TWO pictures have emerged among international schools here: The demand for places in schools run for expatriates' children - particularly the smaller ones - is shrinking, while those run by the local brand-name schools have become ever more popular.

The reasons for these trends differ.

Mixed Results Mixed results Smaller enrolments: 10 of the 27 international schools have lost up to 20 per cent of their students. They include the Global Indian International School Singapore and Avondale Grammar. ... more

Some schools for expatriates' children are losing their enrolments because their students' parents have lost their jobs in the downturn here, although premier ones such as the Singapore American School (SAS) are still mostly unaffected.

Of the 27 international schools here, which do not include kindergartens and supplementary schools, 10 say up to 20 per cent of their students have pulled out, leaving even in mid-term; 14 others say their numbers are stable, but are expecting more withdrawals at semester's end around June.

But 'local international' schools like ACS International and Hwa Chong International, which follow the national bilingual policy, have each grown their enrolments five to six times since 2005.

Both have added or will add facilities. ACS International, for instance, has new classrooms and soon, a sports complex, a medical centre and more classrooms.

Even the newer SJI International has expanded - it opened its primary school last year and an extension last December.

Meanwhile, the Nanyang family of schools plans to open a co-ed international school mainly for foreigners by next year, starting with primary-level classes on its kindergarten's Bukit Timah site.

International arms run by the brand-name schools here are now hot among local and foreign parents seeking for their children, among other things, smaller classes of about 25 students each.

Between 50 per cent and 70 per cent of the students at these schools are Singaporean, their parents unfazed by the higher fees - about $20,000 a student each year.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.