In the 2026-2027 academic year, Nord Anglia School (NAS) Jakarta will welcome its first class of secondary school students, marking a pivotal moment in the school’s long history. NOW! Jakarta sits down with NAS Jakarta Principal, Rosy Clark, to hear more about the exciting developments and what they mean for the students, families and the school as a whole.
Since our last conversation in April, NAS Jakarta has announced an exciting new chapter. Can you tell us what inspired this decision to expand into a secondary school?
Well, our campus was already purpose built for international education, and then it was taken over in 2017 by Nord Anglia Education, a leading provider of international education across the world.
So, this is a natural next step. And for myself, when I took the position as principal at the school, it was partly in mind for this exciting new project.
For our community, many of our families are absolutely delighted that they’ve got the opportunity for their whole family to remain at NAS Jakarta. At the moment, parents have to find another school in Jakarta for their Year 6 child, so the opportunity for them to stay at the school with their siblings is welcomed.
What do you think this means for the families that are already here and part of the school?
We’re a wonderfully international community with more than 80% of our families being expatriate. These expatriate families generally come to Jakarta for between two to four years. So, if they’ve already chosen our school, they’re not really going to be looking for a move within those years.
For Indonesian families who are an immensely important part of our community as well, it gives that consistency, that progression, that stability. You know, Jakarta is a very big city, isn’t it? And a lot of families do relocate to the area to make travel to school very practical to family. It’s very much part of the practical planning to support our community and to provide that seamless transition for them as a whole.
Can you walk us through the road map for this Secondary School and what will the development look like over the next few years?
We are due to open our secondary block in the academic year 2026 – 2027. The designs and the planning are being completed right now. Next will be a ground breaking ceremony and we’ve invited guests from the community here in Jakarta, and from Nord Anglia Education as well.
As the building rises from the foundations, I have no doubt our families will be looking with pride and excitement over the fence. We will be sharing the news with the readers of NOW! Jakarta as we go along!
NAS Jakarta prides itself on its value-driven education, as well as building relationships with families, faculty and students. How will this personalised approach be implemented in the primary school extend to the secondary education?
What we bring to the marketplace in Jakarta is something slightly different. We will continue to be slightly smaller compared to some of the other international schools here. And that allows us to do something that larger schools find challenging, and that personalised approach is something that we pride ourselves on.
That’s our reputation. I’m at the school entrance every morning, I know my families, and parents can find me easily available along with other member of Senior Leadership Team. All our teachers know that it’s a priority to communicate well and be available for families.
A smaller learning environment brings students a sense of security, and with security comes wellbeing. This is something that is really important, especially in this fast changing, challenging world that we are all living in. It’s very important for a family to know that the student – whether it’s a 2 year old or a 12 year old – is coming to a place where they have close relationships with their teachers, where they’re secure and can flourish in that environment.
That personalised approach for a student in their adolescent years will be very important.
Adolescence is a challenging time for students and for their parents, no doubt about it. We’re here to support and help with what we’re offering. It’s challenging for 12, 13, 14 year olds as they’re going through big changes in their lives. And so that personalised approach with high quality teachers and meaningful relationships is going to be really helpful.
Talking about the learning experience, what can families expect from the new secondary program, both inside the curriculum and outside?
A seamless transition academically, certainly. We’re already starting from now with a Year 5 and Year 6 team who have many years of experience in teaching both primary and secondary students. What we’re introducing right now is a feeling of being Year 7 ready.
We provide a lot of student leadership opportunities here. Of course, as students get older, those leadership opportunities become more exciting, more complex, and we can link in to the collaborations that we have as a Nord Anglia school, with UNICEF and MIT, for example.
Our swim squad competes overseas with other Nord Anglia schools, and this type of experience is something that we can expand upon with all secondary students. ‘Global Campus’ is unique to Nord Anglia schools, with opportunities to participate in online academic, music, and other challenges. Nord Anglia Education provides these types of collaborations and platforms that are specifically tailored for older students.
As for curriculum, we’re going to continue to offer English National curriculum, which is very reputable in the core areas, also continue to provide a curriculum that is ready for the workplace of the 21st century. As we all know, the workplace these days requires employees to have a range of skills at their fingertips. And so that’s definitely going to be a priority in the curriculum moving forward with our older students.
What kind of facilities are being introduced to the secondary students, and how are they being designed to meet the needs of the older students?
Well, I would like to highlight our new swimming pool area. Swimming at NAS Jakarta is a strength and a priority. We have an extremely experienced coach who is working with us and we’ve created a beautiful new facility with: specialised safety flooring; a brand new spectator area; additional shading to enhance the way we host swimming meets and competitions.
The same quality of materials, fittings, and design that parents see in our swimming pool area, will be the same quality that we will bring to our new secondary block. High quality and specially designed.Of course, within the new block there will be facilities exclusively for the older age group, including: science lab, art room and social spaces.
How do you see the expansion of this school shaping the identity of NAS Jakarta in the years to come?
As I’ve already mentioned, we have a reputation for a personalised approach here, and through our older students we’ll be able to drive our values-led education even further.
Our school is very conveniently located for families. We’re in a residential and desirable area for families living in Jakarta. We’re going to be able to provide a school with a much reduced commute time for secondary students.
Finally, for you personally, what is the most exciting part about this new chapter?
Well for me, one of the reasons to come here as principal was this next chapter in the school’s history. I already say to parents (and I truly believe this) that when we welcome a new student to our school, we welcome the whole family. We will continue to do this moving forward in the next stage of NAS Jakarta’s history.
Thank you so much for your time, we look forward watching the school’s developments as they come along!
Nord Anglia School (NAS) Jakarta
+62 (0)811 972 7979
admissions@nasjakarta.sch.id
nasjakarta.sch.id
