Our governance

Message from President of the Executive Committee

It has been my great honour to occupy this position as President of the Executive Committee. Over the past two years, the Committee has been instrumental in driving the school’s transformation into a new and exciting future. I am incredibly proud to be given the opportunity to continue these and other notable developments within the school. Together with the administrative and educational teams, we, the Executive Committee, pilot the school’s operations and prepare for the future success of our students.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the International French School (Singapore) (IFS).

IFS aims to be a school of excellence driven by five overarching goals.

To be a successful school embedded within the structure of the French curriculum.
A school that embraces a diversity of student nationalities.
A school that offers a truly bilingual education.
A school that is affordable and accessible to a wide range of families based in Singapore,
and finally to be a school known for its inclusivity.

IFS is a non-profit organisation whose financial strength and solid governance structure has been demonstrated year after year. My commitment as President of the Executive Committee, together with my fellow elected volunteer members and colleagues, is to ensure sound management and development of our school while having at heart the interests of each student and family.

As we reflect on the past academic year, it is important to remember the mission and values of the International French School in Singapore. Our mission is to provide a structured, engaging education that prepares our students for success in an ever-changing global society. Our values of respect, integrity, and excellence guide us in everything we do, from our teaching and learning practices to our interactions with each other and the wider community. IFS successfully rebranded as part of a broader strategy to provide an affordable, premium, international, bilingual education in Singapore that welcomes both French and non-French Families.

Looking to the future, IFS will be well placed to position French education as a viable option and leader in international education. I am very proud of the work the school, corporate partners, parent community, and students accomplished to futureproof the school.

Be assured you can count on our continued dedication and diligence to serve the interests of students, staff and parents as we go forward into the coming academic year. Working as a team in a positive environment where everything is done to encourage commitment and well-being, the Executive Committee will strive to provide the school with all means necessary, tools and infrastructure to achieve continued success and excellence.

Jean-Marc Deromedi
President, Executive Committee

The Executive Committee

Headed by the President, the Executive Committee oversees the management and long term strategy of the school excluding pedagogical matters which do not have any financial impact. The Executive Committee represents the IFS community of parents as well as the companies that hold Options de Fondateur (ODF) status.

All committee members are elected volunteers. Six parent applicants and 2 reserve members are elected for a four-year term, renewable for one additional term. Elections take place at the Ordinary General Meeting in November/December.

The Executive Committee is made up of 12 elected members and 4 reserve members from each group: Individual members and Corporate members.

Please note :

The French Ambassador in Singapore and Pierre Chanteclair are honorary Presidents of the Executive Committee
The Counsellor for Culture, Science and Education (COCAC) is a non-voting member
The Principal and the Executive Director may attend the Executive Committee meetings as non-voting guests.

Who appoints the members of the Executive Committee?

The members are elected by the General Meeting held each year in October or November.

How to become a member of the Executive Committee?

Reply to the call for candidature which is sent by the International French School (Singapore) before the autumn General Meeting. The number of available seats varies every year.
Attach a picture and profession of faith to your candidature, which will be sent to all the parents and the corporate representatives.

➔ Your application will be put to the vote at the General Meeting.

IFS General Meetings

IFS holds two General Meetings every academic year. These are occasions for the parent community to participate in the school’s governance and overall management strategy. Parent involvement in the school at all levels is fundamental and unique to IFS. Your voice is important to us!

Each General Meeting, presentations are given on several topics, for example:

the previous academic year’s examination results
review of the academic year’s pedagogical practices and innovations
the school’s financials
projects for future developments

The parent community vote and pass the approval of the school’s accounts and vote on the following academic year’s school fees. Elections for the members of the Executive Committee are undertaken, and parent representatives on various school councils are validated.

These annual events and critical in enacting and embodying the vital intersection of staff, students and parents. The fundamentals of good school governance.

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

The International French School (Singapore) is a Singapore registered private non-profit organisation, linked by an institutional agreement (établissement conventionné) with the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE).

At IFS we see it as essential that the four components of the school community, students, teachers, parents and corporate partners are actively involved in the management of the school. As such IFS is governed by two community-driven bodies. The Executive Committee and the Educational Committee.

Our parent community are encouraged to volunteer and participate in the governance of the school by being elected onto the Executive Committee as a parent representative or a corporate representative, (Options de Fondateur, ODF). Or by being elected onto the Educational Committee as a representative of the IFS parent community.

The sub-committees of the Executive Committee

Supports Sub-committee : Finance, HR, Infrastructure Projects
Head: Ludovic Mathé
Members: Christophe Chau, Antoine De Vos, Nicolas Genès, Damien Ordines, Cécile Pierdet, Eric Reinhardt, Nathalie Risteau
Ex officio members: President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Principal

Governance and Audits Sub-committee
Head: Nicolas Genès
Members: Christophe Chau, Antoine De Vos, Ludovic Mathé, Eric Reinhardt, Samantha Thassim, Léocadie Thuillier, Laëtitia Valençon, Guilhem Vincens
Ex officio members: President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Principal

Marketing & Communications Sub-committee
Head: Guillaume Sachet
Members: Nicolas Genès, Eric Reinhardt, Nathalie Risteau, Samantha Thassim, Léocadie Thuillier, Laëtitia Valençon
Ex officio members: President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Principal

Well-being Project Sub-committee
Head: Antoine De Vos
Members: Nicolas Genès, Cécile Pierdet, Samantha Thassim, Pierre-Alexandre Tupinon, Guilhem Vincens
Ex officio members: President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Principal

ODF & Corporates Sub-committee
Head: Nicolas Genès
Members : Antoine De Vos, Ludovic Mathé, Damien Ordines, Léocadie Thuillier, Pierre-Alexandre Tupinon, Laëtitia Valençon
Ex officio members: President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Principal

THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The Educational Committee is the main body responsible for running educational and pedagogical affairs of the school. Chaired by the Principal, representatives of the teaching faculty, non-teaching staff, parent, student community and the Embassy’s Counsellor for Culture, Education and Science comprise the group.

This committee is responsible for school projects, school rules, the timetable, the academic calendar, and a programme of training and professional development for staff. It provides guidance on the recruitment needs of IFS, school trips and the organisational structure of the school as a whole.

To learn more about the Education Committee, click here.

ACADEMIC BOARD & EXAM BOARD

These two boards are internal bodies of the School and are governed by local legislation.

OUR GOVERNANCE