In just seven years, Lotus Bridge International Academy (formerly Lotus Bridge International School) has achieved scholastic excellence comparable to that of the nation’s longstanding educational institutions.
The academy performed well above the global average at the 2025 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. The entire cohort attained five IGCSE O-Level passes, while 50 per cent achieved at least five distinctions.
Two Year 11 students, Ms Dhiyana Abdul Guthoose, 16, and Ms Yasmin Fathima Mohamed Ghouse, 16, emerged as Lotus Bridge’s top performers, securing eight distinctions each.
“While studying for my ICGSE exams, my school turned into a second home. I felt a sense of belonging to it, which motivated me to perform well in my academics,” Ms Dhiyana said.
Though official school hours were from 9am to 3pm, Ms Dhiyana often arrived at 8am and left at 7pm because the teachers would offer the students additional assistance outside of school hours.
Ms Yasmeen has been a Lotus Bridge student since 2020 and attests to the academy’s efforts to provide a safe and nurturing environment. “My school is very unique, and cares for each and every individual, helping them progress at their own pace,” she noted.
The students have also excelled in national competitions, such as the Science Buskers, an annual competition organised by the Singapore Science Centre. In 2021, Lotus Bridge beat Raffles Institution in the finals and was a finalist from 2022 to 2025.
In honour of these academic achievements, the Rotary Club of Kampong Gelam (RCKG) conferred Lotus Bridge International Academy with the Vocational Service Excellence Award 2026 on Jan 21 at the Permata restaurant in the historic Gedung Kuning mansion.
Various clubs in Rotary District 3310, which covers Singapore, Brunei, and parts of Malaysia, have bestowed vocational service awards in honour of nurses, artisans, and entrepreneurs. RCKG President Tengku Sri Indra noted that this is the first time such an award has been presented to an educator in Singapore.
“Beyond the strong academic track record, I was also impressed by the school’s focus on emotional intelligence. The way the student leaders carried themselves with confidence led RCKG to sponsor the Interact Club at Lotus Bridge,” said Mr Tengku.
Catering to students aged 14 to 18, Interact Clubs offer valuable leadership and networking opportunities through community service projects and mentorship from senior Rotarians.
The award also recognised each of the Lotus Bridge teachers and support staff. The 24-strong faculty currently oversees a student body of approximately 265 students.
Ms Swathi M. Ramaradhya, 35, the academy’s programmes coordinator and form teacher for Ms Dhiyana and Ms Yasmeen, was a software engineer in India before her family relocated to Singapore in 2022.
“After marriage and childbirth, my kids became my focus, which drew me towards education. I wear two hats at Lotus Bridge: one as a parent and one as a teacher,” she said.
Ms Swathi joined the academy in 2023 and, impressed by the school’s environment, subsequently enrolled her two children as students.
Lotus Bridge International Academy was co-founded by two retired educators who have significantly shaped bilingual education and policy in Singapore: Mr Bhajan Singh, 82, and Dr Harjinder Kaur, 67.
“You will never see a school where the director, Mr Singh, and the principal, Dr Kaur, are as dedicated towards the students,” said Ms Swathi.
Lotus Bridge first took shape as a tuition centre with 5 students in January 2016 to meet the community’s need for a Bengali curriculum. Those needs eventually evolved as more children of Permanent Residents and foreigners struggled to secure a spot in local schools.
To address this, the centre officially registered as an international school in 2019. The aim is not to be a school for the affluent, but rather to foster a culture of excellence and happiness.
“There is no point in achieving excellence if you’re not happy,” Mr Singh said.
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27 Nov 2025 20:20
