Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[dase]

Hi I am PR and my daughter is born 2014. We leave 300m from River Valley Primary school but unfortunately I found out just not that PV is closed and thus my chance to get in are very little (always balloting for SC). Which other schools you reccomend near Robertson Quay which has an holistic approach and is not too competitive? Thanks for helping and guiding.

[dase]

Need help dear KS. I am a PR and leave 200 meter from River valley primary school. My daughter is born in 2018 and unfortunately I missed the PV enrollemnt date. I have a few questions 1) if I read correctly the statistic (sorry I am new) there is zero chance to get in RV aim 2C for PR, correct? 2) if yes which school should I try to PV (if still open) or to enroll in 2C ? I have St Margaret, Anglo Chinese, Zhangde, Alexandra, cantoment. I am looking for an holistic, non stressful and non competitive school. For me the PSE results are not very important. What would you reccomend for me to do?

[zac's mum]

dase:

Need help dear KS. I am a PR and leave 200 meter from River valley primary school. My daughter is born in 2018 and unfortunately I missed the PV enrollemnt date. I have a few questions 1) if I read correctly the statistic (sorry I am new) there is zero chance to get in RV aim 2C for PR, correct? 2) if yes which school should I try to PV (if still open) or to enroll in 2C ? I have St Margaret, Anglo Chinese, Zhangde, Alexandra, cantoment. I am looking for an holistic, non stressful and non competitive school. For me the PSE results are not very important. What would you reccomend for me to do?

Firstly, is your daughter PR? It is the child’s status which matters, not the parents’.

Secondly, you can eliminate Anglo Chinese because it is a boys-only school.

I believe (offhand) there are places for PRs at St Margaret’s and Cantonment. But please let us know your daughter’s status then we can check the balloting statistics at 2B and 2C properly for you.

[dase]

Yes thanks for your reply and guidance. yes my daughter is also a PR. Also do you know if there is any chance to get into RIver Valley PV if I missed the deadline? I just delivered a newborn so missed the deadline

[dase]

Yes thanks for your reply and guidance. yes my daughter is also a PR. Also do you know if there is any chance to get into RIver Valley PV if I missed the deadline? I just delivered a newborn so missed the deadline

[zac's mum]

dase:

Yes thanks for your reply and guidance. yes my daughter is also a PR. Also do you know if there is any chance to get into RIver Valley PV if I missed the deadline? I just delivered a newborn so missed the deadline

Sorry, as far as I know, if u miss the PV deadline of any school, there is no negotiation. Just let it go.

If you have 2 girls (and don’t intend to try for a boy), you could do PV at St Margaret’s Girls School to upgrade your chances into phase 2B. That’s because PRs will not have a chance at phase 2C. I found the form here: http://stmargaretspri.moe.edu.sg/qql/slot/u209/About%20Us/Parent%20Volunteer%20Application%20Form.pdf

If you do not wish to spend so much effort and time doing PV, or if you need to have a co-ed school for your kids, then just go for Cantonment Primary or Stamford Primary at phase 2C. Both are shoo-ins for PRs. And both seem to be quite holistic schools. Another plus: Cantonment Primary’s school hours start at 8am, a full half hour later than other primary schools. That’s good for kids who cannot wake up early.

[dase]

Thank you so much. I have three girls and no intention to try for a boy That so useful. Few more questions: 1) St. Margaret school is that a catholic school? Will girls go to church? Or ask for church affiliation? We are Jewish so I would prefer girls not to go to church but I like the idea of a girl only school 2) for cantonment school will I have a good chance in 2C even if I am at 1.9km? Which are is the school? Would like to check the ballotting records 3) between Zhangde 1.7km and cantonment 1.9 ( Stanford is 2.3 km so I think I would be out) which one you reccomend? Thanks again for your super guidance!!!

[zac's mum]

dase:

Thank you so much. I have three girls and no intention to try for a boy That so useful. Few more questions: 1) St. Margaret school is that a catholic school? Will girls go to church? Or ask for church affiliation? We are Jewish so I would prefer girls not to go to church but I like the idea of a girl only school 2) for cantonment school will I have a good chance in 2C even if I am at 1.9km? Which are is the school? Would like to check the ballotting records 3) between Zhangde 1.7km and cantonment 1.9 ( Stanford is 2.3 km so I think I would be out) which one you reccomend? Thanks again for your super guidance!!!!

Please do not use Google Maps or other map apps to check your home’s distance from the schools. You need to use the only MOE-approved map on OneMap website. Need a laptop or desktop to access. Cannot use handphone. Choose the School Query function. Then you can see those schools which are within 1km, within 2km, outside 2km from your house. MOE does not consider decimal points.

Sorry to tell you that St Margaret’s will definitely have some sort of weekly or daily chapel/prayer time for the girls, no matter how short it may be. It is not a Catholic school but Christian (Anglican) school. So maybe you wish to avoid it if it clashes with your religion.

You can consider Cantonment or Stamford safely for your distance and PR status. Zhangde is out of your consideration because it is too popular. Here are the relevant pages for the balloting history:

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/bukit-merah/

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/central/

[Blum]

Hi,


Would like to get some advice. I am really confused

Within 2km from my address, I only have Ai Tong which has a very competitive balloting history. Even tho I stay within 1 km to Ai Tong, I am not intending to try balloting.

All other schools are out of the 2 km radius. I am looking potentially at Marymount convent for my girl. I hv 3 girls so am ok to go for a all girls school. I have heard many good reviews 're marymount but my only worry is that there is no affiliation to a secondary school ie no safety net.

Other school I am considering is CHIJ Toa Payoh is St. Nicholas but there again, the balloting history shows that it will be difficult getting into these schools esp I am out of the 2km distance with no PV or advantage.

Qn 1) should I still go for marymount convent under phase 3C or should I start looking at a school with sec affiliation ?

Qn2) or should I try for CHIJ Toa Payoh or St. Nicholas which both have affiliation to secondary school? What will be my chances of getting in ?

Any advice is greated appreciated ! Tks tks !

[zac's mum]

Blum:

Hi,


Would like to get some advice. I am really confused

Within 2km from my address, I only have Ai Tong which has a very competitive balloting history. Even tho I stay within 1 km to Ai Tong, I am not intending to try balloting.

All other schools are out of the 2 km radius. I am looking potentially at Marymount convent for my girl. I hv 3 girls so am ok to go for a all girls school. I have heard many good reviews 're marymount but my only worry is that there is no affiliation to a secondary school ie no safety net.

Other school I am considering is CHIJ Toa Payoh is St. Nicholas but there again, the balloting history shows that it will be difficult getting into these schools esp I am out of the 2km distance with no PV or advantage.

Qn 1) should I still go for marymount convent under phase 3C or should I start looking at a school with sec affiliation ?

Qn2) or should I try for CHIJ Toa Payoh or St. Nicholas which both have affiliation to secondary school? What will be my chances of getting in ?

Any advice is greated appreciated ! Tks tks !

Are you within 1km of Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Pri? If yes, you can easily secure a place there at Phase 2C. It has an affiliated secondary school.

If u check the balloting history of St Nicks and CHIJ TPY, you will see that there’s no chance for >2km at Phase 2C.

Marymount Convent is indeed a good and viable option for your 3 girls at Phase 2C. Consider whether you really need that safety net. Would it be so bad if their future psle score only entitles them to enter a second-tier all-girls secondary school? Personally, I don’t think so.