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St. James's School

Brunei

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Malay
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 16 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1956
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Malay, English
Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

St James's School in Kuala Belait, Brunei, is a day, co-educational institution offering Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary education. It is fully accredited by Brunei's Ministry of Education and follows the Brunei national curriculum. The Kindergarten programme covers Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK), Bahasa Melayu (BM), Mathematics, English, Science, Art, Computer and Physical Education. In Years 1–3, the curriculum includes IRK, BM, Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), Mathematics, English, Science, Art, Computer, and PE. Years 4–6 add Social Studies; Years 7–8 introduce BAT (Business, Art and Technology) with continued English and Mathematics. Years 9–11 (Arts or Science streams) cover IRK, BM, MIB, Mathematics (D- or A-Mathematics), English, and science, with options such as Geography, Accounting, Travel and Tourism, and Computer Science. The Kindergarten uses the Developmental Principles and the Multiple Intelligence framework to promote early learning through play, hands-on materials, and differentiated instruction. Facilities include a Senior Science Laboratory, an ICT Laboratory with 30 terminals, a library, and a covered play area to support learning across age groups. The acting principal is Joseph Beriso Sarmiento. The school opened in 1956.

1 Jalan McKerron, Kuala Belait, Brunei

The Essentials

St. James's School has instruction in English, Malay.

Location
St. James's School is located in Kuala Belait, Brunei, on Jalan McKerron (No 1). The main gate faces government offices such as the Post Office, Labour Department and Immigration Office, and the south wing looks onto Jubli Park with views toward the South China Sea.

Stages
The school offers Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary levels.

Type
Co-educational.

Additional learning support
The school uses differentiated instruction to address different learning styles and pace. It provides specialized facilities such as ICT rooms and a senior science laboratory to support learning.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation. The school is Brunei-based and has roots in the Anglican Church governance in Brunei.

Religious affiliation
Anglican.

School day structure
Start and end times are not published on public pages; a 2026 calendar is available for reference.

Bus service
A dedicated school bus service is not listed on public pages.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Boys wear a white polo shirt with short or long sleeves, dark blue trousers, a tie (light blue for years 7–9; dark blue for years 10–11), black shoes, white socks, and a songkok. Girls wear a white long-sleeved blouse, a blue checkered skirt, and a white tudung with the school logo. If not wearing tudung, hair must be tied neatly. A PE uniform is worn for PE and CCA activities and consists of white and black sport shoes.

House System
Pupils are grouped into five houses named after Anglican Diocesan Bishops. The house system is used for inter-house competitions in academics and sports, with an Academic Shield awarded for winning performances in competitions such as essay writing, chess, and Scrabble. The Monitor-Prefect system supports discipline in the school.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Governors. Ownership status or group affiliations are not specified on the site.
Fees
Application fees

- No published application or registration fee amount is available in the school's publicly available admissions material. No specific application fee figure or one‑time registration charge is shown.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)

- No published tuition fee schedule by year group, term, or academic year is available in the school's publicly available materials. There are no specific per‑term or per‑year tuition amounts listed for kindergarten, primary or secondary levels in the school's public admissions and general information pages.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- There is no published billing schedule, term‑by‑term payment calendar, or detailed payment‑term policy visible in the publicly available admissions or facilities information. No standard due dates, instalment plans, or late‑payment penalties are published in the school's public materials.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- No boarding provision or boarding fee schedule is published in the school's publicly available materials. The school is presented as serving Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary levels with no boarding or residential provision stated in the publicly accessible pages. No boarding fee amounts are listed.

Other costs or fees (uniform, levies, insurance, trips, etc.)

- Uniform: A detailed dress code is published (uniform and PE uniform requirements are stated), indicating that a school uniform and PE uniform are required. No uniform prices or supplier cost information is published.
- Additional charges: The publicly available historical and general pages reference customary school levies and items such as insurance historically, but no current amounts for excursions, insurance, activity levies, textbooks, or extracurricular charges are published as specific sums.

Refund information

- No published refund policy, tuition refund terms, or conditions for reimbursement of fees is available in the school's publicly accessible admissions or policy pages.

Fee payment options (credit card, bank transfer, cheque, cash, online portal)

- No specific payment methods or payment channels (for example credit card, bank transfer, cheque, or an online payment portal) are published in the publicly available contact or admissions information. Contact details (phone and email) are provided for enquiries, but explicit supported payment options are not listed.
Academics

St. James's School teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 16.

Curriculum
St. James's School offers a Ministry of Education-accredited curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 11, covering Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK), Bahasa Melayu (BM), Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), Mathematics, English and Science, with ICT/Computer Education, Art and Physical Education as core areas. Kindergarten follows a Developmental Principles and Multiple Intelligence Framework, emphasising play, concrete materials, reading at the core of language, kinesthetic learning and integrated content. From Year 1 to Year 3 the program includes IRK, BM, MIB, Mathematics, English, Science, Art, Computer and Physical Education; Years 4–6 add Social Studies. Years 7–8 present the BAT pathway (Business, Art and Technology) alongside IRK, BM, MIB, Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies and compulsory extra-curricular activities. In Years 9–11, students follow two streams: Arts Class (D-Mathematics, English, Combined Science, Geography, Accounting, Travel and Tourism, Computer Science, Art/Design and PE) and Science Class (A-Mathematics, D-Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) with optional Art/Design and Computer Science, while external qualifications are not listed.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school emphasises social development as part of its curriculum and uses differentiated instruction to address individual learning styles.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose specific SEN provisions or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. It uses differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
There is no explicit EAL programme described; English is included in the core curriculum.

Mental Wellbeing
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding mental wellbeing support.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding policies are not explicitly disclosed; the site references Discipline Guidelines and a Student's Handbook.
Parent Experience

History
St James's School traces its origins to the Kuala Belait English School, established in 1931 as Brunei's first English‑medium school. The school emerged during Brunei's early oil‑boom era, when expatriate communities and Anglican missionary activity helped shape local education. Its founding involved the Anglican Church with support from the Brunei state government and the British Malayan Petroleum Company, which funded the first Anglican church in 1930. A six‑member Board of Governors, including BMP representatives, government officials, the Anglican Church, and a Chinese‑community representative, guided the school in its early years. The institution that began as Kuala Belait English School developed into St James's School as part of Brunei's evolving private education landscape.

Community
St James's School sits in Kuala Belait with a school community that includes students, families, and staff who participate in school life. The school hosts events such as an annual Open Day that brings together students, parents, and teachers for performances and activities. It also runs community activities such as a Walkathon to engage students and families in service and community life, and participates in World Book Day library events with other Belait schools.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Publicly available information does not specify a named Parent-Teacher Association for St James's School Brunei, but parent involvement is evident through organized volunteer groups and participation in school events. Open Day in 2025 saw parents and guardians attending alongside staff and students, reflecting active parental engagement. The annual Walkathon brings together students, families, and the local community in a shared school activity. The school participates in library events that include students from St James's and other Belait schools, illustrating collaboration with families and wider community members. The Alumni network maintains strong ties with current students and staff, complementing family involvement by fostering ongoing engagement and events for former students and staff.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
St James's School operates a digitally equipped campus with an ICT Room featuring 30 computer terminals and in-class computer access in every room. A Senior Science Laboratory supports practical work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, while the BAT room provides computers for art appreciation and multimedia learning with resources for textiles, screen printing, sculpture, drawing and painting. Classrooms are spacious, air-conditioned and equipped with a computer suite to augment learning. The Covered Play Area provides a weather-proof outdoor space for PE lessons and CCA activities, and the library serves nursery to year 11 with books, magazines, AV materials, games and puzzles. The President Room hosts school meetings and events.

Sports Facilities
The primary sports space is the Covered Play Area, used for physical education and CCA activities. No other dedicated sports facilities are listed in the facilities pages.

Academic Facilities
ICT facilities include a dedicated Computer Lab with 30 terminals and classroom computer access. The Senior Science Laboratory supports practical work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Textiles, screen printing, sculpture, drawing and painting resources are available for art and creative activities, with the BAT room housing multimedia computers.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Covered Play Area supports PE lessons and CCA activities, and the library provides books, magazines, AV materials, games and puzzles that can support extracurricular engagement. The President Room hosts meetings and events related to school life.
Languages

Language Provision
English is taught as a core subject across year groups. Bahasa Melayu (BM) is compulsory, and Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) is included as part of the standard program. The language provision centers on English and Malay language study within the curriculum. The school does not publicly list additional language offerings or language-support programs for non-native speakers, nor immersion or bilingual language pathways.
Reputation

Awards
Public school-level awards for 2021–2025 are not listed on their official website.

Accreditations
The Brunei Ministry of Education fully accredits St. James's School, confirming compliance with Brunei's national education standards and curriculum requirements.
Admissions

Scholarships
There is no published information about scholarships on the school's admissions materials.

Waitlist
The school does not publish a waitlist or pool system in its admissions materials.
School Events
The school has not added events
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