We are dedicated to meet the ethics and quality assurance prescribed by these organisations, and to continuously improve our practices.
Our vision, mission and values are at the core of our KTJ identity and provide the direction for all our endeavours.
Vision
To be the school of choice in South East Asia, empowering students to become responsible leaders of a sustainable, global community.
Mission
To nurture our diverse learning community, providing a holistic, British-style day and boarding school education in a Malaysian setting.
Values
Integrity Empathy Mutual Respect
History of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar
Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar was founded in 1989 by members of the Negeri Sembilan Royal Family. Their vision was to create a school which encapsulated the strengths and values of a British boarding education, infused with the vitality of Malaysian culture.
The formation of KTJ was a game changer in the Malaysian education landscape, paving the way for holistic education which balances academic excellence with character development. The concept gained support from the Ministry of Education and the corporate sector. 17 companies in Malaysia believed that the vision of the founders would add value to the education ecosystem and stepped forward to provide the initial loans for the construction of the School.
The pioneer team, led by our first Principal, Laurence (Laurie) Rimmer, laid the physical and academic foundations for the School and in 1991
we welcomed our first students. They comprised mainly Malaysian students and international expatriate children whose parents worked in Malaysia. Our international student enrolment grew in tandem with our reputation, and today KTJ has students from over 24 countries.
KTJ is a fully accredited international day and boarding school. The School is more than just its physical buildings and facilities. KTJ offers a great experience to our students, whose horizons are broadened in a healthy, supportive and academically-challenging environment. We promote an international outlook that will have a lasting impact on students. As KTJ continues to evolve, we remain
steadfast in our commitment to provide a first-class, holistic education to our students. Our rigorous academic curriculum and range of co-curricular activities are not only kept relevant but are underpinned by the School’s values of integrity, empathy, and mutual respect. As a result, we are proud to say that our alumni have graduated from KTJ as kind, independent, forward-thinking individuals who have gone on to Make It in an impressive range of fields all over the world.
The Founders’ Vision
The inspiration for KTJ was the Founders’ experiences of attending British boarding schools. The strength of this education set them up for a future in academics, personal development, knowledge, sports and other interests.
In 1989, they established Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, named after their beloved father, who was Malaysia’s 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the then ruler of Negeri Sembilan.
Many aspects of KTJ today are the result of our Founders’ vision. We are a not-for-profit school and, as a charity, we are not required to pay tax. As such, all fees are channelled to ensure we provide the highest quality of education to our students. This underscores the unwavering intent of the Founders to maximise the life-changing impact of good education.
The wide-ranging experience of the Founders continues to shape the direction of the School. Tunku Naquiyuddin’s work in the area of business sustainability is reflected in our School’s blueprint for a sustainable future, Vision 2030. We are also mindful of our impact on the environment, and aim to become carbon neutral by 2025.
Tunku Imran’s passion and extensive experience in sports, be it locally or on the regional and international platforms, has greatly influenced KTJ’s extensive co-curricular activities, particularly in our broad range of sports options.
Tunku Dara Naquiah is a leading practitioner in the field of public relations. This has contributed to KTJ’s emphasis on the holistic development of students, nurturing them towards becoming socially adept, confident and wellspoken citizens of the world.
The Founders continue to play a crucial role in providing overall direction for KTJ in their roles on the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors of the School. Their careful and wise governance has ensured the financial stability and educational excellence of KTJ since inception.
YAM TUNKU NAQUIYUDDIN IBNI YAM TUNKU DARA TAN SRI NAQUIAH YAM TUNKU TAN SRI IMRAN IBNI
Welcome from the Principal
We are best known for providing our students with an excellent day and boarding school education which is British in style and has an international perspective, but which is firmly rooted within its South East Asian context and culture.
Welcome to KTJ
KTJ is a school of choice in South East Asia, with an established track record and 30 years’ experience of delivering first class education.
Similar to the top UK schools, so many of our teachers have had experience teaching in the UK, Europe and elsewhere. They bring significant experience and a range of perspectives to KTJ and are dedicated and committed to making a difference in the lives of our students. Over 100 of our staff have served the School for over a decade, providing stability and continuity for students.
At KTJ, we firmly believe that academics will always remain a key element of student outcomes. However, what is equally important is putting in place the building blocks for our students to become well-rounded, confident leaders of the future.
As such, KTJ has invested in cocurricular activities and sports so that our students can pursue their interests and their passions. This holistic approach to learning, character-building and leadership has enabled KTJ to build pathways for our students to gain entry into elite universities across the globe.
Our School is located in Malaysia within an 80 acre campus, 60 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur. I encourage prospective students and their parents to visit us in person or to take a virtual tour of the campus on our website. I would be delighted to welcome you and look forward to meeting you soon.
Dr
Glenn Moodie Principal Member of the
Heads’ Conference (HMC)
Vision 2030
Vision 2030 brings to life the ways in which we will deliver our mission and achieve our vision, whilst living our values of integrity, empathy and mutual respect.
KTJ’s 10-year strategic plan builds on our 30-year legacy and foundation, while recognising that we operate in a dynamic environment which will see changes and innovation at an unprecedented rate. It is the result of extensive planning and discussion with the School’s stakeholders, including the trustees, students, parents, teachers, staff and the wider community.
There are five strategic themes which underpin our ambitious goals and our direction in meeting future challenges.
We want students to become intellectuallycurious, independent and self-motivated learners.
We offer students a holistic approach to learning underpinned by KTJ’s values of integrity, empathy, and mutual respect. These values are demonstrated by our proactive and enthusiastic teachers both in and out of the classroom.
Academic achievement is important at KTJ, but we also place great importance on non-academic achievement. Our wide array of co-curricular activities helps students discover new interests and develop traits such as resilience, independence and consideration for others.
Hello!
At KTJ Primary we are passionate about helping our young students to develop a love for learning by exploring the wonders of the world around them.
To ensure that teachers are able to personalise each child’s learning effectively, we have a low student to teacher ratio. Our internationally-trained teachers come from diverse backgrounds and have been educated in countries such as Austrailia, Kenya, New Zealand, the UK and South Africa. They use their experiences and background to help equip children with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to develop as responsible global citizens.
At KTJ we place great emphasis on establishing and building strong partnerships with parents. We believe that our students achieve success because of the academic and nonacademic guidance we offer here, while being supported and encouraged by their parents. As such, we make it a priority to maintain open communication channels
with parents and to involve them as much as possible in their child’s learning.
I am proud to say that when our students graduate from KTJ Primary, they are mentally, emotionally and academically poised to take that exciting and challenging next step and Make It at secondary school. I look forward to welcoming you and your child to KTJ Primary very soon.
Mr Kris Davis Head of KTJ Primary
Learner Characteristics
In line with our commitment to help our students grow into well-rounded global citizens, the School places great emphasis on both academic excellence and positive character development.
To this end, our curriculum and culture are based on our School’s values of integrity, empathy, and mutual respect. These values are further broken down into our School’s Learner Characteristics to help the children develop an awareness of these important traits.
Integrity
Enquiry Thoughtfulness
Empathy
To make it easier for our students to understand, we describe the characteristics as follows:
MORALITY
I always try to do the right thing.
RESILIENCE
I keep trying, even when it is difficult.
COMMUNICATION
I express myself and I listen to other people.
ADAPTABILITY
I accept change and I welcome new ideas.
THOUGHTFULNESS
I reflect on what I have learned and what I would like to learn.
RESPECT
I am polite and kind to everyone.
COOPERATION
I try to help others and work as a team.
ENQUIRY
I ask why things are the way they are and collect evidence to support my ideas.
Early Years and Primary Campus
Secondary Campus
Early Years Curriculum
At KTJ, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) by providing a well-rounded holistic education that nurtures intellectual curiosity, fosters critical thinking, and instills values of integrity, empathy and mutual respect.
KTJ’s Early Years classes consist of Nursery and Reception for children aged three to five years and follow the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) and Development Matters UK. Both provide limitless opportunities for each student to flourish in their holistic development. We use playbased learning to balance child-initiated activities with structured, teacher-led sessions to foster comprehensive development.
KTJ Early Years helps children to find out who they are and to enjoy the journey of discovery. We believe that every child is unique and capable of achieving great things.
IEYC: SIX FOCUS AREAS OF LEARNING
• Communication and Language
• Expressive Arts and Design (including Music)
Becoming a part of our School community is the first step in your child’s journey to Making It. UNICEF describes the first five years of a child’s life as the most important, forming the foundation for their future health, happiness, growth, development and academic achievement.
Our Early Years Team becomes well acquainted with the interests of each child and skillfully harnesses their enthusiasm for learning in active and engaging ways. Our child-centered approach creates a supportive and engaging classroom that creates wellbalanced and happy children.
Our Early Years classes also prepare children for the more structured means of learning that they will encounter when they enter Year 1.
In line with our commitment to providing our students with a holistic education, we offer age-appropriate co-curricular activities to our Reception Class students. These activities are offered over and above their play-based curriculum and aim to further hone skills students have built during class.
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development (including Physical Education and Swimming)
Early Years:
Outdoor Education
Outdoor learning is an important part of our Early Years curriculum, helping students to explore, discover, and learn through hands-on experiences in nature.
Each week, our youngest learners take part in outdoor education sessions led by Forest School Leaders, where they develop curiosity, confidence, and teamwork skills in a safe and stimulating environment.
In addition to these structured lessons, children enjoy daily opportunities to play and investigate in our dedicated play garden, featuring exciting areas such as water play, an outdoor mud kitchen, and natural spaces for imaginative play and exploration.
These experiences encourage children to observe the world around them, problem-solve creatively, and build a deep appreciation for the outdoors while having fun and developing important early learning skills.
KTJ Primary
Curriculum
KEY STAGE 1
KTJ’s Key Stage 1 comprises Primary Years 1 and 2 and is a busy and exciting time in our students’ learning journey.
Students begin to build a wider knowledge and skills base, and start to explore and develop a range of learning styles.
Our rigorous academic syllabus and extensive co-curricular activities are underpinned by the School’s values of integrity, empathy, and mutual respect.
We amalgamate the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) to create a transdisciplinary curriculum that is relevant, significant, challenging and engaging.
Key Stage 1 students focus on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, alongside the IPC. The IPC naturally builds on the skills developed through the IEYC and is applied throughout Years 1 and 2.
The IPC also develops the children’s enquiry skills and allows them to explore their place in the world around them through fun and engaging thematic units. In addition, students learn about global citizenship and international mindedness through each unit of learning.
At our school, the journey towards a smooth and confident transition to secondary education begins in Year 1. Students have the opportunity to take part in specialist lessons delivered by subject experts at the Secondary School, giving them access to quality facilities and inspiring teaching. Students also have the opportunity to become members of the Student Council from Year 1 all the way through to Year 6.
SUBJECTS TAUGHT IN YEAR 1 TO 6:
The English National Curriculum (Core subjects)
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
The International Primary Curriculum:
• Art
• Design Technology
• Geography
• History
• Information and Computer Technology
Specialist Classes:
• Expressive Arts and Enquiry
• Library
• Music
• Physical Education
• Swimming
• Two specialist languages: Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin
KEY STAGE 2
Throughout Key Stage 2, our students further develop their level of independence and sense of responsibility as they gradually prepare for the transition into Secondary education.
During this four-year period, the children continue to focus on the core subjects while exploring the IPC in greater depth. This period is crucial to develop and widen their ability to formulate questions and carry out enquiries and investigations.
As students move into Key Stage 2, their preparations for their transition to Secondary education expand through a carefully planned programme of additional activities, transition days, and collaborative projects with Secondary staff and students.
At KTJ we believe that education takes place in a range of settings and that classroom learning should be linked to the community and wider world in which children live. As such, we are committed to providing students with a range of experiences and activities.
Assessments
For Years 3 to 6, we run residential trips as a core part of the curriculum. These trips link closely to our IPC topics and programs of learning. These trips are a great opportunity for our students to take their learning experiences into an outdoor environment.
As students move into Upper Key Stage 2, they are encouraged to take on greater responsibility and develop their leadership skills. Students in Year 6 have the opportunity to become Prefects and House Captains, acting as positive role models for the younger the children.
Our older students also work closely with student leaders from our Secondary School, allowing them to share ideas, learn from older peers, and prepare for the transition to the next stage of their education. Through these experiences, our students develop a strong sense of community, pride, and readiness for future challenges.
At KTJ Primary, we combine adaptive teaching strategies and ongoing formative assessment to support our students in real-time and prepare effective lessons that meet the needs of all students. Summative assessments are also used to allow teachers to identify the students’ strengths and areas for development.
Parents are kept informed of their child’s progress through detailed reports and parent-teacher meetings which are provided three times per academic year. Parents can also map their child’s progress through Seesaw, a digital learning platform.
KTJ Primary
Co-Curricular Activities
At KTJ, we strive to ensure our students receive a well-rounded, integrated education at all stages of their learning.
Co-curriculur activities (CCAs) enhance classroom learning and help students develop a sense of belonging, encourage personal development, build resilience and instil team spirit.
They also allow our students to develop and pursue their interests and passions, and inspire them to take up new and exciting activities.
As an added advantage, our close links with the Secondary School enable staff to take advantage of the resources and facilities that are available throughout the KTJ campus.
Most activities within our CCA program are included as part of our school fees and are available to all our students from Year 1 to Year 6. These take place everyday weekday from 2:30pm.
Within our Early Years programme, the CCA schedule for Reception students is designed to help them transition smoothly into Year 1. Participation gradually increases across the year — with one CCA in Term 1, two in Term 2, and three in Term 3.
At KTJ we endeavour to offer as many relevant CCAs to our students as possible. As such our offerings can sometimes change termly and from year to year.
To support working families, we offer after-school care until 6.00pm each day. This service is available at an additional cost.
SPORTS
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Benchball
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• In-line Skating
• Pickleball
• Swimming
• Wall Climbing
EXPRESSIVE ARTS
• 3D Pen Art
• Art and Painting
• Choir and Singing
• Clay Modelling
• Dance
• Drama
• Junior Rock Band
• Instrumental Ensembles
• Musical Theatre
• Theatre Design
OTHER INTERESTS
• 3D Printing and Coding
• Agama
• Board Games
• Chess
• Cross Stitching
• Forest School
• French
• Lego
• Mini YouTubers
• Maths Masters
• Robotics
• STEM
• Trash to Teasure
EARLY YEARS
• Art Attack
• Book Club
• Glitter Garden
• Kite Flying
• Little Clay Creators
• Origami
KTJ Primary
Enrichment
At KTJ, we believe that an outstanding education extends far beyond the confines of a traditional classroom.
Our extended learning programme offers students in Years 1-6 the opportunity to explore their creativity and develop new skills through Dance, Drama, and Critical Thinking. Each term, students take part in one of these engaging subjects, allowing them to express themselves, build confidence, and strengthen their problem-solving abilities in fun and imaginative ways. Whether performing on stage, moving to the rhythm, or tackling thought-provoking challenges, our children learn to think independently, collaborate with others, and discover new passions that support their overall development.
Incorporating Dance into the extended curriculum offers children a vibrant and engaging way to develop both physically and emotionally. Through Dance, students build coordination, balance, and fitness while also learning to express themselves creatively and confidently. Beyond the physical benefits, Dance enhances focus, memory, and listening skills which supports their wider academic achievement.
Drama provides a powerful platform for self-expression, creativity, and confidence building. Through role play, storytelling, and performance, students develop communication skills, empathy, and emotional awareness. By participating in Drama, children not only grow as performers but also as confident, articulate individuals who are ready to express themselves in all areas of learning and life.
Developing Critical Thinking within the extended curriculum encourages children to become curious, reflective, and independent learners. Through engaging activities and openended challenges, students learn to question, analyse, and evaluate information rather than simply accept it. By nurturing Critical Thinking from an early age, KTJ Primary helps children build the foundations for lifelong learning and informed, thoughtful participation in the world around them.
Our Outdoor Education and Forest School Programme encourages students to explore nature, develop resilience, and build confidence through hands-on experiences. Whether they are identifying plants, building shelters, or learning teamwork through outdoor challenges, students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Guided by trained Forest School leaders, every child is given the opportunity to learn through play, curiosity, and adventure, fostering a lifelong love of the environment and joy of learning outside.
Residential experiences are a valued part of our School’s approach to developing independence, teamwork, and resilience. Students in Years 3-6 take part in exciting residential trips that grow in length and challenge each year. Our Year 3 children enjoy a one-night stay, often their first time away from home, while each subsequent year builds upon this experienceculminating in a four-night residential for Year 6. These trips provide wonderful opportunities for children to build confidence, strengthen friendships, and develop new skills in a supportive environment.
In addition to these year-group trips, selected students also have the chance to represent the school at international residential events such as the FOBISIA Primary Games and FOBISIA Drama Festival in Thailand. These enriching experiences, which incur an additional fee, allow students to collaborate with peers from other international schools, celebrate their talent, and create lasting memories.
Representing the School in sporting fixtures is an exciting and rewarding part of school life, giving students the chance to demonstrate teamwork, determination, and school pride. Our students regularly compete in a range of sports, and we are proud to host the annual KTJ Games- an eagerly anticipated two-day event that unites seven Malaysian schools for friendly competition in athletics, basketball, football, swimming, and teeball.
Alongside sporting opportunities, the School also values creativity and self-expression through the arts. Each year both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students take part in their own annual production, providing a wonderful platform for our artistic students to shine, build confidence, and share their talents with the school community.
KTJ Primary
Facilities
Located within an 80-acre campus, our School combines traditional Malaysian architecture with state-of-the-art facilities and an emphasis on sustainability.
The School facilities underscore KTJ’s holistic approach to learning while supporting the intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual development of our students.
At KTJ, we understand that students at different ages have distinct needs. As such, our Early Years and Primary School students have their own purpose-built Primary campus. This campus provides four separate outdoor play areas for children of different age groups, an indoor play area for Early Years and Reception students, and a children’s swimming pool. It also features our Taman Teroka garden, complete with mud kitchens and water play areas, offering wonderful opportunities for exploration and imaginative play. The children also have access to the wider facilities in the Secondary School campus, which include a 25 metre swimming pool, sports fields, the Tuanku Ja’afar Auditorium, squash and badminton courts, classrooms and the Waterfront – a music, art, design, and technology building.
In addition, we have a Health Centre on site that is supervised by a doctor and four nurses.
We encourage our students to consider their role in caring for our planet. As such, we have invested in thousands of solar panels which generate clean energy to power our classrooms and boarding houses. Recycling bins are also located throughout the School, to encourage students to recycle paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Our Primary School’s Eco Warriors maintain a vegetable garden, composting bins and rabbit hutch.
Partnership with Parents
At KTJ Primary, we realise that collaboration with parents is vital on our journey to help students Make It. Our staff work hard to foster and maintain strong partnerships with parents within our school community.
We keep parents regularly updated and involved in their child’s education and progress within school. Teachers and parents communicate through various channels that include in-class activities, technological tools such as Seesaw, three per yearly detailed reports and meetings.
One of our most popular in-class activities amongst parents, teachers and children are our Entry Point and Exit Point events. These are conducted within year groups at the beginning and end of classroom topics throughout the academic year. Parents are invited to take part in these activities with their children. These activities are a great opportunity for parents to actively participate in their child’s education to allow them to see their child’s progress first-hand, to communicate with their class teacher and to build relationships with other parents.
Our Parent-Teacher Committee (PTC) plays a vital role in fostering the strong sense of community that makes KTJ Primary so special. The PTC works closely with staff and families to support a wide range of inspiring projects, initiatives, and celebrations throughout the school year. From organising community events and fundraising activities to enhancing school resources and supporting student wellbeing, the PTC’s dedication helps enrich every aspect of school life. The committee is always looking for new and creative ways to support the school and it’s students, and warmly welcomes parents who wish to get involved and make a positive difference to the school community.
We are proud to say that KTJ Primary students flourish and thrive because of these unique and symbiotic partnerships. These collaborations build on our students’ self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem as they see their parents actively supporting their work.
Parent Testimonials
Mr Eric Quek and Madam Sherry Shee
Madam Valerie Gan
“Enrolling our child in KTJ Primary has been the most significant decision my husband and I have made to date. The tireless guidance, assistance, and effort of the Senior Leadership Team and the teachers have allowed our daughter to grow and progress remarkably, in every aspect of the curriculum. She has become a voracious reader. She also thoroughly enjoys the exciting cocurricular activities on offer. Character building is vehemently practiced here as teachers inculcate integrity, respect, and empathy in their daily communication with pupils. Every child is honed to showcase their best attributes whilst gently encouraged in areas they find difficult. KTJ Primary is indeed the school of the future because the welfare of the children is at its core.”
“KTJ is always ready to help children adapt to a new learning environment and overcome any challenges they may face while at school. Besides its excellent curriculum, KTJ has dedicated and resultoriented teachers to guide the students to excel in sports and other co-curricular activities. They encourage students to improve themselves and participate in non-academic activities such as charity and humanity events. The School is always filled with exuberance and cheerfulness while the staff and teachers are extremely loving and caring. Our Head of Primary is excellent in his creativity and wisdom and is loved by his students. We are happy to send our children to KTJ as it gives them a strong foundation in being responsible and understanding while preparing them to be great leaders of tomorrow.”
“We moved to KTJ from another renowned international school in Kuala Lumpur 5 years ago. My daughter was very reserved and shy and we wanted her to grow out of her shell. As soon as she enrolled into KTJ, the Physical Education teacher coaxed and encouraged her to participate in inter-school meets. Through her participation in sports, her confidence grew. With this newfound confidence, our daughter began to do better in school and made many new friendships. The community in KTJ is very close-knit and we found KTJ to be very welcoming. The teachers, staff, and parents here really make a difference to the School. We believe that while learning is important, the entire experience is what builds a child’s development and social skills positively. We have since enrolled our younger son and we have never looked back.”
Madam Shanthi Ramachandran
If you have an enquiry or would like to arrange a visit, please contact us.
