A popular area for (U)HNW families, the Asia Pacific region boasts a diverse array of elite schools, from esteemed branches of British institutions to innovative academies that champion creativity, independent thinking and academic excellence.
Often topping a number of rankings of leading private schools in the world, East Asian institutions are known for their rigorous academic excellence and their commitment to personal development. These schools combine deep-rooted traditions of discipline with forward-thinking courses that emphasise critical thinking, creativity and global perspectives.
Many offer world-renowned programmes, such as IB, A-Levels and GCSE, while others integrate local degrees and bilingual learning to equip students with the skills needed for top universities and future careers.
Spear’s has identified the best private schools in the Asia Pacific region, selecting institutions that provide an education of the highest standard. From historic establishments to groundbreaking newcomers, these schools have been evaluated for their capacity to cultivate leadership, innovate and ensure that students are well-prepared for success in a global world.
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- Methodology
- Top private schools in the Asia Pacific region: some names to know
- The complete list of top private schools in the Asia Pacific
- Find out more
[See also: Introducing the Spear’s Schools Index 2025]
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Methodology
Spear’s has worked closely with the expert team at Thuso to refine the methodology underpinning the index, and to convene an expert panel of leading international educationalists to contribute their knowledge and insight to the research and selection process.
The Spear’s Research Unit collected data and information directly from candidate schools, using a combination of online forms and interviews. This was supplemented with additional research and by intelligence and insight from Thuso and the panel of expert educationalists.
The Spear’s Schools Index has also been underpinned by the following key principles:
- While examination results and academic attainment are key considerations, they are not the only thing that matters. Leading schools are not necessarily the most academic. ‘Hot houses’, therefore, are not to be viewed with approbation.
A wide range of social, cultural, and pastoral factors have been weighed in finalising the index. In some cases, some schools with strong academics have been omitted where they fall short in relation to these wider considerations. Notably, the team have been cognisant also of ‘cultural’ and ‘value based’ factors which are of growing concern in relation to many families. This is especially relevant in a climate in which some schools may be viewed as adopting an ‘indoctrinatory’ approach that might risk stifling free debate and the associated critical thinking.
- Families are increasingly mobile, with new global cities emerging as key hubs. This is particularly the case for cities such as Dubai, as well as established regional hubs in Europe, Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia, and the Pacific. Likewise, a growing number of families, often citing concerns over cultural considerations, are opting for more ‘traditional’ institutions, in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East, in preference to institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland.
- Reputation and standing are not insignificant. The reputation and standing of a school shape and influence its character, the parents and pupils it attracts, and its position both regionally, and internationally. In particular, some of the schools best established in the Index continue to draw many generations of international families, demonstrating the extent to which they have retained the trust of alumni.
Further information about the composition of the panel is available here.
Top private schools in the Asia Pacific region: some names to know
Tanglin Trust School
- Focus: Respect, responsibility, purpose
- Country: Singapore
- Day fees: $24,800–$39,800
As it approaches its centenary, the Tanglin Trust School continues to flourish, offering high-quality British-based learning with an international perspective to a student body of 2,850 children representing more than 55 nationalities.
Repeatedly described by UK inspectors as ‘outstanding’, Tanglin is unique among international schools in Singapore by offering A-Levels and the IB diploma in Sixth Form, providing students with an opportunity to choose the educational pathway that best suits them.
Read Tanglin Trust School’s full profile at Spears500.com
Alice Smith School
- Focus: Courage, curiosity and compassion
- Country: Malaysia
- Day fees: $11,500–$25,200
The first British international school in Malaysia was founded as a practical solution to a practical problem: in 1946 Alice Smith couldn’t find a school for her own daughter so she started one.
Alice Smith School has expanded from its humble beginnings: it now has 53 different nationalities among its nearly 1,600 pupils, and offers curricula across early years, primary, secondary and Sixth Form. Academic results are strong, with 86 per cent of students achieving A* to B grades at A-Level. (There are 25 A-Level subjects offered).
Read Alice Smith School’s full profile at Spears500.com
Kellett School
- Focus: Encouraging confidence for life
- Country: Hong Kong
- Day fees: $25,500–$32,700
Inspected by the British Schools Overseas programme and rated ‘outstanding’ in every category, Kellett School delivers a UK curriculum to the English-speaking community in Hong Kong and nearby parts of Asia.
Kellett is strongly focused on business and the liberal arts, and every student is offered the chance to take part in charity work as an extracurricular activity, as well as overseas trips with service as the theme. Kellett is a member of HMC, an association of the world’s top independent schools.
Read Kellett School’s full profile at Spears500.com
Raffles Institution
- Focus: Hope for the future
- Country: Singapore
- Day fees: $3,000–$26,500
- Boarding fees: $6,700–$30,900
Raffles Institution (RI) is one of the oldest schools in Singapore, founded in 1823 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, whose vision lives on in the school’s motto: auspicium melioris aevi, meaning ‘hope of a better age’.
The school provides secondary education only for boys in a Year 1 to Year 4 programme, and pre-university education for both boys and girls aged 17 and 18. Since 2007, RI and its affiliated school, Raffles Girls’ School, have offered the Raffles Programme.
Read Raffles Institution’s full profile at Spears500.com
The complete list of top private school in the Asia Pacific
Find out more
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