We know choosing a high school is an important step for your family, especially if you are new to the area or country. At GrowBright, we value openness and clear communication, building strong partnerships between home and school. To help international families feel welcome and informed, we’ve answered the most common questions about our IB pathways, admissions process, and daily life at our school. If you need more support, our friendly admissions team is always ready to help you personally.
GBIS is located in Bandar Utama area of Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. Please click on this website link for the map and directions. Get Directions
For August 2026 - June 2027, the school will open in a bespoke area connected to the JoyKids International Pre-school campus. In August 2027, the school will move to a dedicated campus just 5 minutes drive from the JoyKids International Pre-school campus.
No. GBIS is a day school.
GBIS teachers are locally and internationally recruited, experienced educators with IB or international school backgrounds. They are all graduates and qualified teachers.
Before their child is enrolled in GBIS, parents may contact the Admissions team, who will be happy to assist. Once a child has enrolled and is attending the school, parents will be given specific contact information for their child.
Yes. Parents are very important to us and GBIS plans to establish a Parent Association to support our school community.
GrowBright International School (GBIS) is established as a social-purpose international school, meaning it is run to prioritise educational quality, community impact, and long-term sustainability rather than short-term profit. Income is reinvested into the school to support students, staff, facilities and learning programmes.
GBIS is an IB Candidate School and is working towards full authorisation. The school follows IB standards and practices during the candidacy phase.
English is the main language of instruction
GBIS will offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), with a strong focus on inquiry-based learning, international-mindedness, and holistic child development.
GBIS will open initially in August 2026 with Primary Years (Grades 1–5). In August 2027, the Middle Years Programme will open for Grades 6-8. In August 2028, Grades 9 and 10 of the Middle Years will open. The IB Diploma will commence in August 2029 with Grade 11.
Assessment at GBIS is ongoing and formative, focusing on progress, understanding, and skills rather than solely on tests. Assessment methods align with IB philosophy. However, clear learning outcomes for each Grade level are established to monitor each child’s progress.
Clear, regular communication is a priority for us. The school will use a combination of:
Yes, GBIS will offer a varied co-curricular activity programme including sports, creative arts, and other enrichment activities appropriate to each age group.
Yes. GBIS will provide a limited English as an Additional Language (EAL) support for students who need help developing their English proficiency. However, all students will need a basic level of English to enter the school.
GBIS values multilingualism and will explore mother-tongue language support opportunities, depending on demand and staffing availability.
GBIS will offer Bahasa Melayu provision in line with Malaysian regulatory requirements for Malaysian students.
Mathematics teaching at GBIS focuses on conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and reasoning, aligned with IB best practice. Both Mathematics and English will be taught as separate subjects, with standards benchmarked against international standards for each Grade level. Subject reports for these subjects will be both formative and summative and will be produced regularly.
Yes. Physical education and sports are an important part of the GBIS programme, promoting health, teamwork, and resilience. As a new school, initially, the range of team sports on offer will be limited. However, as the school grows and develops, this will be a priority.
Yes. GBIS students will have opportunities in visual arts, music and performing arts, supporting creativity and self-expression.
In the first year of opening, class sizes will be limited to 16 children, so teaching assistants will not be present. However, this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
The academic year will follow an international school calendar, with the school year beginning in August and ending the following June, including term breaks and public holidays.
The school day will start at 8:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. It will be structured to balance academic learning, well-being, and enrichment. School hours will be age-appropriate and clearly communicated before the start of the academic year. At 3:15 pm, a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) Programme will be offered, concluding at 4:00 pm.
As the school opens in August 2026, we will have smaller classes for the inaugural academic year. Class sizes for August 2026 - June 2027 will be limited to 16 children per class. This is important to build the foundational school community.
In August 2027-2028, when the school moves to the dedicated campus, Grades 1-5 class sizes will be limited to 24 students per class.
Homeroom classes will have 1 teacher per class, supported by a Teaching Assistant in Grades 1 and 2.
No, GBIS does not plan to offer After School Care for families who need extended supervision beyond the school day (after the co-curricular programme). The school day will end at 3:00 pm, followed by the CCA programme, which finishes at 4:00 pm.
Parents may apply for August 2026 and August 2027 entry now. However, entrance assessments will be prioritised for the August 2026 entry. Entrance assessments for August 2027 will commence in November 2026.
Yes, GBIS is happy to consider mid-year entry, subject to space availability in the Grade level and also your child’s readiness.
Our online application system will request academic records, reports, parent identification documents, and any relevant learning support or medical information.
Yes, we will arrange for parents to meet with the Head of School. This is to provide parents with an opportunity to ask any questions, raise any concerns or provide any additional information they may have about their child. The interview is not an assessment for parents.
Yes, parents are welcome to bring a translator if needed. We would like parents to be as comfortable as possible.
Yes. English proficiency is assessed alongside overall readiness, and EAL support is available. However, all children are required to have a basic foundation of English to be offered a place in the school.
Every child’s application is considered individually. However, as a start up new school, our provision for additional learning needs is very limited, so children will need to be able to access the PYP in the classroom. During the admissions assessment process, the individual needs of each child will be discussed.
The Admissions Entrance Assessments are age-appropriate and designed to understand the child’s learning profile, not to cause stress. Please refer to the school website for more information: Admission Process
Families will receive written confirmation from the admissions team.
Yes, families may reapply after one year to give the child the opportunity to develop.
No. GBIS does not process student or guardian visas. It is the responsibility of the parent, and the school will request copies, including on renewal.
The school fees can be found on this website page: School Fees
Parents will have flexible invoicing options, which may include termly or annual payment plans. Families can choose the option that best suits them.
Full details can be found on this website page: School Fees
Opening and sibling discounts can be found on the school fees page of the website: School Fees
An application fee is required to process and review each application. This fee is non-refundable and covers administrative and assessment costs.
The application fee can be found on the school fees website page: School Fees
Yes, the enrolment fee contributes to the development of facilities and resources, as well as the long-term growth of the school. Full details can be found on the school fees website page: School Fees
Yes, a refundable security deposit is required. This is typically returned when a student leaves the school, subject to the school’s terms and conditions. Full details can be found on the school fees website page: School Fees
School fees are reviewed annually. Any fee adjustments are made carefully and communicated well in advance. Parents will receive clear written notice of any changes.
School fees are prorated for students joining mid-term. Full details of the calculation process can be found in the School Fees information: School Fees
All additional costs will be clearly outlined so there are no unexpected financial surprises for GBIS families:
Parents are required to give one academic term's written notice if withdrawing a child from the school. Notice periods and any applicable charges will be clearly stated in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment agreement.
Student well-being is central to GBIS. The school provides structured pastoral care, strong relationships, and age-appropriate emotional support.
GBIS follows robust child safeguarding and protection policies, aligned with international best practice. All staff receive safeguarding training. Please refer to our website for more information: Safeguarding Policies
Students are encouraged to speak to their class teacher, pastoral lead, or another trusted adult within the school.
GBIS offers careful onboarding, additional support, and close communication with families to help new students settle confidently.
Transition programmes, buddy systems, and close teacher monitoring help students integrate academically and socially. In addition, a transition meeting or settling-in report will be scheduled with parents after the new student has been in school for 4 weeks.
The school has procedures to care for unwell students. Our school nurse will contact parents promptly if a child needs to go home or receive medical attention.
GBIS follows strict health and safety protocols, including emergency procedures, supervision policies, and regular safety checks.
An IB World School is authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to deliver globally recognised, inquiry-based education. IB schools develop knowledgeable, caring, and internationally minded students who succeed anywhere in the world.
We offer the following IB continuum:
This ensures a seamless, high-quality learning journey from early childhood to university preparation.
Our school combines IB academic rigour with exceptional pastoral care, small class sizes, world-class educators, and modern facilities—creating an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The IB develops:
• Critical and independent thinking
• Strong research and communication skills
• Global awareness and ethical leadership
• University readiness and lifelong learning habits
• IB graduates are highly sought after by top universities worldwide.
English is the primary language of instruction. Additional languages are embedded in the curriculum, and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available.
Assessment in the IB is continuous and holistic, including:
• Projects and presentations
• Coursework and reflections
• External IB assessments (for DP)
• Regular progress reports and conferences
Our Early Years programme blends the foundation of JoyKids International Preschool with the IB PYP framework. It is theme-based and inquiry-driven, focusing on social-emotional growth, literacy, numeracy, and “joyful discovery”.
Our teachers are IB-trained, internationally experienced educators who are passionate about inquiry-based learning and student success.
Small class sizes ensure personalised attention, meaningful feedback, and strong student-teacher relationships.
Yes. Technology enhances learning through digital platforms, research tools, and collaborative projects—while promoting responsible digital citizenship.
Well-being is central to our IB philosophy. We provide:
Yes. Our campus follows international safety and child protection standards, with secure access, trained staff, and emergency procedures.
The IB Diploma Programme is one of the most respected pre-university qualifications globally. Our graduates gain:
Our students gain admission to leading IB-recognised universities across the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Asia, and beyond.
Find out more about IB-recognised universities here.
Applications are submitted online, followed by academic review and age-appropriate assessments. Our Admissions Team supports families at every step.
To begin, visit our Admissions Process page.
Yes. Rolling admissions are available, subject to space and suitability.
Absolutely. We specialise in supporting relocating families and ensuring smooth academic and social transitions.
It means we look at the whole child. While academic reports are important, we also value a student’s character, their interests outside the classroom, and their potential to contribute to our community. We review school reports, confidential references, and conduct a “Discovery Interview” to ensure a “best-fit” for the student.
Parents are vital members of our community. Through the Parent Portal, you can view grades, access announcements, message teachers, and submit forms.
We empower families to create positive change by volunteering time, donating scholarships, collaborating on projects, or attending community events like the Forest Festival and Entrepreneurship Showcases.
