City Harbour International School vs Westlake International School

	C City Harbour International School Ipoh, Malaysia	W Westlake International School Ipoh, Malaysia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year MYR 7,920 - 26,400	Fees / year MYR 9,300 - 15,900
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 600
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 25
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2017	Opened 2013
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located at PT 15010, Jalan PMB 1, Pusat Manjung Bestari, 32040 Seri Manjung, Perak, Malaysia, the school is nestled in the Manjung coastal district near Lumut and Pangkor, adjacent to a naval base.	Location Westlake International School is located in Bandar Barat, Kampar, within a lakeside township adjacent to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Surrounded by hills and greenery, the campus offers a quiet academic environment. It is about 40 minutes southwest of Ipoh, with easy access via Federal Route 1 and the Kampar town centre.
Stages	Stages City Harbour offers Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, and Sixth Form (pre-university A‑Level).	Stages The school covers Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary (IGCSE), and Sixth Form (A Levels).
School type	School type The school is a co‑educational day and boarding school, serving ages 2–18 with boarding available alongside day student options.	School type Westlake is co-educational, with on-campus day and boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school does not have publicly available information on their additional learning support.	Additional learning support Westlake International School provides targeted academic support through tools like CAT4 ((Cognitive Abilities Test)) and GL Progress Testing, which help identify students' strengths and learning gaps. These assessments guide differentiated instruction in small classes, capped at 25 students, enabling personalized attention. High-performing students benefit from the E-ProP (Extended Programme for Potential), a specialised academic extension programme. For IGCSE and A-Level students, subject mentoring and academic coaching are available to reinforce learning and exam readiness.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school does not have any country affiliation.	Country affiliation Westlake is affiliated with the United Kingdom.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school is not religiously affiliated and is secular in its operations.	Religious affiliation The school does not have any religious affiliation however they do offer a Christian Fellowship.
School day structure	School day structure The school does not have publicly available information on their day structure.	School day structure School hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–4:30 pm Differing dismissal times: Early Years finishes at 1 pm while older students remain until 3 pm on specific days.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school does not publicly provide information about offering a school bus service.	Bus service details The school offers a bus service.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Day student tuition: RM 7,920 (Nursery) to RM 26,000 (Grade 10–11 and A‑Levels). Boarding (weekly/annual) ranges RM 22,380–26,400 per year. One-time fees include: Application RM 500 Registration RM 2,800 International Admin RM 5,000 Facilities fee RM 1,500 Security deposit varying by grade (RM 2,640–10,200) Refund Policy & Payment Methods The school does not have publicly available information on their refund policy and payment methods.	Fee details One‑Time Enrolment & Application Fees Upon application: a RM 500 application fee is payable. Upon acceptance, there’s a RM 3,000 enrolment fee. International students (non-Malaysian passport holders) pay an additional RM 2,500 administration fee upon enrollment. Academic Tuition Fees (Term-Based, 3 Terms Per Year) Westlake International School offers tuition from Early Years to Year 6 for students aged 5 to 11. Fees are charged per term and payable three times a year. Early Years (age 5): RM 3,100 per term Year 1 and Year 2: RM 4,630 per term Year 3 and Year 4: RM 5,180 per term Year 5 and Year 6: RM 5,300 per term Fees are subject to an annual increment of 5% to 15%, and deposits must be topped up yearly based on the student’s progression level. Boarding Fees Boarding is available in two formats: weekday boarding (5-day stay) and full boarding (7-day stay). Each has its own rate and entitlements. Weekday Boarding (5 Days/Week): Fee: RM 5,700 per term Deposit: RM 1,000 (one-time, refundable with one full term’s written notice) Duration: Sunday 2:30 PM to Friday after school Meals: Breakfast and dinner daily, with dinner on Sundays Laundry: Twice weekly Weekend extension: Available at RM 70 per night, with full 7-day boarder privileges Full Boarding (7 Days/Week): Fee: RM 6,900 per term Deposit: RM 1,000 (refundable with proper notice) Meals: Breakfast and dinner daily, with meal allowance on Saturdays Laundry: Three times weekly Return Policy: All boarders must return home during mid-term and end-of-term breaks A strict one-term notice is required for withdrawal to be eligible for a boarding deposit refund. Additional Programme Fees Art & Design Starter Pack (Year 10): RM 500 (one-time charge) E-ProP Programme: RM 1,000 per term (conditionally applicable based on programme placement) Development Camps (Year 6): RM 300 Discounts & Payment Incentives Sibling Discount: A 15% discount on term tuition fees is granted for each additional sibling enrolled under the same family. The sibling at the highest level pays full fees, and discounts apply to others. Advance Payment Discount: A 3% tuition discount is offered for full upfront payment of the academic year made by January of that intake year. Refund Policy Tuition Deposit: Westlake requires a term fee deposit upon enrollment. This deposit is refundable, but only with one full term’s written notice of withdrawal. The notice must be submitted before or on the first day of the term in which the student intends to complete their stay. Failure to provide this notice will result in forfeiture of the deposit. Boarding Deposit: A one-time RM 1,000 deposit is required for both 5-day and 7-day boarders. This is refundable, provided a written withdrawal notice is submitted one full term in advance. If no notice is given, the boarding deposit is non-refundable. Boarding is not available during mid-term or end-of-term breaks, and students must return home during these periods. Refunds are not granted for unused boarding days or missed excursions. Payment Methods Bank Transfer Cash Cheque Late Payment Clause The school reserves the right to charge late payment interest at 5% per annum on outstanding balances not settled within 15 days of the term start date. In cases of continued non-payment, the school may refuse entry to students or terminate enrollment without prior notice.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements Boarding is on-campus in Kampar, arranged in five family-style cluster homes. There is separate lodging for girls and for boys and a boutique A-Level Boarding House. Each boarder has a fully furnished private bedroom with an attached bathroom and air conditioning; bedrooms open to a shared common area with a kitchenette. Access to the boarding house is controlled with CCTV and security guards.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options Boarding meals are prepared daily by the school cafeteria team (managed by Grand Kampar Hotel), offering Asian and Western cuisine with a cashless payment system. On weekends, boarders receive allowances to eat out.
House system	House system —	House system Students are divided into houses such as Camels, Dolphins, Otters, and Tigers to participate in House Sports, which include a range of activities and competitions and foster teamwork and school spirit.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership Ownership: Westlake International School Sdn. Bhd. Governance: member of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) UK.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details City Harbour International School follows the British National Curriculum from Early Years through to A Levels. In the Early Years, the school uses the EYFS framework, focusing on areas like communication, literacy, numeracy, and personal development. The Primary stage (Years 1–6) includes core subjects such as English, Maths, and Science, alongside Art, ICT, History, Geography, Music, PE, and PSHE. In Secondary (Years 7–9), students continue with a broad range of subjects, leading into the Cambridge IGCSE programme in Years 10 and 11. For Sixth Form (Years 12–13), the school offers Cambridge A Levels, with subjects including Maths, Sciences, Business, Law, Sociology, and Literature. The curriculum is complemented by compulsory sports, arts, and hands-on learning activities, including outdoor education through a partnership with Outward Bound Malaysia.	Curriculum details Westlake International School offers the Cambridge International Curriculum across all levels, from Kindergarten through Sixth Form. Students begin with Cambridge Primary (Years 1–6), progress to Lower Secondary (Years 7–9), and take the IGCSE exams in Years 10–11. After IGCSE, students have the option to continue into Cambridge A Levels for university preparation. The curriculum is supported by project-based learning, digital literacy, and extracurricular programmes such as STEM, the arts, and leadership development.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning City Harbour supports SEL through co-curricular experiences like performing arts, sports, and its collaboration with Outward Bound Malaysia, which emphasizes teamwork, resilience, and self-leadership in outdoor settings.	Social & emotional learning Westlake supports social and emotional growth through a wide range of student-led and community activities. The Student Council promotes leadership, collaboration, and empathy among peers. Participation in clubs like eco-club, drama, and music fosters communication, teamwork, and self-expression. Christian Fellowship sessions support values-based learning and help build a strong moral foundation. Teachers also serve as mentors, guiding students beyond academics and nurturing emotional intelligence.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) The school does not have any specialized program for SEN.	Special educational needs (SEN) Westlake does not have a dedicated SEN department.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school does not offer a dedicated EAL program.	English as an additional language The school does offer EAL.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing City Harbour recognizes mental wellbeing through school-wide observances such as World Mental Health Day. The school encourages openness about mental health and acknowledges the importance of seeking help when needed.	Mental wellbeing A pastoral care system is in place to support student welfare. Daily interaction with dedicated teachers, regular parent engagement, and personalised attention help monitor emotional needs. Physical education, recreational sports, and boarding life provide structure and routine that support emotional stability. Activities such as weekend excursions and full-board care also contribute to students’ overall wellbeing by ensuring they feel secure, engaged, and valued within the school community.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school does not have publicly available information on their safeguarding policy.	Safeguarding The school does not have publicly available information on their day school safeguarding policy. However, these are their boarding safeguarding policy. The school adopts safeguarding standards aligned with the UK Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), ensuring student safety through structured policies and on-campus supervision. Boarding facilities are equipped with CCTV, secure entry systems, and trained house parents who provide 24-hour pastoral care. The school environment promotes wellbeing through its Student Council, Christian Fellowship, and house systems, which encourage student leadership, peer support, and a respectful culture.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview Westlake International School is located in Kampar, Perak, Malaysia, with on-site boarding in five family-style cluster homes. Boarders have private bedrooms with attached bathrooms and air conditioning, shared common areas with kitchens and lounges, and on-site supervision by Boarding House Parents. The boarding facilities are secured with CCTV and guards, with visitor verification for access. The school provides meals through the cafeteria and offers weekend allowances to eat out. It has extensive on-site sports facilities, including a Multi-Purpose Hall, outdoor fields for football and frisbee, netball courts, an indoor artificial turf, a table tennis room, a swimming pool and a gym. Westlake is a member of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) UK.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The campus includes a Multi-Purpose Hall with badminton and basketball courts, fields for football and frisbee, netball courts, an indoor artificial turf, a table tennis room, a swimming pool and a gym; boarders and students have access to these facilities for daily activity and after-school sports.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The Primary program follows the Cambridge Primary curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives, Art, Music and Physical Education, with Mandarin and/or Malay offered as foreign languages in Primary. The Secondary program comprises Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4; Cambridge Lower Secondary covers English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives, Art, Music and Physical Education, with Malay as a Foreign Language and Mandarin options. From Year 8, students bring personal digital devices; Year 7 has school-owned tablets via the CodeBusters Room, and the CodeIT program develops practical digital competencies. At Key Stage 4, students take the IGCSEs (nine subjects); there is a STEM emphasis with Cambridge Science Competition, ICAS and the Mathematics Olympiad.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is available to students aged 14–24. The Primary Club offers Year 3–6 activities such as Board Games, Craft, Food Fun and Junior Scientist. The Secondary Club provides clubs including Art Attack, Chinese Society, Culinary, Film Production, Japanese Language & Culture, Leo Club, Malaysian Society, Orators, SAS (Serious About STEM) and Tech Titans.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History City Harbour International School was founded around 2021, in collaboration with Outward Bound Malaysia. It was established to blend a British academic curriculum with character development and experiential learning, particularly in outdoor and leadership-based education.	History Westlake International School was established in 2013 in Kampar, Perak. The school is privately owned and operated by the Hughes Education Group, a business enterprise founded by the Hew family. It started with classes from Year 2 to Year 9 and gradually expanded to offer Early Years through to A Level by 2017. The school was built near the Westlake housing area to serve both local and expatriate families in the region. The school remains under the same ownership structure.
Community	Community The school has a strong focus on community-building through co-curricular activities and school-wide events. Its partnership with Outward Bound provides opportunities for students to develop leadership and teamwork in nature-based settings, helping cultivate a shared sense of purpose and resilience within the student body.	Community The school hosts regular community events that include sports competitions, cultural celebrations, and service activities. These have included events such as Chinese New Year performances, Earth Hour gatherings, and a school-organised Sports Day. Students, staff, and parents often attend school workshops and festive events. Some events are also open to prospective families and the local Kampar community.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association City Harbour does not have a PTA.	Parent teacher association Every parent at Westlake International School is automatically part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA plays a supporting role during school events such as Open Days and cultural celebrations. Members often help with logistics, manage information booths, and assist with school decoration and student-led fundraisers. Parent-teacher meetings are conducted each term as scheduled sessions where families meet with teachers to discuss student progress. Feedback from parents is also gathered through surveys related to topics such as food provision. Communication with families is maintained using the Sentral Parent Portal.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The Cambridge curriculum is offered from Early Years through A Levels. Cambridge Primary covers English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives, Art, Music, and Physical Education, with Mandarin and Malay offered as foreign languages in Primary. The Primary program embeds coding, programming, and robotics, and uses school-based tablets to support learning. In Secondary, Cambridge Lower Secondary guides Key Stage 3 for core subjects, Malay is studied as a Foreign Language, Mandarin is available at multiple levels, and from Year 8 students use personal digital devices with a CodeBusters Room and a CodeIT program. IGCSes form the basis of Key Stage 4, and the A Level program starts in January (18 months) or September (24 months) with a STEM focus, strong teaching hours, Personal Learning Plans, mentoring, and a Career Navigator Programme.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Art and Music are core components of Cambridge Primary and continue into Secondary. The Cambridge Primary curriculum includes Art and Music as part of the learning outcomes.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language Mandarin and Malay are offered as foreign languages in Primary. In Secondary, Malay is studied as a Foreign Language and Mandarin is available at different levels.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school supports extracurricular activities through House Sports, ECA, and student clubs such as Primary Club, Secondary Club, and Mix Club.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is available to students aged 14–24 with Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. The Character & Career Coaching (CCC) programme supports personal growth and develops interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional Character & Career Coaching is an integral part of the school's ethos, designed to develop leadership and life skills. The A Level program includes Personal Learning Plans, Assertive Mentoring, and a Career Navigator Programme.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing Boarding is offered on campus and the school is a member of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) UK. Boarding accommodation comprises five family-style cluster homes with fully furnished private bedrooms with attached bathrooms and air conditioning, plus shared common areas. Safety features include CCTV, round-the-clock security, and visitor verification.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards The school does not have publicly available information about their awards.	Awards “Top in the World” IGCSE Mathematics award (2019) Featured in Education Perfect and Global Scholars publications for academic quality
Accreditations	Accreditations The school does not have publicly available information about their accreditations.	Accreditations Fully accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) Boarding programme accredited by the UK Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA)
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Application Submission. Parents must complete and submit an official Application Form along with a non-refundable application fee of RM 500. 2. Document Requirements: For Malaysian students: 4 passport-size photographs of the student Student’s birth certificate (1 copy) Student’s MyKid or Identity Card (1 copy) Copies of academic records from the past year and previous 3 years Father's and mother's identity cards (1 copy each) Father's and mother's passport-size photographs (2 copies each) For International students: 4 passport-size photographs of the student Translated and endorsed copy of student’s birth certificate Passport and valid visa page (1 copy) Past 3 years’ academic records Father's and mother's passport and photographs (1 copy each) Parent's marriage/divorce certificate 3. Assessment. All applicants sit for a written entrance examination in English and Mathematics. These are age-appropriate tests. The school also reviews recent school reports and may request a confidential reference from the previous school. An informal interview is conducted as part of the evaluation. 4. Offer. Assessment results are issued within 3 working days. Offers depend on academic readiness and available spaces. Class placement decisions are made based on the assessment outcome. 5. Acceptance. Parents must respond to the offer within 7 days by completing the Admission Agreement and Insurance Form. At this point, a deposit equivalent to one term’s course fee is required, along with copies of the student’s birth certificate, passport, or ID card as applicable.	Admissions 1. Download & complete application form. 2. Submit form and application fee. Email form and pay compulsory RM 500 fee. 3. Assessment & interview. Students sit for an entrance test; boarding candidates have supplementary interviews. 4. Offer issued . Successful applicants receive an offer letter (within ~2 weeks). 5. Pay enrollment & enrollment fees. RM 3,000 enrollment fee (plus RM 2,500 if international) and deposit (one term’s fee). 6. Complete registration & begin. Finalize paperwork, attend orientation, and begin school term.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.	Scholarships Governor’s A-Level Scholarship: Up to 100% tuition coverage for high-achieving international students entering Year 12 (A Level) Tan Sri Hew Excellence Scholarships: Provides up to 100% term fee waiver for academically outstanding applicants (Years 7–10)
Waitlist	Waitlist The school does not have a waitlist.	Waitlist The school does not have a waitist.
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