Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[maxbear]

valerie1901:

Greetings all, 


I am going to register my daughter to Primary School next year, and I am considering Alexandra and Queenstown Primary School in phase 2C. However, I was informed by my friend who is Catholics, that I can register at CHIJ Kellock at Phase 2B since we are Catholics. I have another son who is SG50 baby. Is there any parent here who has kids with different primary school? Any pros and cons? Thank you!

Hi, if you're applying for Kellock, the selection is based in the permanent address of the school ie. Old location. So if you're living in Queenstown/Redhill area then that would be >2km.
If you don't mind sending your kids to school at 2 locations then separate school is ok.
If you're less than 1km from Alexandra pri, you might have a good chance but really hard to say. Bcos it's very popular. 1-2km will definitely require balloting, so I won't try.
I'm under 2C, and eventho ALPS was my first choice, I'm going for Queenstown pri ie. Less than 1km from my new home (using my new address which falls within the date of key delivery requirement on MOE site).
Qtps had an open house this past Saturday and, was really impressed with the school. So it's now a no brainer for me.

[valerie1901]

maxbear:

valerie1901:

Greetings all, 


I am going to register my daughter to Primary School next year, and I am considering Alexandra and Queenstown Primary School in phase 2C. However, I was informed by my friend who is Catholics, that I can register at CHIJ Kellock at Phase 2B since we are Catholics. I have another son who is SG50 baby. Is there any parent here who has kids with different primary school? Any pros and cons? Thank you!

Hi, if you're applying for Kellock, the selection is based in the permanent address of the school ie. Old location. So if you're living in Queenstown/Redhill area then that would be >2km.
If you don't mind sending your kids to school at 2 locations then separate school is ok.
If you're less than 1km from Alexandra pri, you might have a good chance but really hard to say. Bcos it's very popular. 1-2km will definitely require balloting, so I won't try.
I'm under 2C, and eventho ALPS was my first choice, I'm going for Queenstown pri ie. Less than 1km from my new home (using my new address which falls within the date of key delivery requirement on MOE site).
Qtps had an open house this past Saturday and, was really impressed with the school. So it's now a no brainer for me.

Thanks Mamabear, both QTPS and ALPS are 1-2km from my place. Yeah, I went to the open house too last Saturday and was very impressed with the school. Happy to hear your choice!

[chongma26]

Can anyone give me some review for Tampines area Primary School? Thanks alot

[Mummytang]

BnW:

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...

Hi mummytang,
I'm staying at west coast too. Nan hua is the most popular and most competitive amongst the 4 schools in the clementi area. Clementi Pri and Qifa are popular too and all the spaces are usually taken up by Phase 2c, so the only school with vacancies at Phase 2cs is Pei Tong Pri. Your question whether to go for NH or Qifa is a common dilemma amongst pp living in our area. Some decide to try balloting in Nan Hua while others just go for Qifa in phase 2c. I myself have decided to go for Qifa (which is 5 mins walk from my house and they are a decent school) then to take the risk.

hi BnW, thanks for sharing. I am also in a dilemma.... I saw last year that there was space in clementi pri at phase 2cs? Or maybe I did not look correctly. When are you registering your child? Could you share why you have decided to choose Qifa? What do you like about Qifa? Have you any feedback about the school that you can share? Many thanks in advance.

[BnW]

Mummytang:

BnW:

[quote=\"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...

Hi mummytang,
I'm staying at west coast too. Nan hua is the most popular and most competitive amongst the 4 schools in the clementi area. Clementi Pri and Qifa are popular too and all the spaces are usually taken up by Phase 2c, so the only school with vacancies at Phase 2cs is Pei Tong Pri. Your question whether to go for NH or Qifa is a common dilemma amongst pp living in our area. Some decide to try balloting in Nan Hua while others just go for Qifa in phase 2c. I myself have decided to go for Qifa (which is 5 mins walk from my house and they are a decent school) then to take the risk.

hi BnW, thanks for sharing. I am also in a dilemma.... I saw last year that there was space in clementi pri at phase 2cs? Or maybe I did not look correctly. When are you registering your child? Could you share why you have decided to choose Qifa? What do you like about Qifa? Have you any feedback about the school that you can share? Many thanks in advance.[/quote]hi mummytang, i just went to see the balloting history and i think you are right. there was space in clementi pri at 2cs last year. I haven't been monitoring the stats so closely. but there were years where only pei tong has spaces in phase 2cs and this being the dragon year, the figures may not follow past year trends. you will hv to monitor the figures very closely this year to make the final call. Reasons why we chose qifa
1) we can apply under 2A(2)
2) it is a short walk from our house
3) a few of my neighbours kids are/were in the school and have good feedback. say it is a good school to develop kids, and a few kids transfer to NH after qualifying for gifted program. they have a good reading program in place. mostly good feedback but 1 neighbour wants to transfer her boy out as the school doesn't support competitive swimming. quite a few of my son's schoolmates in childcare and friend's friends (who stay in west coast) are also applying for qifa.
4) their academics have steadily improved over the years based on their number of psle scorers above 250 which i saw from their website. their core sports is volleyball where they have won medals. seems like they exposure all their students to volleyball during PE.
5) based on my child's progress in childcare which is more play thru learning based, i feel a good neighbourhood school will suit/develop him better than NH. i'll go for big fish in small pond effect, rather than a small fish in big pond theory for my boy.

that said, if your child suits a fast pace academic environment, NH is good. believe they get lots of exposure in other areas too. some of my frens did grassroots and apply through phase 2b. i didn't do that much research on the various schools so can't comment too much. a lot is based on friends/neighbours feedback. hope this info helps

[Mummytang]

Hi BnW, Thanks a lot for your comments and sharing. Much appreciated!

Which year will your boy register for P1?

[BnW]

Mummytang:

Hi BnW, Thanks a lot for your comments and sharing. Much appreciated!

Which year will your boy register for P1?

You’re welcomed! We just registered last week and have received the confirmation sms and letter. Hope you will get a place in your desired school at phase 2c!

[Mummytang]

BnW:

Mummytang:

Hi BnW, Thanks a lot for your comments and sharing. Much appreciated!

Which year will your boy register for P1?

You’re welcomed! We just registered last week and have received the confirmation sms and letter. Hope you will get a place in your desired school at phase 2c!

Thanks! I am registering next year.
Congrats on your admission to your choice school. Hope your boy will enjoy Qifa!

[Sazaethh]

any views on Gongshang Primary ?

[galaxyraider]

BnW:

Mummytang:

[quote=\"BnW\"]Hi mummytang,

I'm staying at west coast too. Nan hua is the most popular and most competitive amongst the 4 schools in the clementi area. Clementi Pri and Qifa are popular too and all the spaces are usually taken up by Phase 2c, so the only school with vacancies at Phase 2cs is Pei Tong Pri. Your question whether to go for NH or Qifa is a common dilemma amongst pp living in our area. Some decide to try balloting in Nan Hua while others just go for Qifa in phase 2c. I myself have decided to go for Qifa (which is 5 mins walk from my house and they are a decent school) then to take the risk.

hi BnW, thanks for sharing. I am also in a dilemma.... I saw last year that there was space in clementi pri at phase 2cs? Or maybe I did not look correctly. When are you registering your child? Could you share why you have decided to choose Qifa? What do you like about Qifa? Have you any feedback about the school that you can share? Many thanks in advance.

hi mummytang, i just went to see the balloting history and i think you are right. there was space in clementi pri at 2cs last year. I haven't been monitoring the stats so closely. but there were years where only pei tong has spaces in phase 2cs and this being the dragon year, the figures may not follow past year trends. you will hv to monitor the figures very closely this year to make the final call. Reasons why we chose qifa
1) we can apply under 2A(2)
2) it is a short walk from our house
3) a few of my neighbours kids are/were in the school and have good feedback. say it is a good school to develop kids, and a few kids transfer to NH after qualifying for gifted program. they have a good reading program in place. mostly good feedback but 1 neighbour wants to transfer her boy out as the school doesn't support competitive swimming. quite a few of my son's schoolmates in childcare and friend's friends (who stay in west coast) are also applying for qifa.
4) their academics have steadily improved over the years based on their number of psle scorers above 250 which i saw from their website. their core sports is volleyball where they have won medals. seems like they exposure all their students to volleyball during PE.
5) based on my child's progress in childcare which is more play thru learning based, i feel a good neighbourhood school will suit/develop him better than NH. i'll go for big fish in small pond effect, rather than a small fish in big pond theory for my boy.

that said, if your child suits a fast pace academic environment, NH is good. believe they get lots of exposure in other areas too. some of my frens did grassroots and apply through phase 2b. i didn't do that much research on the various schools so can't comment too much. a lot is based on friends/neighbours feedback. hope this info helps[/quote]I have a different thought regarding the fish analogy. In my opinion, some fish need a bigger pond in order to grow. If the pond is too small or unsuitable, in the end the fish will suffer. So I think the pond has to be just right, not too big (super competitive school), not too small (super laid back school).