Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
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I think there’s a lot of difference between brand names.
A branded school, affiliated COP 200…still popular
Neighbourhood school, COP 200…if can avoid, then avoid. -
The brand of the school may impress the interviewer when one applies for a job. The environment of some schools also plays a part influencing how the kids behave and talk.
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ChiefKiasu:
I tot strong alumni mainly from their sec sch? (instead of pri sch)floppy:
Still want that LV?
Schools start to become popular mainly because of their alumni (or ex-students, to avoid the negative connotations the word \"alumni\" seem to evoke). Some become famous politicians, doctors, lawyer, businessmen, philanthropists. Some win international awards and fame. Some become top scorers in national exams. Some become our colleagues who impress us with their demeanour, decorum and work attitudes.
The schools benefit from this halo effect, as people want their children to be associated with schools which have \"produced\" such famous people. This increases competition for the schools, which then gain greater popularity through the bandwagon effect. If we don't know which store in a hawker centre is good, just patronise the store with the longest queue lor. The competition results in the survival of the fittest, where only the best would make it through the school, which ensures that overall school performance improves. Over time, years of consistent good performance will result in the school being popular not solely because of its alumni, but also carry its own weight in terms of good culture and governance, and effective teaching.
Old boys like Tony Tan, Teo Chee Hean, Gerald Ee, Mah Bow Tan, George Yeo, etc etc still very much involve/supportive to their old sch events even till today..
http://www.sji.edu.sg/about-sji/distinguished-alumni
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sj ... oad-campus -
janet88:
The brand of the school may impress the interviewer when one applies for a job. The environment of some schools also plays a part influencing how the kids behave and talk.
That may hold true for sec school/jc, but hardly the case for pri sch. Having interviewed many job candidates, the 'brand' of the pri sch which the candidate was from hardly featured/made a difference - the candidates didn't really do anything to 'earn' the spot in those schools & it's not a reflection of their abilities. I have, however, given the benefit of the doubt to candidates based on their sec sch/jc.
That said, I do believe that some pri sch do, objectively, provide a better platform (in the form of resource - be it financial, alumni, teaching staff, etc.) for their students to excel.
Would encourage parents not to be too fixated on branding per se but to take a holistic view in choosing & evaluating the 'right' school for their kids. Some kids may not adapt well in a pressure-cooker environment whereas some other actually thrive. There is, sadly, no one-size-fits-all approach. -
hubble:
select the school based on your child's character. the pressure cooker environment is not for all kids.
That said, I do believe that some pri sch do, objectively, provide a better platform (in the form of resource - be it financial, alumni, teaching staff, etc.) for their students to excel.
Would encourage parents not to be too fixated on branding per se but to take a holistic view in choosing & evaluating the 'right' school for their kids. Some kids may not adapt well in a pressure-cooker environment whereas some other actually thrive. There is, sadly, no one-size-fits-all approach. -
janet88:
select the school based on your child's character. the pressure cooker environment is not for all kids.
But not all top schools are pressure cooker leh! -
Some neighborhood schools not pressure cooker, relaxed academic pace
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Some neighborhood schools friends’ children attending seem to be more pressurize than the better schools.
You need to do some research first, ask around the culture, homework load etc before deciding if the school is suitable for your child. -
lee_yl:
Could it be the principal trying to raise the bar? Every neighbourhood has a 'best' of the cluster...so those ranked 2nd and 3rd are trying to catch up.Some neighborhood schools friends' children attending seem to be more pressurize than the better schools.
You need to do some research first, ask around the culture, homework load etc before deciding if the school is suitable for your child. -
lee_yl:
that is interesting to know that the neighbourhood school more pressurize...any idea how to get information on this matter? how to assess what is \"more\" pressurize?Some neighborhood schools friends' children attending seem to be more pressurize than the better schools.
You need to do some research first, ask around the culture, homework load etc before deciding if the school is suitable for your child.
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