Come Sept 2009, the old grounds of Upper Serangoon Secondary School will have a new breath of life.

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) announced today that UK international education group, Cognita, has been given the go-ahead to establish an international school at the existing vacant school building.

Cognita, which also acquired the Australian International School of Singapore last year, has indicated that it will set up the Stamford American International School on the awarded site.

The new school, which will offer a US-based curriculum, expects its first intake in Sept 2009 with an initial capacity of 600 that will eventually grow to 2,500 students.

Earlier in August, foreign schools have been urged by the Singapore Government to set up more local campuses to alleviate the space crunch faced by expatriate children.

Interested education groups were invited to submit proposals for seven state properties that were set aside for schools operating on foreign school systems.

Winning proposals have to demonstrate the ability to start classes by 2009 as well as sound investment commitments.

To date, 19 international schools are using State properties as campuses.