Our Success Story

“Studying at Heads Up was initially rather relaxed. Studying and homework were a constant as always, but there was quite a bit of mischief mixed in. However, as it seems with so many other students, it was only in the last year when I started to really work hard. Ms Tan, our Principal, would always tell us that she had some students who failed their Economics mock but got A*s for their IGCSEs. Our teachers would give us lots of past year papers, especially Ms Chin and Ms Lee, but it was thanks in big part to this practice that I was able to confidently answer in my real exams. I am sure most students, after finishing their IG's, will tell you that doing ridiculous quantities of homework was worth it. I consider myself fortunate that my teachers put us through such struggles to give us the experience we needed. I hope any current or future IGCSE students reading this will learn to value the work that your teachers put you through!

A more memorable experience from my time at Heads Up was helping in the planning of the 2022 Mini Carnival and Sports Days as Captain of Burgundy House. Although planning my first big event was stressful, I am very grateful to have struggled through it, and experienced something worthwhile. I believe I grew immensely while working with the other House Captains and teachers.

I’m grateful to all my teachers who poured out their hearts, sweat and voices to teach my class of colourful personalities. All in all, I had a good time at Heads Up - all the work, stress, and monkeyshines included!”

2022 was definitely a thrilling year. I can recall the fun and laughter, as well as the challenges and struggles. It was the exact definition of "life is a wild ride." The teachers at Heads Up were constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone, and that made me grow a lot as a person - from developing my mental strength to my leadership skills, since I was a House Captain. It was definitely quite overwhelming for me at times, having to cope with upcoming exams, plan and prepare for school events, and at the same time, complete my homework. Looking back now, I’m glad and proud to have managed to overcome these hurdles.

How can I write my testimonial without including the teachers at Heads Up? Whether you are a parent, student, or friend 😏, you may or may not know that I achieved 8A* in my IGCSE. That was not achieved through the work of only one person, myself, but also, through the efforts of all the teachers who willingly taught and guided me. I need to mention Ms. Phoebe, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Chin, who were my top three teachers. Ms. Phoebe was a very cool teacher and easy to talk to, on top of which, she did her job really well! Ms. Lee and Ms. Chin, on the other hand, were good examples of strict teachers. They could be very cruel when it comes to homework, but it proved to be very beneficial for our future. I know that many juniors will disagree with me, but they will understand when the time comes.

”The past two years have been, for me, a challenging and rewarding journey, and I am proud to say that I have graduated and scored well in the IGCSE recently.

I must say that Heads Up is an excellent school that has played a significant role in my academic success and character development. As Heads Up is a small school, classes were very personal, and I felt I could comfortably interact with my teachers and fellow students.

The teachers at Heads Up are outstanding. They are highly experienced and passionate about their subject areas. Personally, I feel that the teachers are extremely competent, and are able to guide students to success. For example, after practically failing my trial exams, my teachers were able to guide me and re-teach me topics for better understanding. For this reason, I was able to score well in my IGs and am forever thankful for their guidance and patience.”

2022 was a very stressful year for me at Heads Up. With having to return to physical classes and actually pay attention (😱); having to balance our social life and school life; having to organise two main school events (🤣🔫); and having to constantly be reminded that the most important exam of our high school life was drawing close! It was absolutely terrible, and definitely not recommended. BUT, Heads Up teachers did an incredible job of comforting and reminding us that we would be just fine. Having supportive teachers is so important, and we were very blessed to have ones who actually cared so much for us and our education that we formed close bonds with them and could confide in them when needed. A big thank you to all Heads Up teachers, especially Ms Lee, because she always laughs at my jokes 🥰

“My grades improving from 6Es to 6As was something I never would have imagined to become reality, if it was not for my transfer to Heads Up International. It was my very first time scoring a “100” in any academic subject, especially after entering high school when subjects became tougher. I was really shocked and surprised when I saw the grade. My results improved drastically in just 2 months. Thank you so much Ms Lee.☺️

The next person I would like to thank is my Chemistry teacher, Ms Chin. Thank you for believing in me when I doubted my abilities to score well in Chemistry. You made the lessons easy to understand and super interesting. I am beyond grateful for the knowledge I have gained from your classes. Thank you.

Leaving the best for last, thank you so much Ms Tan for allowing me to study at Heads Up International. Because of your kindness and faith in me, you accepted me with my previous results when they would not have been accepted by other schools. And to my homeroom teacher, Ms Phoebe. Thank you for your kindness and everything you have done for the class. It has been a blessing to have been part of this school. The lessons learned and memories collected will occupy a special place in my heart. Thank you to all the teachers and staff for your hard work.”

I enrolled in Heads Up to prepare for IGCSE for a second time due to my lacklustre results the previous year. I was a very weak student with no motivation to study.

Fortunately, Heads Up provided me with an ideal learning environment. My teachers were very patient with me as I was very weak in my studies and easily got frustrated. They pushed me to work harder and motivated me to keep going whenever I was in a slump. I also learned a lot from my classmates who were very welcoming and made learning more enjoyable. Their competitiveness in studies also pushed me to improve myself. In what felt like a short time, 10 months had passed and the IGCSE examinations begun. For the first time in my life, I was confident in taking my exams. Although my IGCSE results are not perfect, I have improved a lot academically, and grown as a person. My teachers and classmates helped me greatly to get to this point, and for that, I’m very grateful. No regrets.

“In the blink of an eye, four years have passed - the amount of time I have spent creating memories at Heads Up International since early 2018. Reflecting on the past few years, it has indeed been an enjoyable adventure.

I would like to thank my parents for supporting me financially and spiritually along this journey as without them, I would not have made it this far. My learning experience resembles a roller coaster, having its ups and downs. Putting it bluntly, the pandemic had been a slap across the face, and online classes were hard to adapt to, making it an arduous challenge to stay focused in class. During that time, my results deteriorated and by the time the mock exam came around, all I could produce were worrying results. Fortunately, I was able to receive help from the teachers. I am eternally grateful to them for their patience, guidance and support. Without them, I would not have been able to reflect on my past mistakes and fully utilize the few months left, leading up to my IGCSE exam, to work hard and polish my understanding of each subject. Teachers who are beyond excellent are hard to come by, and for that, I am immensely thankful to all the teachers who have taught me since my first year.

Lastly, a huge appreciation to Heads Up and the friends I made along the way. Each memory is extraordinary and unforgettable. Students often spend their school years in different schools. I chose to spend four years at Heads Up, and I do not regret my choice.”

“The one thing I love the most about Heads-Up is that whenever I face any problems in my studies, there is always someone there to help me out.”

“I remember getting low marks when I first joined Heads-Up. As time passed by, things changed. The one thing I love the most about Heads-Up is that whenever I face any problems in my studies, there is always someone there to help me out.

In 2019, when I was in Year 10, Covid 19 descended on us. We were forced to do virtual studies. As studying online was something new for me, I was not able to adapt at the beginning. However, Heads Up teachers were very responsible. They made sure they planned lessons to avoid any delay in completing the whole syllabus. Most importantly, I would like to thank my parents, who supported me financially, or else I would not have had the opportunity to study at Heads Up.

To the juniors out there, don’t stop asking questions if there are any topics you do not understand. Keep asking until you understand to help you improve in your academics!! GOOD LUCK!”

“Being in the pandemic made the process of learning tough, but thanks to all my teachers at Heads Up, I was able to go through it and achieve a good result. The teachers are very qualified and I know they want us to succeed. Choosing to study at Heads Up was the best decision I had made a few years ago. They call Heads Up a school, but I like to think of it as home. The teachers always believed in us even when we did not believe in ourselves. I am glad that I made them proud of me.”

“Our teachers did their best to aid us in order to catch up with the syllabus, as well as improve our results.”

“I’m Lau Hui Yen from class of 2021. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we had online classes for the past two years. Even though it was a hard and challenging journey, Ms.Tan and our teachers handled the online class setting well. I think it was not easy to make all students stay focused during lessons, but our teachers did their best to aid us in order to catch up with the syllabus, as well as improve our results.

I am also really thankful to my home room and Physics teacher, Ms.Wong Mei Yan who is helpful and hardworking. She always spoke to us politely and never scolded us.

Once again, thanks Heads Up for the past 3 years. Wish you all the best!”

“I joined HeadsUp in the year 2020. Yes, the year the pandemic changed normal for good. Despite having to navigate through all that such unprecedented times entails, I can safely say that Heads Up aided me with a smooth overall journey towards my IGCSE exams.

I found the teachers accommodative and supportive, willing to respect one’s personal learning style while being open to questions at any time. Couple this with having a few friends who were willing to share thoughts, resources and jests, what more could one ask for?

Thank you Heads Up, for being a flexible learning platform and teachers, for your guidance these past two years. I’m grateful for how my learning journey here moulded itself around the life I wished to experience, as the realistic schedule allowed me to still pursue my own endeavours. I’ll be keeping the many memories of the jokes and the many stories we shared. :)

“I believe that the teachers at Heads Up played a big part in improving my studies and grades. Their teaching styles complemented the way I learn, which overall, helped ease some difficulties I faced as a student. What helped me most were the notes provided by the teachers which were straightforward and complete

Not to forget, I made good friends. My experience as a student at Heads Up - or rather, my high school experience in general, was sweet and unforgettable because of those friends. As Heads Up is not a big school, it makes it possible for students of different years to interact and make friends easily. So, the overall environment of the school is friendly.

Ultimately, I’m highly grateful for the friends who walked with me through our academic journey; the continuous care and effort of our teachers and the gateways of opportunities Heads Up has opened for me.”

““I really admire how the Heads Up teachers really put in effort to teach us. They use various ways to help us to learn, especially, using online website simulators, fun games, and questions created by students. Sometimes they sacrificed their time to give us extra lessons and were always willing to answer our questions through chats during or after classes too. Imagine how much work they have to do even after school. Our teachers also gave us suggestions, tips and thoughts when we face life issues.

I also really enjoyed my Heads Up friends. During the pandemic, they often responded to my questions regarding our studies and we supported each other. A massive thank you for everything.”

2020 was an unconventional year. Whether it was as amazing as the world had hoped is certainly debatable but personally, 2020 was a good year for me. I will always be incredibly grateful for the growth I had that year.

I would like to thank my family for loving and supporting me unconditionally. I would like to thank all my teachers for teaching and believing in me. It is always nice to learn while being surrounded by people who genuinely want you to excel and succeed. I would also like to thank my classmates 😀 and teachers 👩🏻‍🏫 for being a part of the wonderful and supportive environment I learned and grew up in 2020.

I never took a day for granted when going to Heads Up because I knew that my time there would not last forever. I had a lot of fun and made the most of every day. At Heads Up, I was able to meet awesome people who I will be calling my friends for a long time. ❤️

I received quality education and was taught by experienced, efficient and knowledgeable teachers who I could always ask for help from if I needed it. Although 2020 had its ups and downs, my high school year still ended with a bang.

So a big thank you to everyone 😊

It was early January, 2019 that I entered Year 10 at Heads Up International. Looking back on the two years I spent in this school, it is without a doubt that I have improved in academics and grown in confidence.

In terms of academics, Year 10 was not an easy year for me. The subjects I thought I was comfortable with, suddenly became new and unfamiliar, with new topics being introduced constantly. On top of this, I had to deal with entirely new subjects, Accounting and Economics. Over time, with the help of teachers who explained topics effectively, I was able to understand the overall concepts of each subject well.

As 2019 came to a close, the Coronavirus pandemic turned the whole world upside down, with schools having to resort to online learning from the middle of March 2020 – our exam year! In spite of the unfortunate turn of events, Ms Tan and all my other teachers managed to smoothly and quickly transition to an online class setting, tackling the pandemic situation with very commendable proficiency.

Although my class and I were able to go back to normal lessons by the middle of July, time was still of the essence for all of us as we continued to prepare for our IGCSE. Thankfully, my teachers were always open to any questions I had, and their guidance on how to approach exam papers helped me very much to overcome the issues that came with the pandemic.

Considering the challenging two years at Heads Up, I am extremely thankful for all the immense support my teachers gave me throughout my time at Heads Up. They had the utmost confidence that I would be able to perform well in my IGCSE – even when I, quite frankly, did not even believe in myself. All my teachers are, well and truly, second to none.

First of all, I would like to thank my parents for supporting me financially and spiritually. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far. Next, I would like to thank my enthusiastic and caring teachers. They have helped me a lot throughout the year, especially before the exam. I continuously threw questions at my teachers whenever they came to mind. So, I have to give them credit for their patience.

My journey at Heads Up was like climbing a mountain, spending approximately 2 years of it at the bottom. I started climbing 4 months before the exams and through relentless hard work and discipline, I finally made it to the top. To be honest, I regret not studying seriously during the MCO period because I believe I could have done better if I had used that time wisely. Online classes were not easy. It was quite challenging for us to stay focused, so, I want to thank all the teachers for staying by our side throughout.

Our teachers at Heads Up are very experienced. However, please do not take this for granted as good teachers don’t guarantee good students. I believe that true work must come from the students themselves.

I remember getting 4C’s and 2B’s for my mock exam, 2 months before the IGCSE. I finally achieved 6A*’s, 2A’s and 1B. So, to my juniors out there, do not worry or pressure yourself too much if you do not do well at the start. Stay focused, work hard and prepare yourself and you will be ready to shine when the time comes.

Last but not least, Heads Up, thank you for the past two and a half years. I wish you all the best.

Every Heads Up teacher is different and unique in his or her own way. Teaching style, sternness, humour, or personality may differ, but the common trait shared among the entire school staff is that they get the job done, and they do it exceptionally well. The admins are also fun and friendly. They were always great to have conversations with, whether it was for keeping us in line or joking around between classes.

Oftentimes, I found that the only limitation was myself – my laziness, plus my lack of effort, seriousness and focus. The school, however, provided me with all the building blocks needed to further myself. So I managed to overcome my flaws to achieve my desired grades and more.

I am glad that I made the right choice to study at Heads Up. Not only have I been taught under the guidance of great teachers who excelled at their work, but I have made wonderful friends along the way too.

As I was homeschooled before joining Heads Up, I was worried that I would not be able to catch up with all the syllabus. However, the guidance and advice from experienced and devoted teachers have definitely helped me achieve remarkable results.

My Heads Up journey was like a roller coaster— my grades were going up and down. Not to mention, my result slips were really colourful as I had grades ranging from A’s to D’s. Moreover, MCO happened, which meant everything moved online. I began to doubt myself, wondering whether I was ready to sit for the big exam if bad results kept coming my way. But because of my supportive teachers, I was able to push on and work hard. I am eternally grateful for my teachers who never gave up on me even when I was at my end-point. I want to thank ALL the teachers who have gone through thick and thin to teach us, especially Ms Chin, for having so much confidence in me and telling me I was able to excel my Chemistry paper.

Being in Heads Up has been an extraordinary experience – from loving teachers to fun and reliable friends. I appreciate all the friends I have made – you made my experience in Heads Up so much better. I will never forget the memories, like the time when we planned to stay back in school to study together, but ended up turning it into a party session after 10 minutes of work.

So, Heads Up, thank you for the unforgettable memories. I have surely spent one of the best two years of my life during my time here.

Having to take IGs in the middle of a pandemic was not easy but thanks to the teachers at Heads Up, I was able to pull through and get decent results. It was a shame I did not get to spend as much time with my classmates due to being stuck at home, but still, I have formed unbreakable bonds with some of them.

Many thanks to my Year 11 teachers, especially Ms Tan, who helped me get an A* in Economics, and an A in Business Studies despite only learning it for less than 6 months; and Ms Chin, even though I had thought I was hopeless in Chemistry. Also, not forgetting the teachers who taught me during my earlier years in Heads Up, especially, Ms Michelle, my all-time favorite teacher who taught me English in Y8 and 9.

BMy time at Heads Up was nothing short of interesting, and I’m glad I had the chance to spend my high school years there.

In June of 2017, I made a decision to transfer to Heads Up for my last one-and-a-half years of high school. I had hopes of getting through my IGCSE exams with flying colours. It was a decision that my parents and I have not regretted making.

As a former international school student, I was struggling with my IGCSE subjects for six months, obtaining marks as low as C’s and D’s. However, I began to see improvements shortly after I joined Heads Up. My marks rose steadily, and the depth of knowledge in subjects I was formerly weak in deepened.

From dedicated and experienced teachers, to sociable and like-minded friends and an excellent learning environment, Heads Up helped me in many ways, and especially so, in achieving my academic potential. Their team of fully experienced and caring teachers guided me with clear and concise steps on how to ace the exams easily.

Also, during my time in Heads Up, I was given off-campus opportunities that granted me access to top notch chemistry, physics and biology labs equipped with advanced facilities to further enhance the theoretical knowledge I had on the subjects.

Heads Up became my second home throughout the years as all the students of Heads Up were a close knit group of friends and we treated each other as family. I am eternally grateful for all the time and effort my teachers had invested in us, the knowledge they had passed on to us and the boundless love they showered on each of us.

My journey with Heads Up International was unforgettable. Throwback to all the joy we had during sports day, all the excitement we experienced during school trips, and also the fun time we had with our friends. Without this community, I wouldn’t have been able to make so many precious friends who are willing to go through the ups and downs of school life with me. Without this community, I wouldn’t have been able to meet all the honourable teachers that are willing to give up their time to share their knowledge with us. This community is the reason behind my achievements, and it has been an honour to be part of Heads Up International.

I can honestly say that joining Heads Up was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. It was midway through 2017 (Year 10 for me) when I enrolled, so I was quite worried about being able to fit into the pre-existing dynamics between the students and teachers there. Adding to this was the fact that I had been homeschooled for the last four years, and had never been to a private school such as this one. To my relief, my fear was totally unfounded. The students I studied with were some of the most wonderful and welcoming people I had ever met, and the teachers we learned from were caring, attentive, and highly qualified.

The interaction between the teachers and students was unhindered and warm. I never felt scared to speak up or ask questions during or after classes, because communication was always encouraged. Often, the teachers would share real-world examples of things relating to the topics that would help us apply what we had learned. The teaching was clear, engaging and focused much more on understanding rather than memorisation. This truly shifted my perspective on learning overall. It made me a more avid student, inside and outside of the classroom, which paid off by the time exams rolled around!

They were, however, more than brilliant teachers - to me, they were mentors. From them, I learned the value of perseverance, dedication and open-mindedness, both towards my studies and life as a whole. Beyond leading us through the syllabus, beyond preparing us for exams with an ample supply of past year questions, they took the time to know their students as individuals, helping us work through the stress of exams and regularly talking with us about our other interests.

These interests also frequently found an outlet for expression in the regular extracurricular activities arranged by the school. From writing plays to taking part in sports challenges, there was a wide variety of opportunities for the students. Some activities such as public speaking and emceeing were totally new for me, and at first I was reluctant to try my hand at them due to being quite shy. However, I eventually agreed to give it a go at the encouragement of our principal, Ms Tan, and I'm so glad I did! It played a huge part in bringing me out of my shell and making me more confident.

As for the students, the friendship we developed was of a kind I will be grateful for forever. We were very close, and were largely allowed to be so because of the relatively small size of our class. Heads Up was not just a school for me - it was a safe space to be curious, to experiment and to grow. Ms Tan, the teaching staff and the administrator, Ms Cheryl, worked really hard to create that atmosphere for us. And as a student, as well as a person, I am changed for the better because of it.

So, thank you, Heads Up International, for everything! This school was the best possible gateway to the rest of my life, and I will always be grateful for the experiences I have gained through it.

To be honest, I felt really awkward in my first few weeks at Heads Up as I was in a completely new environment, surrounded by people I did not know. However, as time passed by, we grew closer and closer. By the end of my two years at Heads Up, I had made great friends and was sad to leave. Heads Up turned out to be a close-knit community where I felt welcomed. None of that would have been possible without our teachers, who were all very involved in our learning. The group assignments we were given were some of the things that gave us the opportunity to not just remain as classmates, but to become close friends. At Heads Up, I found myself in an encouraging and competitive learning environment. Our teachers kept encouraging us, trying to help us achieve the best scores possible, by helping us set our goals higher than we previously believed we could achieve. They believed in us during times when we did not believe in ourselves. Although hard work on my part was a crucial part of facing my exams, my IGCSE results would have been an unachievable dream without the dedication of our teachers. My classmates, on the other hand, were the ones who made exams fun – something that I never thought I would feel. We were constantly trying our best to be the ‘King of the Jungle’ by scoring higher than each other in exams. In this friendly competitive environment, we were always excited to hear who came out on top when results were released. I am really grateful to all my teachers, friends and everyone else at Heads Up for making my time there a wonderful experience.

There are so many whom I’d like to thank in my life: my parents, who are paramount in my journeys and achievements, my loved ones, my friends, my teachers, and most importantly, God, to whom I owe everything. By His grace and blessings, for which I am very grateful, I came to this lovely school and made it through my exams, under favourable conditions, safe and sound!

From the perspective of a Year 11 student facing a fast approaching major exam, I definitely did not regret transferring to Heads Up. The teacher at HUA had provided invaluable help, both in getting familiar with the structures of the IGCSE exam and also in my efforts to garner a thorough understanding of my subjects, such as through their life-saving exam techniques, notes, handouts, and explanations. One of the several examples of the care they showed is how, even though I had only about a month of experience in Economics when I enrolled, Ms. Tan patiently helped me overcome my uncertainties and face the exam with more confidence than when I came in. The teacher were most willing to help, especially when the exams drew near, if only we’d ask. In HUA, I met teachers who are specialists, to whom I owe my A*s, as well as many wonderful friends, each of them unique, brilliant, interesting, kind, and fun-loving individuals who broadened my horizon and made my final year in high school a precious experience and a memorable journey.

Little did I know that the 'Heads Up' sign I drove past pretty much every other day would mean nearly as much as it does now. Heads Up was where I met the most memorable group of classmates - all of whom I am extremely fortunate to have as friends, as well as the highly qualified teachers, who made learning enjoyable and prepared us incredibly well for exams.

I am so blessed to have been able to spend two years at Heads Up.

It was a truly remarkable experience.

As a recent alumnus of Heads-Up Academy, I can say I have grown by leaps and bounds academically as well as socially. I was a student who had zero confidence in sitting for the IGCSE examinations two years ago while at my previous school. I remember distinctly scoring two consecutive Ds in my semester exams for Chemistry. At that point in life, I felt lost, hopeless and deep down, what’s worse – I knew I would disappoint my parents. I felt as though a grey future I envisioned was inevitable. On top of that, the stress I was experiencing affected me spiritually, physically and emotionally. The constant anxiety kept me up for nights. When my parents came to know of my struggles, they gave me a choice – continue in my former school or, leave and redo my Year 10 at Heads-Up Academy. I was a student who had jumped two grades, and instinctively, I wanted to maintain the pride of being an able student. Thankfully, at that point, I decided to put my pride aside and set my priorities straight and chose the Heads Up route – a choice I’ve never regretted.

Studying at Heads-Up Academy taught me that nothing is impossible. The proof of that is my IGCSE result for Chemistry – an astounding 92%! Our Chemistry teacher, Ms. Chin is, hands down, one of the best teachers I’ve ever come across. For a person who panics over the smallest quizzes, I felt prepared and confident to face my IGs because Ms. Chin had deeply imprinted the whole Chemistry syllabus in her students’ minds. Out of the 7A*s and 3As I achieved in the 2017 IGCSE examinations, one subject in particular truly took me by surprise. First Language English is regarded as one of the toughest English papers, so, with no reservations do I admit thinking I’d bag a B or a miraculous A. However, under Ms. Jaya’s guidance, I flourished as a writer and a dreamer. She is a phenomenal lady who does not shy away from relaying constructive criticisms when necessary and commending your work when you deserve it. Not only had her feedback motivated me to discover my style of writing, it propelled me forward academically; as lo and behold, in lieu of a B or an A, I scored a jaw-dropping A*!

All the teachers of Heads-Up reflect excellence, because without their knowledge, guidance and patience, (together with my effort), I wouldn’t have achieved this milestone. They have been true gems, and often, I perceived them as motherly or fatherly figures. They are more than just my high school teachers, they are one of the reasons I am proud of who I have become.

Ms Tan, no words can express my gratitude towards you. You introduced Economics to me, and it has very much become integrated into my life. I love Economics just as much as the time I spent at HUA. As Principal, you promised me that not only would I excel in my exams, I would also grow as a person and that there would be endless opportunities waiting for me, so long as I “reached for the stars”. My parents and I are grateful that you delivered on your promise!

Ms. Tan, Ms. Chin, Ms. Jaya. Dr. Khor. Mr. Edmund, Dr. Jonathan,
Ms. Soba, thank you.

Despite the reservations many parents have over sending their children to a small school such as this, being a part of such a close-knit community has its fair share of benefits, the relative speed at which friends are made being but one of them. This I can testify to, for the close proximity with my peers was what, in a way, forced me to make friends, allowing a shy me to be at ease. The student body is just as diverse and varied as it would be in a larger school, giving me the opportunity to meet people of multiple races and/or cultural backgrounds.

Of course, one is also guaranteed increased attention. As earlier mentioned, I was very introverted and generally shunned the opportunity to speak, but class participation was surprisingly unintimidating, given the smaller classes. The teachers themselves are no lacking in quality: innovative in their methods (the kind of which I had never before been on the receiving end of), highly successful in conveying to me the depths of knowledge they possess in their areas of expertise, and always willing to help me when needed. My success, I confess, is owed completely to them. Who would have thought that I would one day achieve the results I did in, say, Biology, admittedly my lowest-performing subject by a considerable margin, or Maths—a subject that started out my most hated but I have now come to love. To put it plainly, they know what they’re doing.

There are, also, no lack of extra-curricular activities, for there was as much emphasis placed here on my development and personal growth as there was on the grades on my report card. The many projects I was involved in—whether: leading the Blue house to two consecutive runner- up places in the annual Heads-Up Sports Day; when I volunteered for community service in a refugees’ school nearby; having the honour of emceeing for the two year-end awards ceremonies I attended; the performances and presentations I participated in, embarrassing at the time, but rather fun on hindsight—have taught me different things, and I would be a very different person without the teachings that only such experiences can impart.

I thank and praise God for my IGCSE results. I am overjoyed and truly blessed.

There were many people who had worked hard behind the scenes, that enabled me to reach for the stars. Firstly, my teachers who developed my strengths and corrected my mistakes. Secondly, my parents who supported me financially and encouraged me in good and bad times. Last but not least, my fellow classmates who helped me through my ups and downs. All these people had walked alongside me during my two-year journey at Heads Up Academy.

Let me share with you a memorable event at Heads Up Academy. It was during the 2017 Sports challenge when I injured my foot at the start of the track and field event, and to add salt to the wound, I almost collapsed after the 400m race. What kept me going was the support of my friends, team mates, and not forgetting the parents who nursed my injury. I was truly grateful for how everyone rendered their help and support throughout.

It has been a wonderful journey. Thank you, Heads Up Academy!

It has been a wonderful time in Heads Up with teachers and friends who are like my second family. Being able to learn in an accepting and encouraging environment not only enhanced and consolidated my learning, but with amazing teachers, I have also learnt life lessons which are far more valuable. Two years may not seem like long time, but I am beyond thankful for what I have received in and contributed to this family-like school.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my teachers who have been motivating, and trying their utmost to assist me in completing my IGCSE. I would also like to thank my beloved friends as their presence made studying more fun. Undoubtedly, there were stressful periods, but as a class, we went through everything together, like a family.

I am so thankful to have had teachers and friends from Heads Up and appreciate everyone for having been so supportive!

I am very grateful to God for blessing me with the opportunity to study at Heads Up Academy. He had provided me with all my needs throughout the two years’ course.

I am also thankful to Ms.Tan for accepting me as her student and for all the community services that she exposed the students to. Our knowledge was not just confined within the school premises, but we were blessed with opportunities to serve the community around us.

Not forgetting my teachers who taught me valuable lessons not just in class but even after school hours. I don’t have enough words to thank Dr. Jonathan who spent hours after school answering my unending Physics questions & teaching me Add. Maths. Despite knowing that I was weak at both of these subjects, he did not give up on me and prevented me from dropping the subjects. My grades for Add. Math and Physics were boosted from D’s & C’s to A & A* respectively! A big Thank You to each of my other teachers: Dr Khor, for bringing in the latest science researches which not only made Biology classes more interesting but also widened our world view. Ms. Chin, for making Chemistry easier for me despite its complexity, and for being very organized and detailed. Ms Suba, you’ve always being ready to encourage anyone who was down; Ms. Jaya for supporting me when I decided to do O’ levels English instead of ESL and for willing to journey with me through my essays. Not to forget Mr. Edmund who was always a friendly teacher. Last but not least, I truly appreciate and thank all my sponsors. Without you, I would never have had the chance to do IGCSE.

Although the journey was not easy, my teachers, loved ones and friends were always there for me. I would like to leave a quote by Confucius with all my fellow graduates and the newbees at Heads Up that says, “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.”

During the two years at Heads Up Academy, I had made many good friends who helped me through my tough times. They would patiently explain to me questions that I didn’t understand. Undoubtedly, we had grown up and experienced many things together in these two years at Heads Up, and high school life felt so much more lively and fun with them.

Aside from my peers, I had also met many kind and loving teachers. Some even used their free time to help me improve and learn more about a subject.

Without the help of my peers and teachers, I wouldn’t have achieved the results I aimed for. I really felt loved by the Heads Up family and am convinced that I had made the right choice to study at Heads Up Academy.

Being in Heads-up has been a fun experience and the people there were so warm and loving —from teachers to friends. I love how tightly-knitted everyone was, and school definitely made us closer through sports, group presentations and plays, mentoring each other, and simply just hanging out with one another.

Heads Up teachers were good and answered all questions, even the ones beyond our syllabus. They were so supportive as well, genuinely teaching us values and caring for us. They carried us through our IGCSE from start to finish, like giving us revision and typed-out notes within our IGCSE examination period. Although hard work was a crucial part of the equation, Heads Up teachers made our goals much more realistic and attainable.

Firstly, hats off to the experienced and patient teachers who tirelessly guided me through my challenging year. Ms Chin, who provided complete notes which were easy to understand; Dr Khor who guided me through the tough questions and explained them in simplified ways.

Furthermore, I would say that Ms Jaya is by far the best English teacher. She pinpointed the areas I needed to improve on and I truly owe my A to her! And of course, a big thank you to Mr Edmund for always believing in me and giving me the confidence to do well. Lastly but not least, a special mention to Ms Soba who prepared me well for the national language.

I must say it’s not all work and no play here at Heads Up Academy. Although I’ve only spent a year here, I’ve gained so much more memories. I enjoyed the weekly PE sessions, in-house talks, field trips and a fun and memorable Sports Day.

It has been a wonderful journey. Thank you my teachers and friends!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers who have taught me. Without their guidance and help, I wouldn’t be where I am now. The thing I liked most about HUA were the kind and patient teachers who would make sure you understood everything that has been taught and even if you still had questions after the class had ended, they would sacrifice their time for you. They really had hope in you and believed that you could achieve your goals, and I found that really encouraging. Also, the group work activities and discussions were super beneficial.

A huge thanks to my classmates as well, for always lending a helping hand no matter what. They’re definitely one of the friendliest group of people I know, and they made my last two years of high school incredibly fun.

I want to start off by thanking each and every one of the teachers who showed and taught me the way to success during my IGCSE journey. Some played a huge role in my IGCSE results, and I will be forever grateful to them.

Heads Up Academy had been a very safe place, I would say, to also help me develop leadership and social skills. The friends I had around me always helped, understood and guided each other, just as iron sharpens iron. Regardless of tensions or celebrations, we went through them all like a family.

Despite having to shift my focus from badminton and several other sports to studies, I was impressed that Heads Up provided a very comprehensive sports activity every Wednesday for students like me to show their sporting abilities.

Overall, Heads Up left me with many bittersweet memories that will stay with me for a very long time.

It was an amazing experience to join Heads Up. Every moment I’ve spent with classmates, juniors, teachers, Ms Wong and Ms Cheryl will be cherished. Although it was only 2 years, we students bonded really quickly and became like brothers and sisters.

I have to thank all the Heads Up teachers for guiding me throughout my IGCSE journey. Without your help and continuous support, I wouldn’t have come this far. It was really easy to focus in class as there were only 16 of us, receiving personalized attention – the ideal classroom environment.

The Communications class played an important role in building my character. Not only did I become more confident, but I also got to learn to see things from different perspectives. I am able to think more openly than before. A shout-out to Ms Jaqueline!

I’ll never forget our fun sport sessions, group projects and mini skits too. I’m beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in community service and be a volunteer at the 29th United Voice Fundraising Fair.

Frankly, I was studying against the clock throughout this entire nerve-racking season of exams.

I’m beyond grateful to have met teachers in Heads-up who would go the extra mile to be there for me whenever I needed help including replying to my never ending questions on whatsapp right up to the night of my exams.

I may not be the most outstanding student in the class, but they never fail to reassure me that I can still do better. What I’ve achieved today will not be made possible without the help of my kind teachers.

Heads-up Academy may lack facilities compared to other prestigious institutions in some ways, but the high standards of teaching here is comparable or even a level above those available in the education industry.