Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[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).

[Estéema]

galaxyraider:

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).

I agree with you on this.

Must ustand how yr child will strive. Don't follow Competition blindly owise we may be setting up our child up to demoralization or throwing yr child in a stifling environment. Some child had been easily bored as a very young child & learn very quickly. I had to put in more interesting programmes to engage my kids fully owise they create havoc at home.

[ccsian19]

️️️Is there any link/data available for a list of schools which no balloting required for SC > 2km?

[floppy]

ccsian19:

️️️Is there any link/data available for a list of schools which no balloting required for SC > 2km?

The question is:
At what Phase?

[ccsian19]

2C

[floppy]

Past history refers to this page:

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/singapore-primary-1-registration-school-balloting-history/

Current, you can refer to MOE:
https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/primary-one-registration/vacancies
Any schools with registration < vacancies = no ballot required
If registration > vacancies, check with schools individually.