Popular preschool manages to extend campus lease, wins bid for another site

SINGAPORE — After resigning itself to leaving its Harding Road campus next year when it was unable to further extend its lease, popular preschool St James’ Church Kindergarten (SJCK)has bought itself another six years there, and at the same time secured a new site at Gilstead Road for its third campus.

The Harding Road site was made available for bidding in July this year, and the kindergarten beat five other preschool operators to secure the site.

St James’ Church Kindergarten, which has had waiting lists as long as 200, made headlines in 2013 when it appeared that its Harding Road campus would have to shut down, as the school was unable to find a suitable alternative site to move to when its lease there expired. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) had previously said the school was awarded a 3+3+3 tender — totalling nine years — from 2006 for the Harding Road site, and bidders knew there would be no option for renewal at the end of the tenancy. Nonetheless, the agency conceded to the school’s request for an extension, and St James’ was allowed to stay until 2016.

Dr Jacqueline Chung, the kindergarten’s senior principal and academic director, told TODAY that St James’ was informed of its successful bid on Oct 30. A check on the SLA’s website showed that other preschool operators that made bids include EtonHouse International and Pat’s Schoolhouse.

Dr Chung said it will pay S$111,053 per month, excluding GST, to occupy the site. Under the new lease, the Harding Road campus will take in 440 children per session.

Before the kindergarten won the bid, Dr Chung said it had monitored every site available for tender, but most were unsuitable because they did not meet size requirements or have outdoor spaces.

The kindergarten made four unsuccessful bids over the last five years, before it eventually won the bid for the Gilstead Road site last year.

The Gilstead campus, comprising a large conservation bungalow with an outdoor area, will be ready by January and can take in 400 children for each of its two sessions. The site has an eight-year lease until 2023.

On its future plans when these two leases are nearing their expiry, Dr Chung said the kindergarten would have to start its hunt for alternative sites again. “We always have to be on the lookout. We will probably have to start bidding maybe two years before the first site that will expire. So, now we can breathe easy for the next four to six years and then we have to start thinking about it again,” she said.

But Dr Chung also pointed out that such competition for land between preschool operators is not sustainable. “Preschools cannot keep going hunting for land. This is not a sustainable way of doing education. We need a more permanent roof over our heads; we just need a stable place to continue in,” she said.

And looking for alternative sites is not always a straightforward task. “Potential sites for SJCK must allow for the relocation of the entire school cohort of 880 children. Most properties up for lease are too small for our use,” said Dr Chung, adding that the ones in commercial malls are too expensive.

The school also emphasises integrating nature into its curriculum, which requires sites to have spacious outdoor premises.

“Learning does not only take place in the classrooms. The children go outdoors to observe and interact with nature. Having a site with land and greenery supports our curriculum and has a direct impact on our lesson activities and projects,” Dr Chung said.