HFSE International School

What HFSE International School does

HFSE International School is a Singapore-registered Private Education Institution (PEI) founded in 2015 by Ninalyn and Gary Cacananta, and is the first Filipino-run international school in Singapore. Originally established as Happy Family School of Excellence to support expat homeschooling families, the school rebranded in 2024 and now operates as part of the broader HFSE Global Education Group. The school delivers Primary 1 through Secondary 4 education through two parallel curriculum pathways: a self-developed integrated curriculum grounded in Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) Primary syllabi, and a Cambridge Assessment International Education Lower Secondary pathway (Secondary 1 and 2) with a published progression toward IGCSE. Both pathways include asynchronous home-based learning capabilities and are delivered at a single campus at 223 Mountbatten Road, Singapore.

The school's core product offering is supplemented by an enrichment and care ecosystem that includes a STAR (Sports, Talent, Arts, Rhythm) module, Mother Tongue language courses (Mandarin and Filipino), a Learning Support Programme for students with additional learning needs, before- and after-school care through affiliate HAPI HAUS, school transport via partner Sunway Transport, and full medical insurance coverage. HFSE markets itself as inclusive — accommodating diverse nationalities, religious practices such as hijab, and varying curriculum goals (Singapore mainstream via AEIS preparation or Cambridge international credentials). The student body comprises global migrating families relocating to or residing in Singapore.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual course fees billed monthly (twelve installments) ranging from SGD 9,156 to SGD 12,033.60 per student per year, plus ancillary one-time and optional fees (application, entrance test, materials, uniforms, student development, leadership camp, graduation, vaccination, vision and dental screening, and Student Pass processing). Distribution is direct through on-site admissions, an online portal, and Open House events. The school's target customer segment is global migrating expat and migrant families seeking flexible, affordable international education in Singapore.

Name

HFSE International School

Legal name

HFSE International School

Website

https://hfse.edu.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HFSE International School is a Singapore-registered Private Education Institution founded in 2015, serving global migrating expat families with Primary 1 through Secondary 4 education via Singapore MOE-aligned and Cambridge-certified pathways, supplemented by student care, transport, and enrichment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• K-12 international education
• Singapore MOE curriculum
• Cambridge International programme
• Private primary schooling
• Private secondary schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Annual course fees charged on monthly installment basis (12 installments per academic year). Primary 1-2 Standard: SGD 9,156/year; Primary 3-6 Standard: SGD 9,417.60/year; Secondary 1-4: SGD 12,033.60/year. Additional fees for application, entrance test, materials, uniforms, activities, and insurance.
2. Ancillary Services: Student care services through HAPI HAUS, transportation services through Sunway Transport, uniform sales through HAPI Store, and various event-based fees (leadership camp, graduation ceremony, field trips).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HFSE International School delivers K-12 private education in Singapore, operating primary and secondary schooling through two parallel academic tracks: a Singapore MOE-aligned curriculum and the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) pathway. It enrolls students from diverse nationalities with a focus on Filipino-heritage families and serves as a private alternative to mainstream Singapore schools.

Product overview

HFSE International School is a Private Education Institution registered with SkillsFuture Singapore, offering a unified educational platform comprising multiple integrated programmes. The core offerings include Primary Education (Primary 1-6) and Secondary Education (Secondary 1-4), delivered through two distinct curriculum pathways: a self-developed integrated curriculum based on Singapore's MOE framework, and the Cambridge Assessment International Education pathway for Lower Secondary students. The school provides a comprehensive portfolio of add-on services including HAPI HAUS (before and after-school care), transport services, medical insurance, enrichment programmes (STAR module), Mother Tongue language courses (Mandarin and Filipino), and a Learning Support Programme for students with additional needs. An online admissions portal supports the enrollment process for prospective students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Programme (MOE-aligned)

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong O Level results with students qualifying for Polytechnic, Junior College, and diverse future pathways
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• HAPI HAUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025HAPI HAUS, a member of HFSE Global Education Group, provides before and after-school care services and private tutorial services for HFSE students at discounted rates. As parents themselves, the HAPI HAUS team creates a supportive environment for children's continued learning and growth.
• Helping Hand Father Sean Burke Care Home for the ElderlyminorOthers · 27 November 2024Corporate Social Responsibility partnership involving outreach program on November 27, 2024. HFSE conducted activities and engagement programs for elderly residents at the nursing home in Hong Kong's New Territories. Located at 1/F, 12 Borrett Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong.
• SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)coreOthers · 1 October 2016Regulatory body overseeing private education sector in Singapore. HFSE is registered as a Private Education Institution under SSG (PEI Registration No. 201541283N, valid 26 Mar 2025 to 25 Mar 2029). Located at 1 Paya Lebar Link #08-08, Paya Lebar Quarter 2, Singapore 408533.
• Sunway Transport Pte. Ltd.supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEngaged transportation provider for school bus services. Transportation fees vary according to distance from the school. Located at Blk 101 Woodlands Street 13, Singapore 730101.
• Cambridge Assessment International EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational academic partner providing Cambridge-certified curriculum for Lower Secondary (Secondary One and Two), offering a globally recognised pathway towards IGCSE. HFSE is Cambridge-Certified for Lower Secondary education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Middleton International School: Singapore affordable-tier international school operator (part of EtonHouse) targeting expatriate families seeking quality international education at lower price points. Directly comparable to HFSE's value-tier positioning in the international school market.
• Overseas Family School: Singapore-based international school serving a broad expatriate and migrant family base across primary and secondary years. Highly comparable to HFSE in target segment (global migrating families), broad international curriculum, and tuition positioning below premium-tier incumbents.
• One World International School: Singapore international school offering IB and IGCSE pathways to a diverse, multi-national student body. Comparable to HFSE in curriculum flexibility, multicultural admissions approach, and positioning toward expat and migrating families.
• International Community School (Singapore): Small Christian-values international school in Singapore serving missionary, expatriate, and local families with a multi-cultural student body. Comparable to HFSE in mission-driven ethos, small-school community feel, and primary/secondary coverage with American-style curriculum.

Emerging players

• EtonHouse International School: Singapore-headquartered international school group operating multiple campuses with inquiry-based pedagogy and IB pathways. Comparable in mid-tier international school positioning, multi-campus ambition, and primary/secondary offerings relevant to HFSE's target families.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian International School: Major Singapore international school offering IB pathway to a large expatriate student body. Comparable in international K-12 scope and expat targeting, but materially larger and more established than HFSE.
• Stamford American International School: Established Singapore international school offering IB and American curricula across primary and secondary years. Comparable in serving globally mobile families, but operates at a premium price point and at much larger scale than HFSE.
• Tanglin Trust School: Long-established British curriculum international school in Singapore serving expatriate families. Comparable in international K-12 scope, but competes in the premium price tier with a much longer operating history and heritage brand.
• GEMS World Academy (Singapore): Singapore campus of global K-12 education operator GEMS Education, offering IB curriculum to an international student body. Comparable in international curriculum offering and Singapore footprint, but with substantially greater scale and institutional backing than HFSE.
• Australian International School: Large Singapore international school offering Australian curriculum plus IB diploma to expatriate and local families. Comparable in serving global migrating families, but operates at materially greater scale than HFSE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hfseinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hfse-international-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HFSE International School