GIS History
History of GIS
Garden International School has come a long way since being founded in 1951 as one of the first British international schools in Malaysia. From its original location in the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur, GIS now is based in Mont Kiara and Desa Sri Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur. GIS is one of the largest international schools in Malaysia, educating over 2,000 students.
Bringing out the best since 1951
Our Timeline
Explore our timeline to learn about our milestones over the last 70 years, delivering excellent British-based education in Malaysia.
Mrs Sally Watkins and her two sons, Colin and Clive
1951
Garden School was founded by Mrs Sally Watkins, the wife of Fire Brigade Chief. Lt. Col. F.F.C. Watkins, in the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur.
1953
The earliest record in existence shows that there are 33 students enrolled, with two full-time British teachers.
1955
Garden School combined its Kindergarten and Primary School and moved to 251 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
Students and staffs in the 1960s
1965
The Secondary School was introduced, marking the beginning of a through school for children aged 3 to 18 years.
1966
The Secondary School moved to Jalan Yap Kwan Seng with 36 students.
Garden School was selected to be the first official centre for the prestigious and authoritative University of London General Certificate of Education examination in Malaysia. The first cohort of 11 candidates sat their ‘O’ Levels.
Staff dinner and the various GIS Campuses in 1970s
1973
As the school expanded, so did its site, with the Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary students spanning 3 campuses in 1973.
Garden School celebrated its Silver Jubilee. Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was invited as the Guest-of-Honour.
GIS Campuses and academic staff in 1989
1982
Garden School moved into the 4.5 acres purpose-built site in Cheras. With 700 students aged 3 to 17 years, over 30 nations were represented across the student body!
1985
The term ‘International’ was added to Garden School, to reflect the diverse nature of the school as well as the international standard of education on offer.
Main campus in Bukit Kiara and another campus in Kuantan
1992
Garden International School opened its sister school on the East Coast of Malaysia: Garden International School Kuantan.
1996
Garden International School moved from Cheras to Mont Kiara.
1998
The new International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was introduced in 1998, replacing the University of London GCE ‘O’ Levels.
1998
The Sixth Form was launched, offering Cambridge ‘A’ Level from September 2000.
Various school facilities
2002
Garden International School was accredited by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), as a mark of the quality of education on offer.
2003
The seven storey Arts Centre was opened, with specialised classrooms and equipment for Performing Arts (Music, Drama), Visual and Modern Foreign Languages.
2005
Facilities continued to be improved, with major renovation works for both Primary and Secondary cafeterias.
2006
The UK Guardian newspaper named Garden International School as one of ‘The Best 8 International Schools in the World.’
2007
The quality of learning environments were improved, with renovation works for the Secondary Library and Sixth Form Centre completed.
2008
Some major improvements to the site and sporting facilities, with a new synthetic turf field laid, as well as extensive renovations to the Sports Hall, Grand Hall and both student and admin areas across the Secondary School.
2009
The Early Years Centre was moved into a purpose-built campus at Desa Sri Hartamas.
Renovations are made to the playgrounds across both sites.
2010
Four Science laboratories were renovated, offering an outstanding learning environment for Secondary students. The development of sports facilities continued, with tennis courts built and the installation of floodlights on the AstroTurf.
New front of school entrance and grand hall lobby
2011
Key developments were made to the Primary school, including the renovation of classrooms, the office and play areas. Other developments to the site included the improvement of the multi-purpose outdoor courts and CCTV systems, ensuring an optimum setting for learning and staying safe and happy.
2012
Following on from Primary, renovations are now focused on improving key areas across the Secondary school, including the secondary office, staff lounge and science labs.
Developments in ICT, including ICT facilities, iPads introduced (For Years 4 – 5 and in EYC), The Learning Garden (VLE Moodle) and the introduction of Google Suite.
GIS Kuantan celebrated 20 years of Educational Excellence, and was accredited with a five-star rating following a visit from the Ministry of Education.
2014
ICT developments: Introduction of the ‘1:1 iPad Programme’ in Years 5 – 8.
The development of facilities continued, with Secondary classrooms, the gymnasium, the Secondary Library, Modern Foreign Language Classrooms and other parts of the sites all renovated.
GIS Kuantan introduced IGCSE courses, and upgraded a broad range of facilities across the school.
2015
GIS becomes an Apple Distinguished school.
2016
GIS becomes the only school in Malaysia to receive the Global Innovation Award 2016, recognising exemplary values and best practice in teaching and learning in 21st Century schools.
GIS is shortlisted for the British International School Initiative of the Year category of the TES Independent School Awards 2016, in recognition of its outstanding strategic achievement through the unique and innovative Large-Scale Enquiry Programme.
Garden International School (GIS) is awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) in recognition of its quality of teaching and learning in science.
Key Information Communication Technology (ICT) developments: Introduction of ‘1:1 iPad Programme’ from Year 3 onwards.
2018
A new, state of the art Sixth Form Centre was completed.
2020
GIS was awarded the Relocate Award 2020, recognising its outstanding relocation provision and support.
2021
GIS celebrated 70 years of first-class education.
Future Planning
School Development
We have an exciting renovation project planned which will deliver a world-class auditorium, an olympic-size swimming pool, basketball courts, an underground carpark, plus additional student learning environments at our main campus site.
The build will ensure our facilities reflect the levels of world-class teaching and learning that we are so proud of, and allow for outstanding new learning experiences for our students and community.
01
1951-1960
Garden School was founded in 1951 by Mrs Sally Watkins, the wife of the Fire Brigade Chief. Lt. Col. F.F.C. Watkins, in the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur. The earliest record in existence shows that there are 33 students enrolled, with 2 full-time British teachers. Garden School combined its Kindergarten and Primary School and moved to 251 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur in 1955.
02
Student Learning Environment
Our priority is always to create enhanced learning experiences for our students, with top-of-the-range facilities for a world-class education.
03
Supporting our Community
The addition of a new world-class sports centre (and the future performing arts centre) will be a boon to the wider community who may be looking for a venue/location for sporting, performance and/or community gatherings outside of our regular school hours.
We have reached out to representatives from our neighbour community to update them on the project and let them know of the potential future benefits for our wider community.
04
Smoother Traffic Flow
We realise that traffic is a key challenge for the school and our neighbouring areas. Therefore, we have put in place several strategies to try to help minimise traffic during pick-up and drop-off times, as follows:
- Staggered school hours for different phases of the school to help smooth the traffic flow during drop-off and pick-up times.
- Encouraging students who live within walking distance to walk to school. Currently, about 35% of GIS students walk to school.
- Construction of a new drive-through ramp to help streamline traffic flow between Jalan Kiara 3 & Jalan Kiara 5.
- Introducing a free shuttle bus service located near the school in addition to the normal bus service, thereby reducing the number of cars during peak times.
- Prioritising the build sequence to ensure the new basement car parking facility will be available on site while the sports centre fit-out commences.
We are regularly consulting and reviewing our traffic flow solutions with DBKL.
01
1951-1960
Garden School was founded in 1951 by Mrs Sally Watkins, the wife of the Fire Brigade Chief. Lt. Col. F.F.C. Watkins, in the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur. The earliest record in existence shows that there were 33 students enrolled, with 2 full-time British teachers. Garden School combined its Kindergarten and Primary School and moved to 251 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur in 1955.
02
1961-1970
The Secondary School was introduced in 1965, marking the beginning of a through-school for children aged 3 to 18 years. In 1966, the Secondary School moved to Jalan Yap Kwan Seng with 36 students. In the same year, Garden School was selected as the first official centre for the prestigious and authoritative University of London General Certificate of Education examination in Malaysia, and the first cohort of 11 candidates sat for their ‘O’ Levels.
03
1971-1980
As the school expanded, so did its site, with the Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary students spanning across 3 campuses in 1973. Garden School celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1976 with Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, invited as the Guest-of-Honour.
04
1981-1990
In 1982, Garden School moved into the 4.5 acres purpose-built site in Cheras. With 700 students aged 3 to 17 years, over 30 nations were represented across the student body! In the mid-eighties, the term ‘International’ was added to Garden School, to reflect the diverse nature of the school as well as the international standard of education on offer. In 1988, a new kindergarten was set-up in Kampung Pandan, and subsequently moved to Jalan Ampang. Another kindergarten branch was established in 1989 in Petaling Jaya.
05
1991-2000
In 1996, Garden International School moved from Cheras to Mont Kiara (previously known as Bukit Kiara) where its main campus is currently located. The new International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was introduced in 1998, replacing the University of London GCE ‘O’ Levels, and the Sixth Form was launched, offering Cambridge ‘A’ Level from September 2000.
Both kindergartens in Jalan Ampang and PJ celebrated their last academic year in 2003. From 1992-2018, GIS also operated Garden International School Kuantan, on the East Coast of Malaysia.
06
2001-2010
Garden International School was accredited by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) in 2002, as a mark of the quality of education on offer. In 2003, the seven storey Arts Centre was opened, with specialised classrooms and equipment for Performing Arts (Music, Drama, Dance), Visual Arts and Modern Foreign Languages. In 2009, pre-school students moved into a purpose-built campus, named the Early Years Centre, in Desa Sri Hartamas.
07
2011-2020
In 2012, GIS implemented the 1:1 iPad programme and a cashless system in the cafeteria and school shop, and in 2014 the EYC Jungle School was introduced. GIS became an Apple Distinguished school in 2015 and in 2018, the new state of the art Sixth Form Centre was opened.
08
2021-Present
In 2021, GIS celebrated 70 years of first-class education, and was recognised as a GL Centre of Excellence in 2022, the first in Asia and 1 of only 5 in the world!
In 2024, GIS unveiled its new nature-inspired outdoor classroom at its Early Years Centre (EYC), a significant milestone in creating a vibrant, multi-sensory environment where our youngest learners fully immerse themselves in the wonders of nature play. The main campus also saw the opening of a new astro turf sports field and a new basement car park.
Coming soon
In 2025, GIS will be opening an all-new world class Sports Complex with an Olympic-size swimming pool, 2 indoor basketball courts, 2 tennis courts and an additional gym/fitness suite.
