All About SAP Schools

[csc]

A good neighbour school would be one which is only well-known in the neighbourhood.. that's how I see it.


You juz need to mention the name of the school to someone living outside your neighbourhood zone, and if the person has no clue where it is or \"what' it is - the chances is ,that is a neighbourhood school - It is a good neighbourhood school if that community thinks so and most would choose to register their children there.

My kids' pri school belongs to this category as my sister who lives in the East has not even heard of this school in the West until I registered my children there.

Top schools would be those schools where parents would use all sort of ways and means to get their kids in. Most of these schools produce good PSLE results - as I think, these schools already have a distinct advantage of a cohort of students with very educated and usually affluent parents who are professionals. Some may want to use the term \"Elite Schools\".

As I look around at the examples of cases around me, I realise that ultimately, the most important school/institution is the last one one attends and not the first one.

I read a story of a boy who did badly for his PSLE and ended up in a Normal Technical stream in a neighbourhood secondary school. Subsequently, he managed to get into a polytechnic and was awarded the Top student in his course. This award in fact over-rides all his results and he succeeded in obtaining a scholarship to pursue his University degree. :salute:

[san76]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Please advice....

My son is currently in one of the SAP sch. It is really very far from home. It will take him 1hr to travel to sch and another 1hr back home which will be 11am to leave and 7.40pm back. He is doing well in all his 3 subjects. He had no breakfast as his lunch is at 10.30am. Is there a difference in education standard between SAP sch and neighbourhood sch? Will sending him to a neighbourhood pri brings down his standard?

Thank you.

[sleepy]

You can consider moving nearer, if distance is the only obstacle?


If his result is good, can also consider applying for transfer to another SAP school nearer to your house.

SAP schools offer higher Chinese. I heard some neighbourhood schools offer higher Chinese too.

[kiasulang]

san76:

Please advice....


My son is currently in one of the SAP sch. It is really very far from home. It will take him 1hr to travel to sch and another 1hr back home which will be 11am to leave and 7.40pm back. He is doing well in all his 3 subjects. He had no breakfast as his lunch is at 10.30am. Is there a difference in education standard between SAP sch and neighbourhood sch? Will sending him to a neighbourhood pri brings down his standard?

Thank you.

I don't think there is much difference. Most schools, SAP or not, focus on the top 2 classes. If your son is presently in one of those classes in his current school, be prepared to be transfered to a not so when he is transfered to a new school initially.

One important thing to consider is his adaptability in the new school. He has to make new friends again. His new classmates may not want to mix with him. Emotionally and socially he will be affected.

[kero]

Ur son is in the same situation as mine.

[san76]

How will I know if my son is the top 2 class? Now that he is newly entered the Top 10 Primary Sch. How the school segregate them? They are not tested in any way even during the orientation. How do we know I know if he is the top two class? Please advise further. Moving the house is definitely a no, I just moved to a new house. Hmm… How ? Very confuse, very upset.

[sleepy]

san76:

How will I know if my son is the top 2 class? Now that he is newly entered the Top 10 Primary Sch. How the school segregate them? They are not tested in any way even during the orientation. How do we know I know if he is the top two class? Please advise further. Moving the house is definitely a no, I just moved to a new house. Hmm..... How ? Very confuse, very upset.

Did the principal mentioned when the kids would be grouped?

How this is done is highly dependent on that particular school's principal. I heard some schools grouped from P3.

Whereas for my girl's school, the principal communicated to all parents grouping only happen in P5. The best students will be in the first two classes based on results (which I presume based on their P4 results).

For P1, kids are assigned randomly to their respective classes. Mine no entry tests too

[nonKiasu]

san76:

How will I know if my son is the top 2 class? Now that he is newly entered the Top 10 Primary Sch. How the school segregate them? They are not tested in any way even during the orientation. How do we know I know if he is the top two class? Please advise further. Moving the house is definitely a no, I just moved to a new house. Hmm..... How ? Very confuse, very upset.

Hi, san76. My triplets are now in K1. I actually wanted them to study in a school that is nearest to my house only to realise that it is a SAP school (don't know lucky or unlucky bec I really worried that they can't get into top 2 classes after 'gossiping' with 2 parents whose kids started P1 in that school. In fact, I am panic.

'Gossip' with parent A in Nov last year: I was told that during orientation last year, the parents are being 'oriented' in the hall while they are told that the teachers will orientate the children by bring them to the classroom. Then guess what, the children are tested in the classroom! No parents are told that the children are tested. Subsequently, the children are spilt into classes according to their test result. Not by alpbetically order of names or birthdate anymore.

'Gossip' with parent B in Jan this year: Confirmed with her that her daughter is tested during orientation. She was placed in the best class. Guess what? In one of the lesson, all 10 P1 classes are in the hall. The best class sit in 1st row, 2nd best in 2nd row and so on. During the lesson, only those sitting in front need to raise hand for question!

After hearing all these, I panic. I wrote to MOE and that particular school principal called me to clarify. Now also can't remember much but lcuky take down notes that day. Below are my notes:

<start>
Oral Test on English and Chinese during orientation. No written.

\"School Readiness Test\"
All P1 in Singapore will need to sit a test called \"School Readiness Test\" set by MOE on 3rd week of Jan.
It is a written (maybe oral too) test and its only the English and Maths.
Test conducted by a team of dedicated school's teachers, 1 to 1.
Takes about 2 weeks to complete 300 students.
Score will be from 0 to 4.
Those scored 2 and below will be put into \"Learning for Support in English/Maths\" Programme - normally last 2 classes

Will normally group the class according to results of \"School Readiness Test\". So instead of change classes after wk 3, they conduct an Orientation test.

\"Mass lecture\"
Conducted in the hall bec classroom not ready.
Twice a week, 1 period (or 1 hr?) each. Once in English and once in Chinese. Teacher give a topic.
Students are sit according to class. Each class 1 row.
Each week, only 1 class is given a chance to answer questions - ie. by rotation. <need>

\"Learning for Support in English/Maths\"
Taught by school teachers who conducted \"School Readiness Test\".
Ratio is 1:12, best is 1:9
In Dec, these students will be tested again. If score 2 and below, continue the programme in P2

P3 has no more \"Learning for Support in English/Maths\"
But there is an \"Enable\" programme

P4 will have \"Subject-based banding\"
Those students with weak subjects will study \"Foundation\" subject (easier) instead of normal syallbus.
Example of banding will be 3+1 (3 normal subjects + 1 Foundation), 2+2.
<end>

I feel that I need to verify all the info given by the principal.
I wrote to MOE again to verify \"School Readiness Test\" but no reply. Ha, well, they have no one to arrow to call me this time.

Can anyone in this forum verify that there is indeed a \"School Readiness Test\"?

[san76]

I did ask the form teacher if they will segregate by the kids standard, she told me no. I will stay put in where my kid is right now. I think the education in the better sch will be tougher but it benefits him in the future. Right? Strong foundation is always better. Let him try out for the next few years and see how he will score during this CA1 for P1.


Thank you everyone

[san76]

Hi, Now my son is in one of the top 10 sch. He is in P1. Dont worry about the test.


Some neighbourhood sch did the test during orientation!!!!

The sch my son in, didnt test them during orientation. Honest enough, I will have to let you know. I feel that once you are in the 'GOOD' school, you must prepare yourself and your kids with simple reading skill that will be an advantage when they are with other kids. So they wont feel why these kids know and why I dont know.

The test can be good too. You will know where our kids stand.

Both my friend kids are in the same neighbourhood school. They were tested during orientation. They failed and was asked to for the additional lesson during Dec holiday daily for an hour. Now their class was separated to 2 smaller group. The teachers will have to put in more effort for their primary 1 foundation.

So, dont think too much of the test. Prepare your kids with learning and reading skill. Need not read like a young pro, but must know the basic words in story. This way, when they are in their pri 1, they will be able to cope wellwith maths and english. Dont forget english and maths are link. Both are in english language. If the kid cant understand or read english, they will have problem understand the sentance, example: _ is 5 less than 10. Soon the kids will not score well in the maths too.

Slowly, dont stress. Each kid have their own ability, read to them more and ask them to teach you. This way will be more fun in learning.