1983年，Cempaka因家庭需求而诞生。孩子们走进如家庭一样的学校，受到养育和照顾，分享并发展持久的友谊。拿督Freida Pilus开始在租来的平房开设了Cempaka学校，为她的儿子提供最好的教育。目前Cempaka已经发展为学校集团——拥有私立学校和国际学校的教育集团，旗下一共包括三个校区：Damansara校区，Cheras校区（该校区还包括私立学校，提供马来西亚国家课程）和Cempaka International Ladies College ( CILC)。
A Complete Guide to International Schools in Malaysia: Cempaka International School Damansara Heights
Cempaka International School, Damansara Heights Campus
#Malaysia #InternationalSchool
"Our editor | Cempaka International School's Damansara Heights campus follows the Finnish teaching model at the primary and lower-secondary levels, offers the IGCSE curriculum and examinations in Years 10-11, and the A-Level programme and examinations in Years 12-13. With a history spanning several decades, it is an international school deeply trusted by local families."
01 · School Overview
History of the School
Cempaka was born in 1983 out of one family's needs. Children stepped into a school that felt like home, where they were nurtured and cared for, sharing and building lasting friendships. Datin Freida Pilus first opened Cempaka in a rented bungalow to give her son the best possible education. Today, Cempaka has grown into an education group encompassing both private and international schools, with three campuses under its umbrella: the Damansara campus, the Cheras campus (which also includes a private school offering the Malaysian national curriculum), and Cempaka International Ladies College (CILC).
The original Cempaka school. Photo: Cempaka School official website
School at a Glance
Located in Damansara Heights, Cempaka International School offers an educational pathway that begins with the Finnish school model, progresses to the IGCSE examinations, and culminates in the A-Level examinations. Students can proceed directly from Cempaka to university.
The school fully adopts the Finnish teaching model at the primary and lower-secondary levels (Years 1-9), transitions to the British IGCSE curriculum in Years 10-11, and offers the A-Level programme in Years 12-13. This progression is designed to prepare students not only for the IGCSE examinations but for lifelong learning, ensuring they are fully equipped for the future.
Over a 17-year journey at Cempaka, students are nurtured to become scholars, athletes, and gentlemen and ladies. Cempaka students embrace a growth mindset and develop strong character traits that will continue to serve them well into adulthood.
Photo: UNM Consultancy
School Philosophy
Cempaka's educational values embrace the holistic development of mind, body, and soul:
Mind: The school encourages students to appreciate the value of learning for its own sake, rather than merely as a means to a certificate. Students are encouraged to cultivate curiosity and to seize every opportunity to explore and dig deeper into new areas of interest. They also learn to set and work towards academic goals each year, encompassing content mastery, background knowledge, and higher-order thinking skills.
Body: Students are taught to embrace the principles of teamwork and to remain humble in both victory and defeat. They also develop a distinctive capacity for leadership, becoming physically fit, competitive, and confident individuals.
Soul: The school encourages students to be capable in innovation and artistic creation, cultivating a taste for and appreciation of the arts. In addition, a Cempaka graduate grows in character and moral conviction, with the values of honesty, humility, and compassion instilled at heart.
Location
Cempaka International School's Damansara campus is located in Kuala Lumpur, just a 10-minute drive from the city centre and 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
02 · Outstanding Academic Results
2025 Grade Achievement Rates
A* – A: 72% of students achieved A or A*
A* – B: 87% of students achieved B and above
A* – C: 96% of students achieved C and above (pass/distinction rate)
For its kindergarten stage, Cempaka has adopted a Reggio-inspired approach to learning. Michelia's Reggio-inspired method centres on children's developmental needs while following best practices in early childhood education.
Learning is holistic, blending inquiry-based and play-based approaches, with a daily schedule that offers both structure and flexibility. Thematic learning, the Jolly Phonics literacy programme, and Cambridge Mathematics are also incorporated into the curriculum.
Photo: Cempaka official website
The learning areas of Michelia's Reggio-inspired education include:
Social and emotional development
Communication, language, and literacy (including English, Mandarin, and Malay)
Problem-solving, reasoning, and numeracy
Project-based learning
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Physical development (fine and gross motor skills)
Creative development (art, dance, drama, and music)
Swimming
Primary Years 1-3
Learning areas for Years 1-3 at Cempaka include:
English (including library)
Mathematics
Environmental Science
Visual Arts
Handicraft (textiles, woodwork)
Home Economics (from Year 3)
Swimming
Physical and Health Education
Gymnastics
Games
Academic clubs or co-curricular activities
Ethics/Islamic Studies (for Muslim students only)
Performing Arts (dance, vocal, instrumental studies)
Foreign languages - Malay and Mandarin (compulsory)
Photo: Cempaka official website
Primary Years 4-6
Learning areas for Years 4-6 at Cempaka include:
English
Mathematics
Science
History
Geography
Civic Education
Art
Swimming
Gymnastics
Academic clubs or co-curricular activities
Personal Social Life Skills (PSLS)
Civics/Religion (for Muslim students only)
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Performing Arts (speech and drama, dance, vocal, instrumental studies)
Foreign languages - Malay and Mandarin (compulsory), plus French (optional from Year 4 onwards)
Photo: UNM Consultancy
Secondary Years 7-9
Learning areas for Years 7-9 at Cempaka include:
English
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Art and Design
Global Perspectives
Malaysian Studies
Performing Arts
Physical Education
Mandarin or French
Malay (compulsory)
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
Moral or Islamic Studies (for Muslim students only)
Computer Science
Photo: UNM Consultancy
Years 10-11: IGCSE Stage
Compulsory subjects:
English
Mathematics
Additional Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Elective subjects:
Business Studies or Computer Science
Literature in English, Accounting, Mandarin, French, or Physical Education
Global Perspectives, Economics, or Art and Design
Photo: UNM Consultancy
Years 12-13: A-Level Stage
The programme is divided into two distinct streams — the Science Stream and the Art Stream — each with its own subjects and electives:
Science Stream:
Biology
Chemistry
Further Maths
Mathematics
Physics
Economics
IELTS (optional, International English Language Testing System)
Art Stream:
Business
Economics
English Language (a minimum grade of B in IGCSE First Language English is required)
Mathematics
IELTS (optional, International English Language Testing System)
03 · A Rich Co-Curricular Programme
Cempaka prides itself on offering a diverse range of co-curricular activities and strives to develop every student's interests and talents to the fullest. The activities on offer span five categories: sports, skills workshops, outdoor expeditions, community service, and swimming.
Under sports, activities include athletics, girls' basketball, badminton, table tennis, football, handball, water polo, swimming, taekwondo, fencing, gymnastics, basketball, cycling, dodgeball, and jiu-jitsu.
Photo: Cempaka official website
Skills workshops include dance, musical instruments, vocals, drama, stage lighting, robotics, information and communication technology (ICT), photography, first aid, life saving, cooking, culinary competitions, chess, Anything Is Possible (RAG), and film and cinematography.
The outdoor expedition programme features the annual Campori — a fun-filled weekend camp for upper-primary students — as well as scuba diving trips organised for the Cempaka Award Scheme (CAS) expeditions.
Community service encompasses a variety of clubs with charitable missions, such as the Interact Club, PAP, and more.
Swimming: every Cempakan must be able to swim. New students learn to swim in swimming lessons. Cempaka has a long-standing tradition of excellence in swimming and regularly ranks among the top schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Students interested in competitive swimming or water polo can join the Cempaka swim team, which competes on a year-round schedule.
Photo: UNM Consultancy
The school also offers performing arts as part of its co-curricular programme:
Primary School
The performing arts programme comprises three compulsory components, each with one lesson per week.
1. Vocal and musical activities
2. Music (Year 1 only) / Instrumental Studies (Years 2 to 6)
3. Dance / Gymnastics
For Music and Instrumental Studies, Year 1 students attend music lessons where they learn the fundamental elements of music and have the opportunity to explore the piano, violin, and percussion instruments before the end of the school year.
Photo: UNM Consultancy
At the end of Year 1, students choose one instrument — piano, violin, or percussion — to continue developing from Years 2 through 6.
Lower Secondary
At the start of each term, lower-secondary students receive a list of performing arts courses to choose from according to their interests (on a first-come, first-served basis). These courses run during the performing arts periods on their timetable. Offerings include percussion ensemble, musical theatre singing, K-pop dance, folk dance, music composition, video production, drama, and more. The courses available vary by term and year group.
Photo: UNM Consultancy
04 · Everything Else You Should Know
Personal Mentors
Upon enrolment, every Cempakan is assigned a personal mentor. Personal mentors provide pastoral care and act as the link between students, parents, and teachers. At the beginning of each school year, the personal mentor establishes contact with his or her students and their parents. This connection continues throughout the year through the mentor's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) groups and meetings.
Facilities
The campus boasts modern, up-to-date facilities, including:
Art studio and gallery
Exhibition hall
Cafeteria offering Asian, Western, and local cuisine
Discussion rooms
Primary school discovery centre
Dedicated kindergarten play area
Gymnastics studio
IT lab and help desk
Mini library
Large classrooms equipped with projectors
Multi-purpose hall
Performing arts studios (vocal, drama, dance, instrumental)
Rooftop area
School shop
Science laboratories
Swimming pool (25 metres)
CEMPAKA THINK Centre
Photo: UNM Consultancy
These facilities provide a wealth of resources and venues that support students' learning and personal interests, while also enabling a diverse range of activities across the campus.
Technology
Cempaka has been a leader in educational technology for more than 15 years. In 2002, Cempaka was certified by Apple as the region's first Apple Distinguished School. In 2006, it became the country's first school to receive Apple Distinguished Educator recognition. Cempaka is recognised as the first school in Southeast Asia with a fully comprehensive one-to-one learning environment, and in 2007 it became Malaysia's first notebook school.
Photo: UNM Consultancy
Communication
Within the school community (students, parents, teachers, and school management), the main channels of communication are the school's official email and its online learning platform, known as the Cempaka Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Every Cempaka student, parent, and teacher has a VLE account.
Once logged in, parents have access to the following:
School announcements
Homework information
Report cards
Co-curricular updates
Academic content delivery
Social networking
Parents receive information relevant to their children and are notified by email whenever new information is posted. Upon joining the school, every student is given a Cempaka email account. This account is used not only for email but also gives Cempaka students access to shared documents (including online forms) and the school's websites.
