Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[Jmum2]

Hi Ahleo,


From what I know, you need 2 years to do PV at NYPS. KWPS is also very popular, you may not get in at 2C. Can plan back up schools, like which school you can try around that vicinity if you really cannot get the school of choice.

For enrichment, I would recommend Berries for Chinese, CMA for Math (this is more optional, not a must to me), My English School/I Can Read (English).

[janet88]

Mummytang:

Hi KS parents, need some advice on P1 registration for my boy in 2019...

We live in West Coast area and have 3 options currently.
1) My old school Keng Seng Primary School was merged and I believe with now Gan Eng Seng Primary so we should be eligible for Phase 1A
2) Nan Hua Primary (within 1 km)
3) Qifa Primary (within 1 km)

What would you do? What would be your strategy with the options above?
Does anyone has feedback on Nan Hua & Qifa and how do they compare to each other?
Our preference is to get him in Nan Hua but it is very competitive.
Appreciate any advices!!
Thanks in advance!

you are staying in west coast.
gan eng seng is in bukit merah while you stay in west coast...so you will be under Phase 2A2 if you are alumni. distance wise more than 2km.

nan hua would definitely face stiff competition under under 2C within 1km...you can still try. balloting is guaranteed.
have a backup school.

[monajoba]

My child is from Horse year cohort, birth rate 2nd to Dragon year. Currently residing in Marine Parade but my husband’s school is NanHua Primary.

Not sure if we should make the big move to the west. Is NanHua comparable with Taonan (within 1km and we’ve joined GRC) ?
What are the odds to get into Taonan under phase 2B ? It looks like Nan Hua might also require balloting for phase 2A.

[ahleo87]

Hi Jmum2, thanks for your reply. Yes I am planning to enroll her into Berries, CMA and a English enrichment classes next year. how about RGPS? I actually went to check out the number of girls born in 2016. There are more boys than girls born in 2016. Hoping that maybe she’ll have a chance with RGPS?

[phtthp]

Rgps :-

if your daughter is SC & staying outside 2 km, under Phase 2C, will still need to ballot.

under Phase 2C : for PR, absolutely No chance

[Mummytang]

janet88:

Mummytang:

Hi KS parents, need some advice on P1 registration for my boy in 2019...

We live in West Coast area and have 3 options currently.
1) My old school Keng Seng Primary School was merged and I believe with now Gan Eng Seng Primary so we should be eligible for Phase 1A
2) Nan Hua Primary (within 1 km)
3) Qifa Primary (within 1 km)

What would you do? What would be your strategy with the options above?
Does anyone has feedback on Nan Hua & Qifa and how do they compare to each other?
Our preference is to get him in Nan Hua but it is very competitive.
Appreciate any advices!!
Thanks in advance!

you are staying in west coast.
gan eng seng is in bukit merah while you stay in west coast...so you will be under Phase 2A2 if you are alumni. distance wise more than 2km.

nan hua would definitely face stiff competition under under 2C within 1km...you can still try. balloting is guaranteed.
have a backup school.

Hi, thanks for reply.
Is there any \"strategy\" I should take in the regustration choices? Do I go for phase2c for NH and back up Qifa? Or do I go straight to Qifa for phase2C? How is GES compared to Qifa for example? And how is Qifa compared to NH?
Many thanks...

[tinywings]

Mummytang:

janet88:

[quote=\"Mummytang\"]Hi KS parents, need some advice on P1 registration for my boy in 2019...

We live in West Coast area and have 3 options currently.
1) My old school Keng Seng Primary School was merged and I believe with now Gan Eng Seng Primary so we should be eligible for Phase 1A
2) Nan Hua Primary (within 1 km)
3) Qifa Primary (within 1 km)

What would you do? What would be your strategy with the options above?
Does anyone has feedback on Nan Hua & Qifa and how do they compare to each other?
Our preference is to get him in Nan Hua but it is very competitive.
Appreciate any advices!!
Thanks in advance!

you are staying in west coast.
gan eng seng is in bukit merah while you stay in west coast...so you will be under Phase 2A2 if you are alumni. distance wise more than 2km.

nan hua would definitely face stiff competition under under 2C within 1km...you can still try. balloting is guaranteed.
have a backup school.

Hi, thanks for reply.
Is there any \"strategy\" I should take in the regustration choices? Do I go for phase2c for NH and back up Qifa? Or do I go straight to Qifa for phase2C? How is GES compared to Qifa for example? And how is Qifa compared to NH?
Many thanks...[/quote]In your case, better to go for NH as u are within 1km. Better to try then not trying at all and give up. When u try at least still have chance. Qifa as a back up for 2CS, even if balloting at 2CS citizen still high chance. GESPS is not very popular choice in Bukit Merah area. If u notice every yr there are still places left in 2C and 2CS. So this should be your last back up. In 2CS may as well consider Clementi Pri instead of GESPS as it is neaer to u. In terms results they r on par but one is so much nearer for the child.

[Mummytang]

hi tinywings, thanks a lot for your advice.

Will there still be space in Qifa at phase2CS?
I can’t seem to find feedback about Qifa primary and the demographics whether there’s high numbers of foreigners.
I am just worried if fail at NH, might end up no where and further…

[ahleo87]

phtthp:

Rgps :-

if your daughter is SC & staying outside 2 km, under Phase 2C, will still need to ballot.

under Phase 2C : for PR, absolutely No chance

Morning Phtthp,
We are SC and if we will be staying within 1km of RGPS, does this means we will more or less get in at 2C? Was just thinking of the next plan in case I fail at 2B for NYP. I’ve checked the website thou. I think the unit I’m buying (based on the website) is within 1km of both schools. Thanks for your advice in advanced

[phtthp]

ahleo87:

Morning Phtthp,
We are SC and if we will be staying within 1km of RGPS, does this means we will more or less get in at 2C? Was just thinking of the next plan in case I fail at 2B for NYP. I’ve checked the website thou. I think the unit I’m buying (based on the website) is within 1km of both schools. Thanks for your advice in advanced

no one can guarantee you anything.

Why don't you analyse the past trend info available at Rgps website yourself, ask yourself the qn: what is the likelihood of your own daughter getting in at Phase 2C, less than 1 km ?

examine in detail, Rgps past 3 years' trend, here :
http://rafflesgirlspri.moe.edu.sg/parents/enrolling-in-rgps/p1-registration-statistics

for past recent years : 2017, 2016, 2015 P1 statistics - where did balloting arise, for SC ? arise within 1 km, within 1 to 2 km, or outside 2 km ?
Answer : outside 2 km (for SC, only)

PR, don't waste your time trying Rgps, because absolutely No chance for PR, under Phase 2C.

This being phonix year admission : because Bukit Timah primary is the \"catch-all\" school, plus the fact that Bukit Timah primary increased intake this year, by one more P1 extra class, means parents registering and balloting at Phase 2C in popular schools like (Nanyang, Henry Park, MGS Blackmore drive) :-
will be HIGHLY competitive, in these extra popular schools, located along Bukit Timah belt, because a lot of parents will be trying their luck balloting at Phase 2C, since this year MOE had increased 2600 extra new vacancies, across entire Sg. Means many \"fall-back\" schools, to fall back upon.

Likewise, Rgps : many will be balloting very intensively (competitively), at Phase 2C. Be mentally prepared, for intense competition at balloting.

If failed to ballot into Rgps at Phase 2C, parents will turn to backup schools, like :-

- Bukit Timah primary

- Marymount Convent primary

- any other nearby CHIJ primary school, as long as vacancies still exist, in Phase 2C Supplementary, or

- any other co-ed school, that is convenient within your house distance range, where vacancies still remain, in Phase 2C Supp.