The ISF Academy is an independent Chinese school with a global perspective. By drawing the best from the East and the West, The ISF Academy seeks to educate students for life in the 21st century, nurturing global citizens who are problem solvers, lateral thinkers and leaders able to thrive amidst uncertainty and rapid social changes in today's fast-paced society. In the past, education has been shaped by the needs of the Industrial Age with emphasis on discrete fields of study, linear thinking and intellectual conformity. In today's Information Age, however, education demands applied creativity, innovation, diversity, interdisciplinary approaches, and effective multi-sensory communication.  Students must be able to embrace change and rapid innovation in a networked society.

The ISF Academy's education programs aim to develop students who have independent creative thinking, high self-esteem, effective communication skills, a love of learning, as well as a sense of responsibility and compassion. 

The ISF Academy ensures that students engage in purposeful learning activities that help them master the skills of analysis, develop perspective and judgment, respect all living things, as well as communicate, connect, and be empowered to act within the community at large.

Most important of all, at The ISF Academy, we work to educate our students as individuals in an environment underpinned by the principles of our core values "Eight Virtues + One" (see section below on Core Values), so that they become active and ethical members of society, who are ready to face the many challenges ahead.

Our Vision

The ISF Academy is "Tomorrow's School Today", providing students with knowledge, learning approaches, and skills applicable to the 21st century.

The school is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and values with a curriculum of world-class standards. Our high-quality bilingual, holistic education enables students to develop multiple talents and realize their potential to live full, productive, and healthy lives.

Our Mission

To educate the “whole child” by providing an environment that enables each to:

• develop a lifelong love of learning
• think critically and with an open mind
• lead, contribute and be good citizens
• communicate and function well in both Chinese and English-speaking cultures

Our Core Values – Eight Virtues + One (八德一智)

Grounded in Chinese culture and with a global prospective, The ISF Academy focuses on instilling in its students core values that draw from our Chinese heritage and which are updated to be relevant to today's world. Our "Eight Virtues + One" gives our students a strong foundation from which to think, decide,  and act and helps us reach our goal of preparing students to be active and ethical members of society, ready for any challenge that they meet.

智 (zhi) and the Eight Virtues

Having strong academic standards is crucial to a successful school. However, beyond good test scores is a higher concept, the concept of 智(zhi). 智 implies having intelligence and wisdom, being able to use knowledge and experience to make decisions that benefit ourselves and our community. The ISF Academy believes that only by having the following eight virtues can an individual truly have 智 and thus reach academic, personal, and professional success.

Our Eight Virtues are:-

忠 (zhong) – embodies the concept of loyalty and responsibility to others, making a commitment and being devoted to what is important to us. For The ISF Academy, this sets the basis for the relationships between all members of our community.

孝(xiao) – recognizes that sometimes we are leaders and sometimes we are followers. In addition, by having 孝 we have an obligation and a duty to the past. We bring new meaning to our traditions by adapting them to the modern world and the demands of a new generation.

仁 (ren) – recognizes that we need to approach every person and all living things with kindness and care. The ISF Academy's commitment to a bilingual  immersion program and our encouragement of further foreign language acquisition also builds on this need for understanding through meaningful dialogue.

愛 (ai) – as members of The ISF Academy community, we show a love of study that makes us curious knowledge seekers. We show love for all members of our school community and we act responsibly by showing a love for the environment. 

禮 (li) – is how we do things at The ISF Academy and how our core values are manifested in our traditions, our habits and our daily routines. The ceremonies and actions expressed in 禮 follow our deep understanding and respect for rationale behind our core values.

義 (yi) – is being principled and standing up for our beliefs. Whether in academics or in activities, we at The ISF Academy show personal integrity in all that we do.

和 (he) – is approaching our world with moderation, tolerance, good humor, and joy. We think about how to live with nature and not against it. It is only as a cooperative community that The ISF Academy can achieve our goals.

平 (ping) – is balance, equality, fairness. It is closely tied to the concept of 和 and when the two characters are combined, they form the word "peace". The ISF Academy believes in peace and that all people are equal regardless of sex, race, religious beliefs, socio-economic background, or physical ability.