Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
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zac's mum:
You mean even if one goes into elite primary school, it doesn’t guarantee a high tscore and there are students who still end up in NA?Seen over at the Nanyang Pri thread:
https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4406&start=4000
92.84% of the 2017 PSLE students qualified for Express stream (ie T score >200)
15 students were given a choice of either Express or N(A) stream (ie T score 188-199)
So it seems getting into the so-called number 1 school in SG does not guaranteed a high PSLE score (if that is your goal).
Sometimes for an average child, it’s better for his/her morale to be in a 2nd tier school.
Food for thought.
I suppose for every school, there are bound to be a handful who could suffer from study-related disabilities. Like in my DD’s school, there’s this girl with dyslexia and despite her results, the school did not ask her to leave.
So if NYPS has 15 of such students who did not do well but the school did not ask them to transfer out and continued to give them the best education, that to me, is a good school. -
zac's mum:
A primary school is merely a reflection of the at-large cohort. Think of it as one sample size. Hence, a random sample should, logically, follow a normal distribution based on the cohort's results, all things remaining constant. Generally, to expect one primary school to produce all the outliers (such as high achievers) would not be realistic at all. Thus, if a high PSLE score is the be-all-and-end-all, getting into the most popular primary school doesn't mean anything.Seen over at the Nanyang Pri thread:
https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4406&start=4000
92.84% of the 2017 PSLE students qualified for Express stream (ie T score >200)
15 students were given a choice of either Express or N(A) stream (ie T score 188-199)
So it seems getting into the so-called number 1 school in SG does not guaranteed a high PSLE score (if that is your goal).
Sometimes for an average child, it’s better for his/her morale to be in a 2nd tier school.
Food for thought.
However, it is not always \"all things remaining constant\" as primary school students are never randomly distributed. The various phases, and distance priority, affects who gets into the school. I think parents rarely picked schools based on the school's expected results or performance. Deep down, I believe parents are picking primary schools based on the expected social groups / values that the kids will be immersing themselves in. We have devised several codewords for them, such as 'Christian values', 'SAP schools', 'neighborhood schools' etc. Today, we talk about 'holistic' education, which to me is another codeword for well funded schools because 'holistic' education costs money (p/s: I have yet to come across a school that don't describe themselves as 'holistic' but strangely, we can determine some schools are more holistic than others). Here is an https://www.moe.gov.sg/about/org-structure/fdd/financial-summary-of-government-aided-schools-and-independent-schools-donation-funds. While the purpose of the list wasn't to highlight the most popular schools in Singapore, the most popular schools in Singapore are all on that list. And if anyone is looking for a 'holistic' school, save the trouble of looking, just use this list. -
lee_yl:
Err...
...
So if NYPS has 15 of such students who did not do well but the school did not ask them to transfer out and continued to give them the best education, that to me, is a good school.
I haven't come across many primary schools that ask their students to transfer out because of poor performance. If a good school doesn't transfer students out because of poor result, then the reverse must also be true, i.e. schools that transfer students out because of bad results is a bad school (which we all know happens all the time in 'good' secondary / IP schools).
And your definition of 'best education' is also highly suspected because we can almost be 99.9% that these 15 students aren't in the best class. Notwithstanding the quality of the delivery, the level of education should still be the same because everyone follows the same, basic curriculum.
The above will probably applies to 99.9% of the primary schools in Singapore.
I can see how HSK can psycho himself to believe that 'all schools are good schools' :rotflmao: -
floppy:
floppy, I don't think you can use this list to determine whether a school is holistic or not as it's only a financial summary.
Here is an https://www.moe.gov.sg/about/org-structure/fdd/financial-summary-of-government-aided-schools-and-independent-schools-donation-funds. While the purpose of the list wasn't to highlight the most popular schools in Singapore, the most popular schools in Singapore are all on that list. And if anyone is looking for a 'holistic' school, save the trouble of looking, just use this list.
Anyway MOE is now emphasizing on holistic assessment. It seems that it would be applied across the board, but we all know that some schools would still focus on academic achievements. Those schools tend to announce the top achievers and give them awards. I personally don't think that it's a good practice. -
galaxyraider:
I fully agree with galaxyraider with regard to Para 1.
floppy, I don't think you can use this list to determine whether a school is holistic or not as it's only a financial summary.floppy:
Here is an https://www.moe.gov.sg/about/org-structure/fdd/financial-summary-of-government-aided-schools-and-independent-schools-donation-funds. While the purpose of the list wasn't to highlight the most popular schools in Singapore, the most popular schools in Singapore are all on that list. And if anyone is looking for a 'holistic' school, save the trouble of looking, just use this list.
Anyway MOE is now emphasizing on holistic assessment. It seems that it would be applied across the board, but we all know that some schools would still focus on academic achievements. Those schools tend to announce the top achievers and give them awards. I personally don't think that it's a good practice.
Floppy:
The list merely shows the annual sponsorship/donations/rental income and expenditure, but it doesn't show the slew of holistic progs the schools offer. Are you saying Henry Park, Rosyth, Gongshang, Rulang, Temasek, River Valley and so on do not offer holistic prog because they are short of donations? They still produce pretty stellar results year after year, right? If what you're saying is true, then why is it some govt-aided schools on this list don't always produce 'memorable' results in terms of acad/sports/arts (holistic)? -
Hi all, forgive the lengthy post, but hope you guys can advise on what would be the best option(s) for me ...
I'm living near Bartley / Macpherson area, and I am a Catholic High old boy. I had a \"Which option for the scenario\" question some time last year on whether to give up 2A(1) with Catholic High to go for Maris Stella instead due to distance (yeah I know, I threw in a red herring scenario in there as well).
But in any case, I'm actually not too worried about my son, and he won't be in Pri 1 so soon. I am however, undecided on what I should do for my daughter, who is 2 years older.
The Mrs is a CHIJ OLGC (and CHIJ St Joseph Convent) old girl. My understanding is that OLGC doesn't have an alumni association but from what I'd been reading my daughter would have a pretty much guaranteed spot under 2A(2). I'm not sure OLGC would be ideal for her though, because it is about 5km direct distance and a 7+km route from our place to the school, even further if we have to factor in other stops for school bus. On top of that, should it come down to having to fall back on the SJC affiliation (I know, probably thinking way too far ahead), the current location at Sengkang is going to be one hell of a commute.
I'm now trying to come up with possible alternatives, factoring in that her younger brother will most likely be going to Catholic High 2 years later.
The nearest CHIJ to us is actually Katong Convent, but even that is about 3.5km away direct distance, about a 5km route. I was considering this as an option seeing as primary and secondary will be at the same location and my understanding is that based on past years records there's a good chance of getting a place, but have been advised against it as 1 child going east and the other going west (with my home as base) would be a logistics headache.
There are a couple of additional factors I might take into consideration:
The kids' paternal grandmother i.e. my mother, lives within walking distance of Catholic High. Just exit from the primary school side small gate, walk out through the landed estate to the main road (i.e. the Whitley Secondary bus stop), cross the overhead bridge and it's my mother's estate. I do not rule out the possibility my son will go there after school or even stay there on weekdays if he does go to Catholic High, so I may start the same arrangement with my daughter. Just for reference, this address is just a bit over 1km from Ai Tong (1.0xx km actually) and just a bit over 2km from SNGS (2.1xx km actually).
The kids' paternal grandfather i.e. my father, is an active member of Paya Lebar Methodist Church. We also do not rule out the possibility of going the religious affiliation route to try for 2B at PLMGS - which is over 2km but less than 2.5km distance away from my place - if we do not go with a weekday / after-school arrangement for the kids at my mother's place and have them go back to our own home.
Based on all of the above, what would you guys choose to do for my daughter if you were me? -
I can see a simple solution for you: Cedar Primary, which is in Senett Estate and not too far from Bartley/Macpherson. Both your kids will save traveling time. And the school is not a bad school as far as I know. Keep your eyes peeled for their annual Open House. I attended it few years back and had a good impression.
I think (pls double check) girls get affiliation to Cedar Girls Secondary (campus is next door). Probably not to the IP program but at least the Express program.
Your boy may need to work harder for PSLE, aim to enter Maris Stella High, or St Andrew’s Secondary as second choice. -
zac's mum:
correctionI can see a simple solution for you: Cedar Primary, which is in Senett Estate and not too far from Bartley/Macpherson. Both your kids will save traveling time. And the school is not a bad school as far as I know. Keep your eyes peeled for their annual Open House. I attended it few years back and had a good impression.
I think (pls double check) girls get affiliation to Cedar Girls Secondary (campus is next door). Probably not to the IP program but at least the Express program.
Your boy may need to work harder for PSLE, aim to enter Maris Stella High, or St Andrew’s Secondary as second choice.
No affliation between girls in Cedar primary (co-ed) to Cedar Girls Secondary (All-girls school).
They are entirely two different, separate school entity, not related at all, apart from happen to bear the same name, \"Cedar\", and located side by side each other, inside Cedar Avenue.
No affliation.
COP for 2018 Sec 1 batch intake for Cedar (O level) is 249. -
C.C:
The kids' paternal grandfather i.e. my father, is an active member of Paya Lebar Methodist Church. We also do not rule out the possibility of going the religious affiliation route to try for 2B at PLMGS - which is over 2km but less than 2.5km distance away from my place - if we do not go with a weekday / after-school arrangement for the kids at my mother's place and have them go back to our own home.
Would go for PLMGS as Plan A. Nearer to home in Bartley and is a good school.
But I think the parents (ie. you), not grandpa, need to have the pastor's letter to register at Phase 2B.
PLMGS fits the bill if you don't intend to move house. Its secondary section is also more popular than CHIJ SJC if you hope to use affiliation. -
cherrygal:
While you can use the grandparents' address for registration by signing a declaration, I'm not sure whether the church would give endorsement since both you and your spouse are not members. You should approach the church first to confirm whether they would endorse the members' grandchildren instead of children.C.C:
The kids' paternal grandfather i.e. my father, is an active member of Paya Lebar Methodist Church. We also do not rule out the possibility of going the religious affiliation route to try for 2B at PLMGS - which is over 2km but less than 2.5km distance away from my place - if we do not go with a weekday / after-school arrangement for the kids at my mother's place and have them go back to our own home.
Would go for PLMGS as Plan A. Nearer to home in Bartley and is a good school.
But I think the parents (ie. you), not grandpa, need to have the pastor's letter to register at Phase 2B.
PLMGS fits the bill if you don't intend to move house. Its secondary section is also more popular than CHIJ SJC if you hope to use affiliation.
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