Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[Nave]

I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

[sembgal]

Nave:

I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

Grab that school! Catholic High Primary is a highly sought after school and is recognized as one of the top boys' primary school.

[Nave]

sembgal:

Nave:

I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

Grab that school! Catholic High Primary is a highly sought after school and is recognized as one of the top boys' primary school.

Thanks for your feed back. I am actually quite worried on the distance travel from Bukit Merah to Bishan. If getting school bus, he probably have to wake up very early every morning then he is now. As of now, he is already dragging his feet every morning. So I wonder should I put him into such 'not so enough sleep' situation for the next 6 years.

[sembgal]

Nave:

sembgal:

[quote=\"Nave\"]I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

Grab that school! Catholic High Primary is a highly sought after school and is recognized as one of the top boys' primary school.

Thanks for your feed back. I am actually quite worried on the distance travel from Bukit Merah to Bishan. If getting school bus, he probably have to wake up very early every morning then he is now. As of now, he is already dragging his feet every morning. So I wonder should I put him into such 'not so enough sleep' situation for the next 6 years.[/quote]It depends on how you as a parent help your child to prioritize his time and manage his time in his early years in primary school. Focus on the more important stuff like doing school homework after lunch. Extra enrichment should be scheduled on weekends. Weekdays should focus only on managing the school workload and revision of Spelling/听写。Cut down time spend on tv and computer games/iPAd, etc and really prioritize the time.

It is possible. If your child has to take the morning school bus, ensures that he sleeps by 8pm.

It is all about time management and prioritizing the tasks.

Lastly, there is always an option for you to transfer out your son from CH to APS towards the end of Pri 2 in 2018. If you see that he is not coping well in an academically-inclined school, you can fill up waitlist form and transfer out to study in APS for Pri 3 in 2019. It is easier to transfer out of CH instead of transferring in. The waitlist is long. I have friends with sons in other boys' schools, all waiting for an opportunity to study in CH if the waitlist is successful towards end of P2.

[floppy]

Nave:

I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

If, and that's a big IF, Alexandra Pri does not require balloting < 2km, it would be an obvious choice.

Unfortunately, AP is likely to face balloting <2km (and possibly <1km). The same goes for \"the best nearby school\". Unless you are willing to compromise, you are probably better off staying in CHS.

[Nave]

@Sembgal, thanks for sharing your experience.

[Nave]

floppy:

Nave:

I am also in a state of dilemma now. My boy is successful to get into Catholic High under 2A2 without balloting. But looking at the distant to travel to the school from my resident is far. As I am staying in Bukit Merah area, I can also register him under 2C at Alexandra Primary which is within 2km. So I would like some opinion on whether to go that far for Catholic High or just look for the best nearby school?

If, and that's a big IF, Alexandra Pri does not require balloting < 2km, it would be an obvious choice.

Unfortunately, AP is likely to face balloting <2km (and possibly <1km). The same goes for \"the best nearby school\". Unless you are willing to compromise, you are probably better off staying in CHS.

Since My boy got the place at CHS under 2A2, can I go still go try for the P2C <2km at Alexandra Primary before making the final decision? Or can I not?

[janet88]

Nave:

Since My boy got the place at CHS under 2A2, can I go still go try for the P2C <2km at Alexandra Primary before making the final decision? Or can I not?

is it worth to take the risk when your son has already secured a place?
frankly, I won't. perhaps you can put his name on APS wait list.

[Nave]

janet88:

Nave:

Since My boy got the place at CHS under 2A2, can I go still go try for the P2C <2km at Alexandra Primary before making the final decision? Or can I not?

is it worth to take the risk when your son has already secured a place?
frankly, I won't. perhaps you can put his name on APS wait list.

Sorry for my ignorants as I am quite new to the system because this is my first time.
I just being told that I do not need balloting at CHS but have not done any paper work for admission. So I cannot go for APS to register anymore?

[janet88]

Nave:

Sorry for my ignorants as I am quite new to the system because this is my first time.
I just being told that I do not need balloting at CHS but have not done any paper work for admission. So I cannot go for APS to register anymore?

you mentioned your son has secured a place in CHS under Phase 2A2, so this means you cannot register for APS in phase 2C UNLESS you give up your place in CHS.
If you wish to try for APS, then you would have to deregister at CHS first and then go over to APS during Phase 2C. do bear in mind that if you do not succeed to get a place in APS, you cannot go back to CHS again.