CHIJ Toa Payoh Secondary

[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…

[phtthp]

esmummy:

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

Note that

School fees for either SCGS (O level) or SCGS (IP) are around $300, per month, as SCGS is an independent school.

Also, if your daughter study SCGS (IP), MOE want the IP students to complete their A-level exam, at Eunoia Junior College destination, in Year 5 and 6. Unlikely that MOE allow your girl to \"suka suka \" Transfer across, or jump ship to SJI (IB), in Year 5, from SCGS (IP) end of Year 4.

Perhaps best to clarify with MOE first, whether such kind of Transfer is allowed, in the first place, bearing in mind that the curriculum designed for IP-A level : is very different, from that of an IB designed curriculum.

Thus, do consider carefully, what exactly you want? Do you prefer A-level, or prefer IB ?

If prefer IB : then choose either IJ (Toa Payoh) or SCGS (O level). After O level, enter SJI (IB).

There is a thread of discussion here, IB vs A-level

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8100

[ilovelaksa]

Hi, going from IP to IB is possible. My dd1 in Cedar IP4 has frens who took the SJI IB entry test and gained entry.

[ilovelaksa]

Just to add, transfer from O level to IP (in current or another school) and transfer from IP to O level (in current or another school) are all possible.

For the former, the child has to take entry tests and submit sec 1-2 results. Entry only at yr3.
For the latter, just don’t clear the promotional criteria in IP yr2 ; )
My children has friends who have done all these.
Yes, you cannot transfer from IP to O lvl randomly within the IP school if you clear its promotion criteria. BUT if you wish to transfer out to another school’s O lvl programme, you can. Latest is try do it aft yr2 exams.

[ilovelaksa]

ilovelaksa:

Just to add, transfer from O level to IP (in current or another school) and transfer from IP to O level (in current or another school) are all possible.

For the former, the child has to take entry tests and submit sec 1-2 results. Entry only at yr3.
For the latter, just don’t clear the promotional criteria in IP yr2 ; )
My children has friends who have done all these.
Yes, you cannot transfer from IP to O lvl randomly within the IP school if you clear its promotion criteria. BUT if you wish to transfer out to another school’s O lvl programme, you can. Latest is try do it aft yr2 exams.

For transfer from o lvl to ip, they do look at yr psle scores, not just the sec1-2 eoy exam results. And it is not easy to transfer from a school with low cop to one with high cop.
I say it is not easy but it is not impossible cuz I hv frens whose kids did just that, they transferred fm a nbh sec sch (cop less than 210) to v popz boys school in sec3 (cop more than 245) BUT they are not doing well in the new school at all.
Before the parent does a transfer, you must look at yr child’s results realistically and ask yrself if you are doing it for yr child or doing it for yourself. Also, do remember it is your child doing the adjustment in the school, coping with his/her peers, facing the new curriculum, not the parent.
All the best to people looking for future transfers : )

[ilovelaksa]

Sorry for veering off-topic