Times have changed.

People have evolved.

Education in this day and age can be challenging; to both student and teacher alike.

However, embodying modern-day learning has been the very essence of Charterhouse Malaysia. Let’s find out how the holistic education and three-dimensional curriculum at Charterhouse nurtures a student’s intellectual growth along with their ethical and spiritual development.

The Three-Dimensional Curriculum at Charterhouse

In our mission to Study, Create and Inspire, Charterhouse Malaysia has always been stalwart in innovating robust and holistic curriculum to prepare students for the Cambridge International A level and IGCSE examinations – accepted by universities worldwide.

The high standards of teaching and scholarship at Charterhouse Malaysia drives intellectual development. The school maintains small classes with an emphasis on independent study and research. Engaging in independent learning projects not only supports strong university applications but also develops critical thinking skills and nurtures important personal values such as honesty, resilience, empathy and respect for others.

A Day in The Life of A Carthusian

A holistic education requires an environment conducive to learning which is why the school day at Charterhouse is designed to provide a myriad of opportunities for collaboration and student leadership. These activities support the healthy development of a student and accentuate our school culture which declares that a person’s success is measured in their value to others. That being said, students are encouraged and motivated to push themselves further in an environment that allows them to bring out the best in themselves.

Students acquire ethical understanding by identifying and investigating the nature of ethical concepts, values and reasoning. Participating in community projects teaches them to develop respect for others and learn to act with ethical integrity. In an environment that respects the individual and relationships, students develop compassion and mindfulness, which promotes the development of the ultimate human qualities leading to spiritual development.

Students graduate from Charterhouse Malaysia with more than a comprehensive and recognisable qualification. They also have the knowledge, skills and future-ready qualities to have a confident take on the world’s complexity and opportunities.

Intellectual, Ethical and Spiritual Development of The Student

Through holistic education, Charterhouse Malaysia prepares students to meet the demands of university life and beyond. We believe intellectual development is not just limited to academic intelligence and the accumulation of knowledge. It includes being smart about people, understanding, thinking, feelings, situations and oneself.

Our training of the mind through the Spectra Smarts approach aims to develop the full scope of interwoven human intelligence. Students learn to explore a different aspect of human intelligence every week using sources of wisdom from around the world.

In the coming age of Artificial Intelligence, when automation will dominate the industry, those who will flourish will be the ones who can work with the robots, not be outsmarted by them. Our unique approach, Spectra Smarts, is designed to bring out the best of what it means to be human so that our graduates are ready to succeed in a high-tech future.

In addition, our students are taught to solve problems using design thinking – an innovative process widely used by scientists, inventors and innovators. It gives students the skills to solve problems creatively and use their innately human qualities to complement rather than compete with AI.

Charterhouse Malaysia’s approach to Design Thinking is called “WEAVE”: Wonder, students engage with a problem or unanswered question; Explore, they use research skills to consider the barriers to solving the problem; Apply, they prototype possible solutions; Value, they refine their work based on feedback from their peers, teachers and the community; and Exhibit, they launch their finished product.

To promote ethical and spiritual development, Charterhouse emphasises Independent Learning Projects and commitment to service to get the students active in the community. The independent learning programme encourages students to reach out and go into the community, interact with the people, work with them to identify the challenges and come up with solutions. In this way, they learn to have a real and meaningful impact on the community they are in and carry the valuable life lessons with them, be it in the university or their workplace in the future.

Charterhouse Is Not Just Academics – It’s The Mind, Body & Soul

The culture of Charterhouse is designed in a way that nurtures independence, maturity and responsibility to best prepare students for the transition to university. A focus on interdependence and interconnectedness among the students, the school and the local community, instil respect for strong relationships and the value of good community ties.

We also give students the time to explore their own academic and personal strengths and passions. Whether it be learning to play the violin or getting to grips with advanced physics, Charterhouse ensures that they discover the value of learning something in depth. We set aside time for the arts, such as drama and music, which have the added bonus of enhancing teamwork and self-confidence.

Charterhouse gives its students opportunities within the school and through projects in the wider community to make a difference and inspire others.

Our teachers are trained in techniques to develop independent thinkers and our intelligence-based curriculum prepares students to think critically, creatively and inquisitively about the information they acquire.

The era of AI and robotics calls for people who will be able to manage interpersonal relationships and successfully cooperate and collaborate with others. They will also be alert to their environment and able to adapt; understand the process of learning and be committed lifelong learners; be physically healthy and active, and be compassionate and caring towards others.

We refer to these five qualities – connect, notice, learn, move and give – as “Five for Life”, a cornerstone of Charterhouse Malaysia’s unique and holistic education programme. The school culture and curriculum at Charterhouse are designed to develop these core qualities and train the mind, body and soul of the students. When Carthusians graduate, they will have both the exam results and the life skills to achieve their full potential. They will be intellectually supple, strengthened by a tradition of moral purpose and ready to contribute to their communities and the world at large.


Charterhouse Malaysia is an English-medium International School located in the heart of Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Our comprehensive and holistic pedagogy focusses on equipping students with a Future Ready perspective and skills. Be a Founding Carthusian and apply for A Levels here.