Hwa Chong Institution (High School)

[lexis]

The number of classes per consortium varies each year . For my ds (in sec 2), there are 3 in Aphelion, 3 in ispark, 3 in Ortus and 4 in ProEd. Class sizes are smaller in Ispark (about 25), for the others, it is around 30 per class.


GEP and some MS high scorers go Ispark and the rest are distributed among the other 3 consortiums.

Every year, one particular consortium will house the Math Olympiad types and malaysian scholars (eg. in 2014, it was Ortus). In certain classes, there are more CCA-related DSA boys - but they are also mixed with those who entered via PSLE posting. There is no difference in performance when it comes to exams. Some of these classes with more DSA kids do just as well, if not better, as classes with no DSA kids.

I don’t think any consortium (other than iSpark) has a particular focus. If you don’t opt to do Special Programmes in Sec 3, you will remain in the same consortium. what the school has told us is that transfers may be necessary due to scheduling conflicts (depending on your subject combination).

Those who end up doing O -levels in Year 4 (there’s usually only 1 class) can go back to HCI based on their O level results. I don’t know if there is a "discount" applied. As for whether all go on to universtiy… again, i don’t know for sure if 100% do, but I am sure a substantial number of the college graduates do go on to pursue a degree.

[lexis]

Just to add - as far as my ds’ year is concerned, they do not sort students by their T-score. There is a mixed bag of T-scores in my ds’ class.

[Miracle Child]

Thanks Lexis.

[monmon31]

lexis:

The number of classes per consortium varies each year . For my ds (in sec 2), there are 3 in Aphelion, 3 in ispark, 3 in Ortus and 4 in ProEd. Class sizes are smaller in Ispark (about 25), for the others, it is around 30 per class.


GEP and some MS high scorers go Ispark and the rest are distributed among the other 3 consortiums.

Every year, one particular consortium will house the Math Olympiad types and malaysian scholars (eg. in 2014, it was Ortus). In certain classes, there are more CCA-related DSA boys - but they are also mixed with those who entered via PSLE posting. There is no difference in performance when it comes to exams. Some of these classes with more DSA kids do just as well, if not better, as classes with no DSA kids.

I don't think any consortium (other than iSpark) has a particular focus. If you don't opt to do Special Programmes in Sec 3, you will remain in the same consortium. what the school has told us is that transfers may be necessary due to scheduling conflicts (depending on your subject combination).

Those who end up doing O -levels in Year 4 (there's usually only 1 class) can go back to HCI based on their O level results. I don't know if there is a \"discount\" applied. As for whether all go on to universtiy.. again, i don't know for sure if 100% do, but I am sure a substantial number of the college graduates do go on to pursue a degree.

Lexis
:thankyou: so much for sharing. definitely an eye opener for a greenie like me.

[Song22]

I really like HCI’s consortium systems. The boys seems to know their consortium cohort quite well after a year or two. They are guided by the same consortium committee, taught by the pool of consortium teachers, this way, the teachers will know the boys better. The consortium will have year-end dinner, outings etc, and they even have their own consortium lounge or something like that!

[lexis]

Song22:

I really like HCI's consortium systems. The boys seems to know their consortium cohort quite well after a year or two. They are guided by the same consortium committee, taught by the pool of consortium teachers, this way, the teachers will know the boys better. The consortium will have year-end dinner, outings etc, and they even have their own consortium lounge or something like that!

Agree totally with Song22! It's like they have a big extended family outside of their own class! :rahrah:

[santaB]

thanks Lexis. it is great to know that there is only 1 o level class, because I remember reading through and someone mentioned there is one 0 lvl class per consortium (maybe i read wrongly) - for those who dsa and took o lvl, if they are not able to get into hcjc, do they go to other JC or have to go poly?


btw, if there is no change in subject combination in Y3, does it mean the rest stay throughout the 6 years in the same consortium? one more question - are opportunities opened for all and for those who are finally chosen - are they mostly from the ispark consortium?

[laikiasu]

[quote]

lexis:

Song22:

I really like HCI's consortium systems. The boys seems to know their consortium cohort quite well after a year or two. They are guided by the same consortium committee, taught by the pool of consortium teachers, this way, the teachers will know the boys better. The consortium will have year-end dinner, outings etc, and they even have their own consortium lounge or something like that!

Agree totally with Song22! It's like they have a big extended family outside of their own class! :rahrah:

[/quote]My DS and I also like the consortium idea. We find that it allows the teachers to know the kids better and guide them more effectively, whether socially or academically.
May I know how are the teachers assigned to each consortium? Is it base on like those better in a certain subject will get the best teacher in that subject or randomly?

[lexis]

santaB:

thanks Lexis. it is great to know that there is only 1 o level class, because I remember reading through and someone mentioned there is one 0 lvl class per consortium (maybe i read wrongly) - for those who dsa and took o lvl, if they are not able to get into hcjc, do they go to other JC or have to go poly?


btw, if there is no change in subject combination in Y3, does it mean the rest stay throughout the 6 years in the same consortium? one more question - are opportunities opened for all and for those who are finally chosen - are they mostly from the ispark consortium?

It is one O-level class by year 4. In year 3, usually each consortium has 1 class doing the Structured IP programme (a more structured IP programme with more guidance, handholding). but by year 4, 3/4 of them would've fought their way back to the normal IP.

The consortium is only up to Year 4. Year 5/6 i believe goes by different consortium names, according to the subject combinations (college parents, please correct me if i am wrong).

School has always said it is equal opportunity for all.

[santaB]

thanks lexis