International School of Penang (Uplands)

Penang, Malaysia, Asia

School Mission: The International School of Penang (Uplands) aims to be an international community that upholds the school’s values, nurturing its members to become globally minded citizens.

Check out Upland’s website for more information.

Family Reviewed – overall rating for teaching families

Would you recommend this school to other teaching families?

There are both positives and negatives. Whether I’d recommend it depends heavily on a family’s specific needs, expectations, and tolerance for certain trade-offs.

Overall compensation package rating

Adequate, meets basic needs but not exceptional

Tuition benefits

Percentage-based coverage

(Staff pay 5% of tuition and there’s no cap on number of children)

Housing

No housing benefit provided

Flights

Flights at beginning or end of contract (teacher + family)

Healthcare

Good coverage with some limitations or co-pays

Excellent – high quality and readily accessible

Adjustment for kids

Easy to moderately – depending on the child. Some kids adjust well with minimal issues while others take some time but eventually adjusted

Support for partners

Limited – there is minimal assistance offered by the school for teaching and non-teaching spouses

Overall school community support for families

Good – welcoming and helpful

Extracurricular opportunities for kids

Good – a decent range of activities with some high-quality options

Some activities have additional fees but are reasonably priced

Retirement/pension benefits

Excellent (10%+ contribution)

School leadership rating & stability

Poor to Fair – minimal engagement or understanding

Mostly stable (occasional changes)

International School of Penang (Uplands) – Additional Benefits

  • Professional development budget
  • Settling in allowance
  • Technology equipment
  • Child sick days (separate from personal)
  • Family events and inclusion in community
  • No paternity leave

The first year in Malaysia is very hard as you’re taxed at 30% which takes a hit in your finances if you’re a one income household.

Current Teacher with 1 child and non-teaching spouse

Penang is a safe place to live, quiet and good for families. Friendships were hard initially due to some cultural differences but now it’s fine.

Current Teacher

Some of the best aspects of the school for families is its strong expat community. The curriculum is also strong, with good resources and sporting options.

Current Teacher with 2 kids
Street in George Town Malaysia featuring old colourful buildings and electricity lines between the buildings.
Lively street vendor with food stalls and people walking by in George Town, Malaysia. A typical scene you'll see if you work at the International School of Penang (Uplands)
A rickshaw with umbrella against the blue wall of the famous Blue Mansion in George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Beach scene during sunset in Penang, Malaysia. Expect to visit plenty of Malaysia beaches if you're teaching at the International School of Penang (Uplands)

Safety, Adaptability & Cost of Living

  • Safety: Good – living in Malaysia is generally safe with occasional minor concerns
  • Adaptability: Easy – mostly welcoming with some minor adjustments
  • Cost of Living: Adequate – meet basic needs

General Overview for Teaching Families

International School of Penang (Uplands)

Less than 10%

Good – reasonable balance

40 – 50 hours depending on role (40-45 for teacher, 45-50 for leadership role)

Very flexible and accommodating

Good – adequate support for most needs

New family orientation program and cultural integration support. Also parent network groups, but these are all typically at the beginning of the year and then fade out pretty quickly.

Integration and friendships for kids can be tough initially.

It’s also an isolated location, Malaysian tax laws make affordability challenging in the first year and dependent spouses cannot work.

Behaviour is worse than I had expected and there’s not much support from leadership to change things. There have been issues of bullying.

Good support – provides some resources like info sessions, basic language courses, and HR guidance.

Families with kids that like a routine.

Families who are looking for a relaxed place to live with a slower pace of life.

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