Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
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I disagree with cherrygal’s strategy. (Nothing personal, cherrygal!)
Reasons are: if your kids get into Ai Tong, they will have to do Higher Chinese from P1. It does not have affiliated secondary school (same as Marymount) but my impression is, the culture is very much more stressful and competitive.
If let’s say you try balloting for Ai Tong at 2C, using Marymount as a backup at 2C(S), if you happen to encounter a hot year (everybody using this strategy), you may need to undergo balloting at 2C(S) also. If didn’t get a place, MOE will post your girl to any other school in Singapore which still has remaining places. Are you happy to live with that? Some of those schools can have very rowdy undisciplined boys and bo chap teachers. Personally I would just go straight for Marymount at 2C and get a confirmed seat than play Russian Roulette with MOE’s allocation.
Although both ATS and MC both have no affiliated secondary school, I would rather have my kids have a stress-free holistic education and give them time to mature according to their ability (at Marymount) vs force any chill-by-nature kids onto bullet train tracks and stress them into performing well at PSLE. (Note I have a friend my age when went to ATS and she did not do well for her PSLE and will never send her kids there, that’s how much she hates her school) I hope people understand that going to “good school” does not equate to “will score well”. There is no such promise.
Ok. Said my piece. Just my opinion. -
Blum, in terms of logistics, which one is more convenient? Do you need school bus? School bus may not go to your place? Maybe can check this. When they need to stay back, any issue with logistics.
Agreed that going to a branded school does not guarantee good results. A relative daughter studied at St Nicks Pri but did not do well enough to even qualify for express stream.
I am registering my younger child this year for Pri. Although she qualified for a gep centre school under phase 2A, will be trying for a neighbourhood school instead. The school is within walking distance. She can wake up later and there is no need to pay for the bus fares. The gep centre school may also be too competitive for my younger child who is more playful. -
zac's mum:
No worries zac's mum.I disagree with cherrygal’s strategy. (Nothing personal, cherrygal!)
Reasons are: if your kids get into Ai Tong, they will have to do Higher Chinese from P1. It does not have affiliated secondary school (same as Marymount) but my impression is, the culture is very much more stressful and competitive.
If let’s say you try balloting for Ai Tong at 2C, using Marymount as a backup at 2C(S), if you happen to encounter a hot year (everybody using this strategy), you may need to undergo balloting at 2C(S) also.
Up to Blum to decide based on logistics and kid's abilities. Only recommended her to try ATS coz that was nearest to her home (1km) and she was eligible to ballot. Did not say anything about guaranteeing good results haha relak lah...
Also no harm doing Higher Chinese from P1 even for potato kids... it's really quite manageable.
Anyway, agree with you that it is a guaranteed seat at Marymount at 2C. Depends on her appetite for risk then. -
I came across this article today on FB:
http://ricemedia.co/current-affairs-feature-elitism-stay-count-government-fix-it/
The article discusses “elite” schools and is worth a read.
What I found very intriguing is a personal story told by a N(A) student:
“I started my primary school education in a popular elite primary school, known for offering the Gifted Education Programme (GEP). Raised in a middle-class family, my parents believed in the head start a top primary school (with the best possible resources) would give me. To ensure a placement in the particular school, they dutifully did 2 years of volunteer work.
Unfortunately, I never thrived in primary school. After doing badly at the PSLE, I was streamed into N(A).”
This student went on to say how demoralized the NA and NT students were. But fortunately this particular student encountered a good teacher in his class who cared enough to teach them in an encouraging and motivating way. Looking at the photos he posted, it appears to be Fairfield Secondary School.
And the primary school appears to be Nanyang Primary. That’s the only primary school I know which requires 2 years of PV work. -
Dear Parents, I need your suggestion on which primary school to choose? between Keming primary school, and Princess and Elizabeth for my daughter who is going to P1 2019 Jan. \t.
\tFYI, both primary schools are within 1 Km to my block. We are SG citizen.
\tNeed your suggestion regarding to successfully lottery (It is definitely required for SC within 1km this year for Dragon Year BABy), children education, and convenience etc, whatever you feel to both schools, thanks a lot. -
Markborn119:
both schools are equally HOT.Dear Parents, I need your suggestion on which primary school to choose? between Keming primary school, and Princess and Elizabeth for my daughter who is going to P1 2019 Jan. \t.
\tFYI, both primary schools are within 1 Km to my block. We are SG citizen.
\tNeed your suggestion regarding to successfully lottery (It is definitely required for SC within 1km this year for Dragon Year BABy), children education, and convenience etc, whatever you feel to both schools, thanks a lot.
it's really hard to choose...you are within 1km of both. which school is nearer home? go for that and pray hard. -
Dear all,
I will be praying hard for wisdom to make a decision on this but in the meanwhile, please feel free to give me you inputs/comments on this. I am an alumni from Mayflower Primary School (Ang Mo kio) and both my wife and I are members of a Methodist church. We have 3 kids (2 girls and a boy) and my fighter is due for P1 registration next year, 2018. My Wife and I are contemplating if we should register for Methodist girls school phase 2b, > 2km, Paya Lebar phase 2b or CHIJ St nicks phase 2c, less than 1KM (has the intention to relocate to Ang Mo Kio). Love to hear your advice. -
Replied u in the church/clan thread.
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Im in a dilemma… my DD1 is registering this yr and I can only go for 2C (no affiliation). Im <1km from Holy Innocents and <2km from CHIJOLN. Looking at past stats, I may have higher chances at CHIJ, but im <2km. My friend said <1km has higher chance. I like the focus on chinese in HI though but i think it’s more popular?
Headache!
Second question, since we can do online registration this year, is there any benefit to still go down to the school to register?
Thanks all! -
Hi all, I need some advice/have some queries. My girl is currently turning 2yo this year. When is the earliest time I can apply for PV? I currently stay within 1km from Kong Kwa Primary School. I am also looking to move to Bukit Timah and within 1km from Nanyang Primary School. I know that NYPS is a highly sought after school and even if I want to apply for PV I may not have the chance to do so. NYPS is still the first choice which I would like my girl to get into. Should I try out for PV with NYPS and try to get her in for phrase 2B? And if that fails then I will try for phrase 2C for KWPS? Just some background information, we are SG Citizen. Also, I understand that the standard in both schools are high, any advice on enrichment classes which I can send my child to? I have enrolled her in NYK and she will start school next year.
Thanks in advanced
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