CHIJ Toa Payoh Secondary

[ELLYS]

ilovelaksa:

Hi, IJ TP is a great school! We chose this school due to its proximity to home and I had wanted dd2 to do O lvls.

My dd2 is not an affiliate so she was a little apprehensive about making friends and fitting in. But the affiliates are such a friendly and genuine bunch! Before entering IJ sec, we heard so many negative comments from all the neighbouring schools and even from their own pri school affiliates in TP. When we got in, we realised it was all just a load of crap! I think the pri sch side in TP has alot of misunderstanding about the sec sch side lol!
Dd2 is in 1/1, her classmates hv t-scores 247 and above. They come from all the different IJ affiliates (not only TP) and other different pri sch. Her teachers are very nice and they do help the girls in adjusting to sec sch life.
As for someone’s complaints about teachers here not teaching well, this is not unique to IJ : ) My older two are in IP, they will tell you their teachers ‘do not teach at all’
So far, I am seeing a very structured and organised curriculum coming from IJ. In fact, their Maths curriculum is pretty challenging. My dd2’s English has improved alot due to this school’s strength in English and emphasis on Literature. I like the fact that they hv much opportunity for the girls to hone their public speaking skills, which is so important in the O levels and JC’s PW now.
Looking at their intake and their eventual O level results, you can see the school has done a wonderful job.

Thia is great sharing! From you message I gathered one important info, the fact that several students went into CHIJ TP Sec School from non affiliated schools, means that there are indeed sufficient quota allocated for this? Because I am at first worried that if all the express places are taken up by affiliated students who qualify from T-scores of 200 and above, then the limited 5 express classes will be filled by affiliated students alone and nothing left for non affiliates. I wonder if there is a strict quota reserved for both categories and if MOE cares to manage this quota?

[janet88]

definitely there will be vacancies for girls from non affiliated schools. there will be girls who opt for IP in other schools. as long as they meet the COP, they will have a chance to enter.

for NA, there are also girls from other schools.

IJ schools are known for their strong foundation in English like other angmoh pai schools.

[ELLYS]

janet88:

definitely there will be vacancies for girls from non affiliated schools. there will be girls who opt for IP in other schools. as long as they meet the COP, they will have a chance to enter.

for NA, there are also girls from other schools.

IJ schools are known for their strong foundation in English like other angmoh pai schools.

Thanks janet88, my only concern is that I did a mental calculation and found that there were around 250 P6 girls but only 200 express classes in Sec 1, so subtracting the top 10% who did well and went to other 'better' schools, and say another 10% that are in the Normal steam, it seems there is very little left for non affiliates (and in my case affiliates who didn't put it as 1st Choice). Is my assumption correct or am I overly paranoid about not being able to get in to CHIJ at 2nd choice even with T-scores well above the school's cut-off mark?

[esmummy]

@ilovelaksa...


I'm now in a dilemma as to whether to put my girl in IJ TP (she's fr the primary side) or to let her do the IP at SCGS. She qualifies for both.

I would love her to stay in a catholic school with strong values. Her friends who are going over to IJ sec are also very well adjusted and level-headed girls. At the same time, I would like my girl to have a more academically stimulating anvironment.

So could I please ask you, since you have kids in both O levels and IP, if there is a great difference in terms of the learning opportunities given to IP students.

My final plan is actually for her to do IB at SJI independent regardless of whether she does IP or Os.

Thanks for any advice you could offer

[janet88]

esmummy:

My final plan is actually for her to do IB at SJI independent regardless of whether she does IP or Os.

IB, IP and O levels are 3 different tracks. some schools offer IP and O levels but international schools offer IB.

[btsfangirl_]

ELLYS:

ilovelaksa:

Hi, IJ TP is a great school! We chose this school due to its proximity to home and I had wanted dd2 to do O lvls.

My dd2 is not an affiliate so she was a little apprehensive about making friends and fitting in. But the affiliates are such a friendly and genuine bunch! Before entering IJ sec, we heard so many negative comments from all the neighbouring schools and even from their own pri school affiliates in TP. When we got in, we realised it was all just a load of crap! I think the pri sch side in TP has alot of misunderstanding about the sec sch side lol!
Dd2 is in 1/1, her classmates hv t-scores 247 and above. They come from all the different IJ affiliates (not only TP) and other different pri sch. Her teachers are very nice and they do help the girls in adjusting to sec sch life.
As for someone’s complaints about teachers here not teaching well, this is not unique to IJ : ) My older two are in IP, they will tell you their teachers ‘do not teach at all’
So far, I am seeing a very structured and organised curriculum coming from IJ. In fact, their Maths curriculum is pretty challenging. My dd2’s English has improved alot due to this school’s strength in English and emphasis on Literature. I like the fact that they hv much opportunity for the girls to hone their public speaking skills, which is so important in the O levels and JC’s PW now.
Looking at their intake and their eventual O level results, you can see the school has done a wonderful job.

Thia is great sharing! From you message I gathered one important info, the fact that several students went into CHIJ TP Sec School from non affiliated schools, means that there are indeed sufficient quota allocated for this? Because I am at first worried that if all the express places are taken up by affiliated students who qualify from T-scores of 200 and above, then the limited 5 express classes will be filled by affiliated students alone and nothing left for non affiliates. I wonder if there is a strict quota reserved for both categories and if MOE cares to manage this quota?

Hello! I am a student from CHIJ and i would like to tell you not to worry This school was not my first 3 choices but i still gained admission in it. I have a friend who put this as her last choice and got in, so that shouldn't be a big concern

[ELLYS]

btsfangirl_:

ELLYS:

[quote=\"ilovelaksa\"]Hi, IJ TP is a great school! We chose this school due to its proximity to home and I had wanted dd2 to do O lvls.

My dd2 is not an affiliate so she was a little apprehensive about making friends and fitting in. But the affiliates are such a friendly and genuine bunch! Before entering IJ sec, we heard so many negative comments from all the neighbouring schools and even from their own pri school affiliates in TP. When we got in, we realised it was all just a load of crap! I think the pri sch side in TP has alot of misunderstanding about the sec sch side lol!
Dd2 is in 1/1, her classmates hv t-scores 247 and above. They come from all the different IJ affiliates (not only TP) and other different pri sch. Her teachers are very nice and they do help the girls in adjusting to sec sch life.
As for someone’s complaints about teachers here not teaching well, this is not unique to IJ : ) My older two are in IP, they will tell you their teachers ‘do not teach at all’
So far, I am seeing a very structured and organised curriculum coming from IJ. In fact, their Maths curriculum is pretty challenging. My dd2’s English has improved alot due to this school’s strength in English and emphasis on Literature. I like the fact that they hv much opportunity for the girls to hone their public speaking skills, which is so important in the O levels and JC’s PW now.
Looking at their intake and their eventual O level results, you can see the school has done a wonderful job.

Thia is great sharing! From you message I gathered one important info, the fact that several students went into CHIJ TP Sec School from non affiliated schools, means that there are indeed sufficient quota allocated for this? Because I am at first worried that if all the express places are taken up by affiliated students who qualify from T-scores of 200 and above, then the limited 5 express classes will be filled by affiliated students alone and nothing left for non affiliates. I wonder if there is a strict quota reserved for both categories and if MOE cares to manage this quota?

Hello! I am a student from CHIJ and i would like to tell you not to worry This school was not my first 3 choices but i still gained admission in it. I have a friend who put this as her last choice and got in, so that shouldn't be a big concern :)[/quote]Thanks so much!

[ilovelaksa]

esmummy:

@ilovelaksa...


I'm now in a dilemma as to whether to put my girl in IJ TP (she's fr the primary side) or to let her do the IP at SCGS. She qualifies for both.

I would love her to stay in a catholic school with strong values. Her friends who are going over to IJ sec are also very well adjusted and level-headed girls. At the same time, I would like my girl to have a more academically stimulating anvironment.

So could I please ask you, since you have kids in both O levels and IP, if there is a great difference in terms of the learning opportunities given to IP students.

My final plan is actually for her to do IB at SJI independent regardless of whether she does IP or Os.

Thanks for any advice you could offer

Hi,
For the O lvl track, their curriculum is v structured, less on projects, more focus on text. Teacher guidance.
For IP track, lotsa projects, text not very helpful. Self learning n alot of independent studying req.
If you like more ‘learning’ opportunities, probably IP has more. But more learning opportunities can mean less time on structured academics. Cuz at the end of the day, IP does hv structured exams. And ultimately the A lvls is a structured exam.
My honest opinion is:
1. A strong command of English is very important in IP cuz they write alot of reports and do research.
2. Good to be above median if choosing IP school
Doesn’t matter which track you choose. Most important of all, leave yr PSLE score at the door : )
Actually, now that I hv one child done with A levels and from his interaction with his army buddies, I would say it doesn’t matter which JC the child gets into even! Any JC student has an equal chance to ace the A lvls as long as they work hard.
If you don’t do well in PSLE, work harder at O levels. If you don’t do well at the O levels, work harder at the A levels.
Don’t give up!

[esmummy]

Thanks so much ilovelaksa, that’s what I needed to know. Well my DD seems keen to give IP a go cos she said if she doesn’t like it, she will transfer back to IJ to do the O lvls. But I told her transfer back may not be so easy. I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained. Am sad to be leaving the IJ family but I hope for her to return to a catholic environment in SJI independent in Yr 5. Thanks once again, you’ve been a great help.

[lexis]

please note that if you do IP in SCGS, it is a through-train to Eunoia JC. you can’t switch to SJI IB in Year 5…