All About SAP Schools
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Ur son is in the same situation as mine.
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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.
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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 -
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\"? -
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 -
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. -
nonKiasu:
Hi non Kiasusan76:
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!
Can u share which SAP school is this?
To be honest, this grouping in the hall (best sits in front)
is so disparaging, and I must say, so de-motivating for the kids
who are \"behind\".
In a school, no matter how top it is, or how bright and intelligent
the kids are, someone will have to be \"at the lower end\" of the
scale, and I wonder what the school is trying to achieve
with this blatant disparity right from the start. :x -
Twins:
Poi Ching. Btw, they just started the orientation test for the 1st time. Parent A has an elder one studying there and is grouped according alphetical name then.Hi non Kiasu
Can u share which SAP school is this?Twins:
Ya, totally agree! I think I need to go find out from Parent B whether her daughter (best class) gets to rotate to sit behind.To be honest, this grouping in the hall (best sits in front)
is so disparaging, and I must say, so de-motivating for the kids
who are \"behind\".
In a school, no matter how top it is, or how bright and intelligent
the kids are, someone will have to be \"at the lower end\" of the
scale, and I wonder what the school is trying to achieve
with this blatant disparity right from the start. :x
But is the P1 \"School Readiness Test\" given to ALL SCHOOL by MOE true? -
I have the answer to myself by searching on \"School Readiness Test\".
Indeed, there is such a test: http://moeuxwp03.moe.gov.sg/corporate/contactprint/pdf/contact_apr06.pdf (page 17)
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2002/pr20092002_print.htm (annex A)
I am surprise abt this test bec so far I didn't hear from a single parent abt this test. And even I ask a few parents, they say no.
So, with such a test, I am not surprised that schools have the 'ability' to group the students - just make 'good use' of the test results. -
nonKiasu:
I think for most regular schools, the parents did not know about the test because the teachers did not let the parents know. To them, it is only a means to sieve out the weaker ones for the Learning Support Programme. For some schools which did not carry out the test during orientation, I believe that the children are not grouped into classes after the tests, but rather that the weaker ones may be requested to attend a separate language/math class (which has a smaller teacher:student ratio) during that lesson period, or to stay back on certain days for 'LSP' lessons.
I am surprise abt this test bec so far I didn't hear from a single parent abt this test. And even I ask a few parents, they say no.
So, with such a test, I am not surprised that schools have the 'ability' to group the students - just make 'good use' of the test results.
Yes, it will not stop some schools from banding students from the first day of orientation.
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