CHIJ St Joseph's Convent

[Watz]

Hi, I select this school as my first choice cos it is nearer to home and can anyone share info about the school?

[Student_1997]

I am a student from St Joseph’s convent, I actually came in with a pretty low T-score and was posted into the normal academic stream, but after completing my N level, I was the top 4 in my cohort (6 points).However, the times spent in SJC was bittersweet. SJC has a bad reputation ( several police cases) even though it is a thing of the past, I think people still judge us based on that reputation (which is totally understandable). If you want your daughter to excel in her cca or have a leadership position, it’s pretty easy in SJC as they give everyone a chance to be a leader (I’m a shy kid, still shy and unable to speak infront of a large crowd yet they still chose me haha) . But there are many downsides.


1. Your child has to be self disciplined and choose the correct friends to hang out with, if not she won’t do well. I’ve seen people getting 235 for PSLE and leaving with a l1r5 of 20+ . Students in SJC are very playful and quite rebellious, and they skip school. You really have to find the right group of friends.

2. June camp. We had this June study camp which lasted from 7.45am-9pm. Yes, it’s pm. Taking my Os this year and they reduced it to 8.30pm, which in my opinion is still quite late. This camp happens on the first and last week of the June holidays. Yes, 10 days helpful? To a small extent. Can’t say it was totally not helpful. Literally one day they would focus purely on English, then the next on math and etc. I think this structure isn’t that good, you don’t see a timetable with one day just maths. Attendance was bad, my class, less than half came, meaning we wasted our time going there as the teacher would repeat everything in class. September holidays we had to go back to school from 8.30-5.30pm on Mondays-Wednesdays.

3. Our school does not take feedback very well. For the June camp, when we were taking n level, we all said it wasn’t very helpful and that the "revision time" was not helpful and that we needed a teacher( good experienced one and not some relief teacher who can’t control the class) to facilitate us, I can’t study if everyone is making so much noise.

4. I think so much time is spent in school that students don’t have time to study on their own.

5. If your child is hardworking, she will feel that she is unable to go further or be pulled down if the people in her class don’t do their work.

6. It’s good as it is trying to improve itself, putting a iPad in front of every toilet for students to give feedback on the cleaners and how they are managing the toilets. However some students abuse the privilege and as a result, may actually affect cleaners to lose their job.

7. good: constantly asking for donations for the less privileged in our school, focuses a lot on character development which in my opinion is essential for the working world. This is done through reflections every morning by teachers and students on doing the right thing and their thoughts on values such as love, freedom, humility etc.

8. Resources. I honestly don’t know where we stand among other schools. Some teachers have actually told us that they will send notes to us and we have to print it ourselves, which in my opinion is ridiculous because we all pay fees for resources at the start of the year. If the school is unable to get more funds for resources, I suggest they charge students more at the start of the year. The battery holders and batteries in the physics lab are very weak, which can affect your child’s grade for science practical. They recently changed the glasses and test tubes (idk) for practical which is so good as they are so clean and easy look into.

9. Statistics, O level. I can’t remember, but i know the average l1r5 for express is about 16/15 and the average l1r4 for NA is 23/24. But hopefully my batch, or at least my friends and I do well)

All in all, I still think that it is the students who make up the school. I know the school has spent a lot of effort and time trying to improve our grades, but ultimately, it is the students who decide whether to put in the effort or not. The school can only do so much. It has put in place study camps, but unfortunately it is ineffective.

As a student, I have said everything truthfully (hopefully I don’t get kicked out haha). Hopefully this is in depth for you all. Feel free to ask me any questions

[24hr-mum]

Hows the sch culture n teachers

[Gingerbread2]

Thank you for all the sharing , I was trying to look for the open house of CHIJ SJI and happen to see this thread . A lot of parents told me not to put the my DD into this school , I also dunno why .

[mummyoftwo]

Hi, thanks for such a detailed infor. I am contemplating on applying for CHIJ SJC or Kuo Chuan for my daughter Sec 1 next year. Wonder if there are any other students or parents who could give their thoughts on this school.

Thank you

Student_1997:

I am a student from St Joseph's convent, I actually came in with a pretty low T-score and was posted into the normal academic stream, but after completing my N level, I was the top 4 in my cohort (6 points).However, the times spent in SJC was bittersweet. SJC has a bad reputation ( several police cases) even though it is a thing of the past, I think people still judge us based on that reputation (which is totally understandable). If you want your daughter to excel in her cca or have a leadership position, it's pretty easy in SJC as they give everyone a chance to be a leader (I'm a shy kid, still shy and unable to speak infront of a large crowd yet they still chose me haha) . But there are many downsides.

1. Your child has to be self disciplined and choose the correct friends to hang out with, if not she won't do well. I've seen people getting 235 for PSLE and leaving with a l1r5 of 20+ . Students in SJC are very playful and quite rebellious, and they skip school. You really have to find the right group of friends.

2. June camp. We had this June study camp which lasted from 7.45am-9pm. Yes, it's pm. Taking my Os this year and they reduced it to 8.30pm, which in my opinion is still quite late. This camp happens on the first and last week of the June holidays. Yes, 10 days helpful? To a small extent. Can't say it was totally not helpful. Literally one day they would focus purely on English, then the next on math and etc. I think this structure isn't that good, you don't see a timetable with one day just maths. Attendance was bad, my class, less than half came, meaning we wasted our time going there as the teacher would repeat everything in class. September holidays we had to go back to school from 8.30-5.30pm on Mondays-Wednesdays.

3. Our school does not take feedback very well. For the June camp, when we were taking n level, we all said it wasn't very helpful and that the \"revision time\" was not helpful and that we needed a teacher( good experienced one and not some relief teacher who can't control the class) to facilitate us, I can't study if everyone is making so much noise.

4. I think so much time is spent in school that students don't have time to study on their own.

5. If your child is hardworking, she will feel that she is unable to go further or be pulled down if the people in her class don't do their work.

6. It's good as it is trying to improve itself, putting a iPad in front of every toilet for students to give feedback on the cleaners and how they are managing the toilets. However some students abuse the privilege and as a result, may actually affect cleaners to lose their job.

7. good: constantly asking for donations for the less privileged in our school, focuses a lot on character development which in my opinion is essential for the working world. This is done through reflections every morning by teachers and students on doing the right thing and their thoughts on values such as love, freedom, humility etc.

8. Resources. I honestly don't know where we stand among other schools. Some teachers have actually told us that they will send notes to us and we have to print it ourselves, which in my opinion is ridiculous because we all pay fees for resources at the start of the year. If the school is unable to get more funds for resources, I suggest they charge students more at the start of the year. The battery holders and batteries in the physics lab are very weak, which can affect your child's grade for science practical. They recently changed the glasses and test tubes (idk) for practical which is so good as they are so clean and easy look into.

9. Statistics, O level. I can't remember, but i know the average l1r5 for express is about 16/15 and the average l1r4 for NA is 23/24. But hopefully my batch, or at least my friends and I do well)

All in all, I still think that it is the students who make up the school. I know the school has spent a lot of effort and time trying to improve our grades, but ultimately, it is the students who decide whether to put in the effort or not. The school can only do so much. It has put in place study camps, but unfortunately it is ineffective.

As a student, I have said everything truthfully (hopefully I don't get kicked out haha). Hopefully this is in depth for you all. Feel free to ask me any questions

[JL-NG]

I am also looking to put my girl in this school. I heard the new principal is good and trying to make a lot of changes to the bad image of the school. I met her and saw her enthusiastism to add value to this school.


I saw my neighbour daughter change for the better after 1yr with the school. She has become more well mannered and willing to help others. I do see positive impact the school has on her. So I’m likely to put my girl in this school.

[24hr-mum]

Anymore feedback?

[2 daughters]

hi JL-NG, what's your DD's T-score, do you think 225 stands a chance? this school is conveniently close to our place but am scared after seeing the reviews.


Any guidance appreciated, thanks

Student-1997, what about non-academic areas?

I am also looking to put my girl in this school. I heard the new principal is good and trying to make a lot of changes to the bad image of the school. I met her and saw her enthusiastism to add value to this school.

I saw my neighbour daughter change for the better after 1yr with the school. She has become more well mannered and willing to help others. I do see positive impact the school has on her. So I'm likely to put my girl in this school.

[JL-NG]

Hi my dd t-score is 237. The cut of point for this school is 229 (based on the book). I know they take in students above 230 non affliation. My girl has this group of friends (most have similar Tscore ) whom she hang studying together , always motivating one another. They are really the studious type and very sweet bunch, they were all discussing to go to this school. I felt assured with my girl and her friends, which is the reason why I am putting her in.


Every school has good and bad students. This school does produce good students whom make it to JC/poly. I’m sure this school will add value to my child learning journey.

[24hr-mum]

If score 226, any chance to get in or appeal?