and, in the case of boarders, the Directors of Residential Life, is likely to significantly improve their mental health/wellbeing.
Any exceptional request to move between campuses should be made to the Principal/Director of Residential Life in the first instance, who will make a recommendation to the Director of Admissions, in consultation with relevant staff on each campus. The decision of the Director of Admissions will be final. Once a student has moved to the other campus they cannot then transfer back to the original campus.
Sibling(s) of a student who transfers to the other campus: A request from a family to transfer another sibling(s) to the campus where one sibling is transferring for any of the above reasons will be considered, but the College cannot guarantee a transfer of any and/or all of the other siblings. This will depend on space availability in the grade(s) concerned, as well as other considerations that relevant staff on both campuses will discuss. A recommendation on the transfer of other siblings will be made to the Director of Admissions whose decision shall be final.
4.10. Notwithstanding that an offer has been made to a student, the College shall have the sole discretion to withdraw an offer of a place to a student at any time if the College is of the sole view that:
4.10.1. the student and/or parent has provided false information or withheld any information regarding any social-emotional or behavioural support the student has been receiving, or of any social-emotional, behavioural or other issues that have affected the student, at school or outside school prior, during or after submission of the application to the College;
4.10.2. the student and/or parent has failed to make full disclosure of information regarding any safeguarding issues or concerns that the student has had in any past or present school or any agencies that have been involved with the student’s safeguarding issues or concerns;
4.10.3. the student and/or parent has failed to make full disclosure of information regarding any learning support that the student has been receiving at school or outside school or the outcome of any learning assessments (eg. Educational Psychology reports or Speech Therapy Reports etc) prior, during or after submission of an application to the College;
4.10.4. the responses in any tests conducted during the application process are not of the student only;
4.10.5. or the student and/or the parent is in breach of this Standard Terms and Conditions.
In that event, any Acceptance Fees paid shall be refunded in full without any interest whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, the College shall not be liable to the parents or student in any manner whatsoever for the withdrawal of an offer of a place under this Article 4.10.
5. Fees and Additional Payments
5.1. Term Fees: Term Fees comprise one third of the total Tuition Fees and Development Levy payable for each academic year. Parents acknowledge that these fees are payable regardless of the respective length of each term and where students are not attending formal classes, including during the examination terms in Grades 10 and 12.
5.2. Payment of Term Fees: The Term Fees for each term shall be paid prior to the start of the previous term and such fees are not refundable in whole or in part except as set out in Clause 6.3. Parents undertake to pay the Term Fees by the due date as set out in the fee schedule as published on the College website. Parents agree to use one of the College’s accepted payment methods as published in the fee schedule; the College prefers payment by GIRO and does not accept cash payments.
5.3. Items not covered in Tuition Fees: Tuition Fees cover the majority of expenses for the College’s Learning Programme. Details of compulsory items not covered in Tuition Fees are set out in the fee schedule and will be charged separately.
5.4. Loss or damage caused by a student: The cost of any loss or damage caused by a student will be charged separately to the parents’ account.
5.5. Provision of laptop: Parents of students in Grade 6 to 12 agree to provide a College-approved laptop to support their child’s learning.
5.6. Payment of examination or assessment fees: Parents agree to pay the fees and/or cost of any external examination or assessment which a student participates in, or is registered to participate in, whether prior to the start of the examination or assessment period or otherwise and whether the student in fact attends the examination or assessment or otherwise. Examination and assessment fees and costs are non-refundable.
5.7. Increase in fees: Parents acknowledge that fee levels will be reviewed each year and there will be increases from time to time which the parents undertake to pay.
5.8. Automatic withdrawal upon non-payment of fees: A student will be deemed withdrawn from the College without notice if fees for the following term remain unpaid by the Withdrawal Deadline referred to in Section 6. Once a student is regarded as withdrawn from the College, that student’s place in the following term will be offered to another applicant.
5.9. Right to exclude: The College reserves the right to exclude any student for whom any part of the Term Fees are unpaid.
5.10. Term Fees paid for a partially completed term are non-refundable: Fees will not be refunded or waived for a term that a student has commenced but did not complete for any reason including absence through sickness; or if a term is shortened or a vacation extended; or if a student is released home before the scheduled end of term.
5.11. Responsibility for payment: Fees are the joint and several responsibility of each person who has signed the Confirmation of Acceptance or who has parental responsibility for the student or has paid any fees or has returned the student to the College or given instructions in relation to the student. The College may withhold any information or property while fees are unpaid.
5.12. Payment of Term Fees by a Third Party: An agreement with a Third Party to pay the Term Fees or any other sum due to the College does not release parents from any liability under these Standard Terms and Conditions. The College reserves the right to refuse a payment from a Third Party.
5.13. Late payment: The College has the right to impose late payment charges, including all related administration and legal costs, for invoices not paid by the due date. The amount outstanding, the late charges, and all related costs are payable by the parents. Any payment made or delivered to the College after the due date will not be considered as paid until the payment has cleared. Any sum tendered that is less than the sum due and owing may in any event be accepted by the College as part payment of the amount outstanding.
5.14. Discretion to prioritise payment: In the event that a family makes only a partial payment of the total Term Fees due for all children attending the College, the College has the sole discretion to prioritise any Term Fees paid to students who are sitting external examinations in the academic year for which the Term Fees are due.
6. Notice of Withdrawal
6.1. Withdrawal from the College: Notice must be given in the prescribed form on or before the published dates of notification before a student is withdrawn from the College. Both parents’ consent is required before a student will be withdrawn.
6.2. Withdrawal deadline: The withdrawal deadline for each term is the date published in the Fee Schedule for each academic year by which notice of withdrawal must be received, in the prescribed form, for students leaving at the end of that term (the ‘Withdrawal Deadline’) in order to secure a refund of fees paid for the following term as provided for in Clause 6.3.
6.3. Refund of Term Fees: Except as provided in Clauses 6.5, 9.2 and 9.3, if notice is submitted in the prescribed form on or before the published dates of notification for the student’s final term at the College, the fees paid for the following term will be refunded less any debts owed as at the student’s last day at the College to the account from which fees are received by the College.
6.4. Forfeiture of Term Fees: If notice is given after the published withdrawal deadline, all fees paid for the relevant term will be retained by the College with the exception of Clauses 6.5 and 9.2.
6.5 Prescribed form of Withdrawal Notice: Notice of withdrawal must be submitted by parents using the online withdrawal form accessed via the parent portal of the College website on or before the published date of notification for withdrawal. No other form of notice, written or verbal, will be deemed to constitute effective notice for the purposes of these Standard Terms and Conditions.
6.6 Cancellation of Withdrawal / Reinstatement: Reinstatement shall only be available for the immediate term following the term in which the student left the College. If a student fails to apply for reinstatement within this timeframe they will need to follow the regular application process for readmission including payment of all relevant fees. All reinstatement requests must be made to the Registrar and are subject to approval. Upon approval of reinstatement, all relevant fees shall be paid within such time frame as required by the College and as set out in the relevant invoice, failing which the student shall not be reinstated and no further reinstatement request may be made thereafter.
7. Suspension and expulsion of a student
7.1. Suspension: A student may be temporarily excluded from attending the College, including College-related activities held on or off campus, at any time, without refund of Term Fees for the current term, if, in the opinion of the Head of Campus:
7.1.1. the conduct or progress of the student has been unsatisfactory;
7.1.2. the student is unwilling or unable to benefit from the educational opportunities offered;
7.1.3. a parent has treated the College or members of its staff unreasonably.
7.2. Expulsion: A student may be expelled at any time without refund of Term Fees for the current term and any examination or assessment fees, if in the opinion of the Head of Campus:
7.2.1. the student’s conduct, whether on or off College premises or in or out of term time, has been prejudicial to good order or school discipline or to the reputation of the College
7.2.2. the student has been charged or convicted of a serious offence under Singapore law
7.2.3. the student is unwilling or unable to benefit from the educational opportunities offered;
7.2.4. a parent has treated the College or members of its staff unreasonably; or
7.2.5. a parent has refused and/or persistently neglected to abide by these Standard Terms and Conditions.
7.3. Power of the Head of Campus: The Head’s powers include the imposition of sanctions including exclusion for non-payment of fees, suspension during investigation or following a breach of College discipline, and removal or expulsion as provided in these Standard Terms and Conditions. The Head is not responsible for a student who is absent from the College or in breach of school discipline or present on campus for reasons other than for College-related activities.
7.4. Discretion of Head of Campus: The decision to exclude, suspend or expel a student and the manner and form of any announcement shall be at the sole discretion of the Head of Campus. In no circumstances shall the College or its staff be required to divulge to parents or others any confidential information or the identities of students or others who have given information which the Head has acquired during an investigation and which has led to the suspension, or the requirement to remove the student.
7.5. Access: A student who has been withdrawn, excluded, suspended, removed or expelled from the College has no right to enter College premises without the written permission of the Head of Campus. Similarly, a parent whose child has been asked to leave under Clause 7.1.3 will have no right to enter the College premises without the written permission of the Head of Campus.
8. Residency Requirements
8.1. Day students: Day students must reside with one or both parents in a permanent residential situation in Singapore, except as provided in Clause 8.4.
8.2. ‘A permanent residential situation’: This will be interpreted to mean that at least one parent (or grandparent, if approved in accordance with Clause 8.4) must be present and living with the student for at least 90% of term time (including weekends).
8.3. Proof of Residency: Parents who are not Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents and who do not hold Employment/Dependant’s passes or Work Permits must produce a copy of their Long Term Social Visit Pass in addition to any other proof of residency in Singapore as the College may require.
8.4. Grandparent(s) serving in loco parentis in lieu of the parent(s) meeting residency requirements: In exceptional circumstances, the College may approve a grandparent fulfilling the residency requirement. The relevant School Principal has the sole discretion whether or not to approve the grandparent serving in loco parentis in lieu of the parent(s).
8.5. College-supported temporary guardianship: If a student’s parent(s) cannot fulfil the residency requirement once the student has started a particular school year, parents may apply for permission for the student to reside with a temporary guardian up to a maximum period of one school term using the prescribed application form. This College-supported temporary guardianship scheme is discretionary, and prior approval must be given by the relevant School Principal. For siblings attending the College, temporary guardianship for each sibling will need to be approved by the relevant School Principal, with consultation between the School Principals concerned. In the event that a School Principal does not approve the temporary guardianship for any of the siblings, Clause 8.7 shall apply.
8.6. Temporary absence of parents: The College acknowledges that under exceptional circumstances, both parents might be temporarily absent from Singapore. For parental absence of between one and five days, the College requires submission of the prescribed form to nominate an adult to whom parental responsibility has been delegated. Parental absence of more than five days and not more than 4 weeks requires prior approval by the relevant School Principal. The College will not accept the delegation of parental responsibility to a domestic helper or to a person under the age of 25. The relevant School Principal has the discretion whether or not to approve the circumstances of parental absence.
8.7. Breach of residency requirements: If parents are found to be in breach of the College Residency Requirements as set out in Clauses 8.1 to 8.6 above, the student may be offered a space in Boarding if available and appropriate, for students in Grades 8 and above, or may be asked to withdraw from the College by the Head of Campus without refund of fees.
8.8. Residency requirements: Where it becomes apparent after a place has been offered to an applicant, that the Residency Requirements will not be met, the offer may be withdrawn or acceptance cancelled by the Director of Admissions without refund of fees.
9. Boarding
9.1. Duration of boarding: Parents of boarding students agree that the commitment to boarding is for a full academic year and acknowledge that they will be required to pay the full year’s Boarding Fees whether or not the student completes the academic year as a boarder.
9.2. Early termination of boarding: If a student leaves boarding after one or two terms, for whatever reason, all Boarding Fees paid to that date will be retained by the College, whether or not notice of leaving is given, and the balance of Boarding Fees payable for that academic year will become immediately payable. In cases where a student transfers to day status before the completion of the academic year, the student will be deemed withdrawn from the College in accordance with Clause 5.9 if the balance of Boarding Fees remains unpaid 28 days after the commencement of the new academic term.
9.3. Boarders transferring to day status: A boarding student may transfer to day status at the end of an academic year. In such cases, the Term 1 Boarding Fee will be fully refunded, less any debts owed to the College, provided that:
9.3.1. the College’s residency requirements as set out in Section 8 will be met and
9.3.2. written notification of the change of status is received by the Admissions Department on or before the April Withdrawal Deadline
9.3.3. in any other case, all fees paid to date will be retained by the College regardless of the period of notice given.
9.4. Day students transferring to boarding status: A day student may transfer to boarding status only after attending the College for a minimum of one school year. In exceptional circumstances, a day transfer to boarding may be considered before the student has completed a full year of attendance. Admission to boarding requires application and is subject to a full review process, including a boarding interview with the Director of Residential Life, and is subject to the student’s suitability for boarding and space availability.
9.5. Boarding status if parents subsequently establish residency in Singapore: If a boarder chooses to remain in boarding even after parents relocate to Singapore, parents shall be deemed to agree that boarding staff serve in loco parentis for their boarding student. The boarding student shall fulfil all normal expectations of living in boarding, including full participation in the residential life programme and schedule, and a commitment to building relationships with staff and peers in the community.
9.6. Exclusion from boarding: The Head of Campus may at any time require the removal of a student, temporarily or permanently, from boarding, including but not limited to any of the circumstances described in Clause 7.1 or 7.2 above. In that event, there will be no refund of Term Fees (including Boarding Fees) for the balance of that term. In the event that a student is excluded from boarding only but the parents are unable to fulfil the residency requirement for the student to continue as a day student, there shall be no refund of the Term Fees (including Boarding Fees) for the balance of that term. In the event that a student is excluded from Boarding only and the parents are able to fulfil the residency requirement for the student to continue as a day student, there shall be no refund of the Boarding Fees for the balance of that term.
9.7. Travel arrangements: The College may charge all administration and other expenses including staff supervision expenses where the College has to make travel or other arrangements for a boarding student before, during or at the end of a term.
9.8. Term Fees for Boarding: Term Fees for a boarding student include the Boarding Fees.
10. Immigration Status and Nationality
10.1. Requirement to hold a valid pass: Parents are responsible for ensuring that upon entry to the College and for as long as the student attends the College, the student holds an appropriate pass (or exemption from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority) that allows them to study full-time in Singapore (a ‘valid pass’). A visit pass under regulation 12 of Singapore Immigration Regulations does not constitute a valid pass for these purposes.
10.2. Copy of passes to be submitted to the College: The College must hold a copy of the valid pass for the purpose of meeting Government reporting requirements. Parents are responsible for keeping their child’s immigration status records up to date including uploading copies of current and valid passes and supporting documentation to the child’s record in the UWCSEA online family portal. Any student for whom the College does not have a copy of their valid and appropriate immigration pass or status may not attend school until such time as a copy is provided.
10.3. Exclusion without a valid pass: Exclusion without a valid pass: A student who is not able to produce a copy of a valid pass will not be permitted to commence or continue to attend the College, or to represent the College in sporting or other activities, until such time as a valid pass, or an exemption, is produced. Where this results in the prolonged absence of the student, their enrolment may be cancelled with Term Fees paid to date forfeited.
A student will not be permitted to commence or continue to attend the College, or to represent the College in sporting or other activities, if the parents of the student are unable to reach an agreement regarding the application of a valid pass for the student pursuant to Clause 10.1 and there is no relevant court order in relation to the same.
10.4. Disclosure of nationality: Parents undertake to make full disclosure as to the nationality/citizenship of all applicants – including dual or multiple nationality. Specifically, any applicant who holds Singapore citizenship, either by birth or registration, must declare this fully at the time of the application.
10.5. Singapore Citizens
10.5.1. Singapore Citizens holding dual citizenship may not make an application based on their non-Singaporean citizenship. Successful applicants, who hold Singapore citizenship, will only be able to take up their place at the College after the Ministry of Education has issued a waiver. The College will apply for this waiver on behalf of the applicant.
10.5.2 Parents must inform the College where an application for Singapore Citizenship is in process at the time an application is made for their child to join the College or at any time during the admissions process.
10.5.3 Failure to disclose that an applicant is a Singaporean Citizen or has an application for Singaporean Citizenship in process at any point during the admissions process, will result in the application being closed or enrolment cancelled, without refund of any fees paid. Additionally, the child shall be prohibited from re-applying to the College for the next two annual admissions cycles from the date of withdrawal.
10.5.4. If a child becomes a Singapore Citizen whilst enrolled at the College, parents must inform the College within 3 working days of the notification of the outcome of the Singapore citizenship application. Parents must comply with prevailing Singapore Laws and College policies that this change in citizenship entails. In the event that the child becomes a Singapore Citizen while enrolled at the College and prior to their MOE Primary 1 registration period, the College shall require the withdrawal of the child at the end of the current term, with refund of any future term fees paid. Additionally, the child shall be prohibited from re-applying to the College for the next two annual admissions cycles from the date of withdrawal.
11. General conditions
11.1. Families: It is normal for schools to interact with families rather than individuals. In the College’s interactions with families we will, as a matter of routine, consider permissions and instructions from one parent as binding to the family. We will further share data between family members as necessary to deliver the learning programme and protect the welfare of individuals without further permission. The family in this case will be defined as a group of individuals identified to us as a single family during the application process and normally related as spouses/partners (including same-sex relationships), mother/father, brother/sister or any similar step relationship or legal guardianship. Any changes to these relationships should be notified to the College in writing.
11.2. Leaving school premises: All students must observe College policy in relation to leaving school premises.
11.3. Liability and insurance: The College shall not be held liable to the student and/or parents for any injury, death or loss of property which the student or parent may sustain/incur at any time whether on its campus or elsewhere. The College is further not responsible for the student’s personal property on its campuses or on the way to or from the College or on any College-sponsored activity or trip away from the College. The College is not the agent of the parents for any purpose related to insurance.
11.3.1. The parents shall be solely responsible for providing all necessary medical and accident insurance as well as personal property insurance, for their children and their possessions. Parents should satisfy themselves with the adequacy level of coverage offered to their personal circumstances. The College shall not be liable for the failure of any parent to provide adequate insurance coverage for the student and/or his/her possessions.
11.4. Students’ personal property: Students are responsible for the security and safe use of all personal property and are responsible for ensuring that all such property is clearly marked with the owner’s name.
11.5. Concerns/complaints: Parents who have cause for serious concern as to matters of safety, care or quality of education must inform the College.
11.6. Progress reports: The College monitors each student’s progress and parents will receive regular feedback in accordance with College policy.
11.7. Additional learning needs: Where a member of staff has a concern about the progress of a student they will make a preliminary assessment to see whether learning support is needed. If it appears that further assessment by an educational psychologist is advisable or the student is falling behind with studies, parents will be notified. The parents agree that further assessments may be arranged by the College or the parents and at the parents’ expense. The parents acknowledge that our staff are not qualified to make a medical diagnosis of conditions. Parents will be asked to withdraw the student without being charged fees in lieu of notice if the Head of Campus considers, at his/her sole discretion, that the College cannot provide adequately for a student’s educational needs.
11.8. Withholding information: If it subsequently becomes apparent after admission that any information regarding learning support, special needs, physical or mental health conditions has been withheld, or falsified, during the application process, it will lead to the immediate removal of the student from the College without refund of any fees.
11.9. Data protection: The College Data Protection Policy sets out how the College collects and uses personal data about students and their parents or legal guardians, so that the College can provide services necessary to each student’s education and appropriate to parents’ and guardians’ membership of the College community. The policy is written in accordance with the relevant Singapore Data Protection laws. Parents and appointed legal guardians agree to the College using their own and their child(ren)’s data in accordance with the stated policy. The College’s Data Protection Policy is available on the College website and may be amended from time to time.
11.10. Confidentiality: Parents consent on behalf of themselves and the student that the College, its officers and staff may obtain, hold, use and communicate, on a ‘need-to-know’ basis, confidential information which, in the opinion of the College, is material to the safety and welfare of the student and others. The parents consent to the College communicating with any other school which the student has attended, or currently attends or which a parent proposes the student should attend about any matter concerning the student or about payment of fees, whether or not the information being passed on is also held in machine readable form.
11.11. Examinations, reports and references: The College will enter a student’s name for an examination if the Head of Campus is satisfied that such is in the best interests of the student. Information supplied to parents and others concerning the progress and character of a student and about examination, further education and career prospects and any references will be given without liability on the part of the College. Where parents are separated or divorced, reports and other information will be made available to both parents at their requests unless certified true copies of court orders prohibiting the same are produced to the College.
11.12. Intellectual property: The College reserves all rights and interests in any intellectual property rights arising as a result of the actions of a student in conjunction with any member of staff of the College and/or other students at the College for a purpose associated with the College. Any use of any such intellectual property rights by a student is subject to the consent of the College upon terms and conditions acceptable by the College. The College may, at its discretion, allow the student’s role in creation/development of intellectual property rights to be acknowledged.
11.13. The use of videos, photographs and images: The use of videos, photographs and images: Parents agree to the College using students’ work, photographs and video footage of the student and other material for purposes such as publicising, marketing and/or advertising the College and its students’ accomplishments to internal and external audiences, in print and online, including on social media, in accordance with relevant College policies and protocols. Parents further agree that the nurses of the College may, on occasion where the College is of the sole view that it is necessary, take photographs of a student’s injuries as part of their duty of care for the student who is injured.
11.14. Marketing and promotional activities: The College’s marketing material, including but not limited to the College website, brochures and open days describe the broad principles on which the College is presently run and give an indication of our approach, ethos and curriculum content. The information provided is not intended to be legally binding and does not form part of any agreement between the parents and the College.
11.15. Limitation of liability: The limit of the College’s liability (whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability in tort or by statute or otherwise) to the parents or student howsoever incurred, for any and all claims, shall not in the aggregate exceed the fees collected by the College from the respective parents.
11.16. Entire agreement: These Standard Terms and Conditions and the application form signed by the parents supersede any other prior agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parents and the College. The parents acknowledge that no representation, inducements, promises or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any officers or staff of the College.
11.17. Partial invalidity: If any Standard Term or Condition is being held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force, without being impaired or invalidated in any way.
11.18. Governing law: These Standard Terms and Conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore. The College and the parents hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore.
11.19. Dispute resolution: All disputes, controversies or differences (‘dispute’) arising out of or in connection with this contract, including any questions regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to the Private Education Institution (PEI) Mediation-Arbitration Scheme in Singapore provided that the College may in its discretion elect to commence proceedings in relation to the dispute in the Singapore courts instead of referring the matter to the PEI Mediation-Arbitration Scheme and Parents shall not challenge the jurisdiction of the Singapore courts to hear such a dispute.
11.20. Counterparts: This application may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall be taken together and deemed to be one instrument.
11.21. Interpretation: Headings are for ease of reading only and are not otherwise part of the Standard Terms and Conditions.
12. Force Majeure
12.1 Release from obligations affected by Force Majeure: If by reason of Force Majeure (hereafter defined) the College is rendered unable wholly or in part to perform its obligations, then upon notice in writing of such Force Majeure to the parents as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of the cause relied on, the College shall be released from such obligations to the extent to which they are affected by the circumstances of Force Majeure and for the period during which those circumstances exist.
12.2 ‘Force Majeure’ herein means any of the following events: a) war, invasion, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or civil war; b) act of Government; c) earthquakes, fire, lightning, storms, floods or any other occurrence caused by the operation of the forces of nature; d) strikes, lockouts, boycotts or labour disputes; e) terrorism, sabotage or arson; f) epidemic or infectious disease; or g) any other event similar to any of the foregoing or any other event beyond the control of the College.