Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[soniasong111]

Hi mummies, would like to hear your thoughts on these two schools.

We are currently staying at sengkang with nan chiau just downstairs, but we have also bought a flat within 1km to ACSJ to get my boys eligible for 2c balloting for ACSJ.
My boys will be eligible for phase 2B for Nan Chiau though…
So, 2c balloting for ACSJ or 2B for nan chiau, which you would recommend?
THANKS A LOT!

[zac's mum]

soniasong111\" post_id=\"1900468\" time=\"1551406983\" user_id=\"168380:

Hi mummies, would like to hear your thoughts on these two schools.
We are currently staying at sengkang with nan chiau just downstairs, but we have also bought a flat within 1km to ACSJ to get my boys eligible for 2c balloting for ACSJ.
My boys will be eligible for phase 2B for Nan Chiau though...
So, 2c balloting for ACSJ or 2B for nan chiau, which you would recommend?
THANKS A LOT!

Are you dead sure your flat is within 1km of ACSJ? I thought the even nearest HDB flats at Cambridge Road area are 1-2km?

[floppy]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1900535\" time=\"1551423726\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1900535 time=1551423726 user_id=53606]

soniasong111\" post_id=\"1900468\" time=\"1551406983\" user_id=\"168380:

Are you dead sure your flat is within 1km of ACSJ? I thought the even nearest HDB flats at Cambridge Road area are 1-2km?

Got.
Tekka Market Blk 661 and 662 is within 1km.
But don't tell people ok? Later the property price over there boomz :rotflmao:

Notwithstanding the above, I don't understand how soniasong111 is going to pull this off, given that one has to stay in the address for 30months. Surely, the key to which school she wants to apply to would depends on which property she would want to / need to stay in.

[manorway]

Anyone knows why Marymount Convent is not popular? Looking at the list of schools in Toa Payoh group, MC was still not filled up after phase 2C Supp. And there was a drop in popularity in the recent years. Is it because results are poor?

[zac's mum]

manorway\" post_id=\"1901128\" time=\"1551715591\" user_id=\"9303:

Anyone knows why Marymount Convent is not popular? Looking at the list of schools in Toa Payoh group, MC was still not filled up after phase 2C Supp. And there was a drop in popularity in the recent years. Is it because results are poor?

Personally I think it’s because there’s no affiliation to a secondary school. Plenty of other girls schools around that have affiliated secondarys.

If you look at RGPS (no affiliation either), it is also less popular than the other girls schools in that zone.

[floppy]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1901135\" time=\"1551736744\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1901135 time=1551736744 user_id=53606]

manorway\" post_id=\"1901128\" time=\"1551715591\" user_id=\"9303:

Personally I think it’s because there’s no affiliation to a secondary school. Plenty of other girls schools around that have affiliated secondarys.

If you look at RGPS (no affiliation either), it is also less popular than the other girls schools in that zone.

No affiliation to a sec school for a single gender school is definitely a concern. It probably explains why it isn’t as popular as other girls’ schools.

However, the real reason for the drop in enrollment (rather than popularity) should be demographics. Toa Payoh is an aging estate and a number of schools there have experienced a reduction in enrollment during the phases. It’s not just an issue that MCS can deal with. Plus, Toa Payoh (and Bishan which is within 1-2km) has a number of very popular schools that will draw the most crowd. It’s really hard for the rest of the schools to stand out.

[zac's mum]

floppy\" post_id=\"1901150\" time=\"1551748611\" user_id=\"97579:

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1901135\" time=\"1551736744\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1901135 time=1551736744 user_id=53606]

No affiliation to a sec school for a single gender school is definitely a concern. It probably explains why it isn’t as popular as other girls’ schools.

However, the real reason for the drop in enrollment (rather than popularity) should be demographics. Toa Payoh is an aging estate and a number of schools there have experienced a reduction in enrollment during the phases. It’s not just an issue that MCS can deal with. Plus, Toa Payoh (and Bishan which is within 1-2km) has a number of very popular schools that will draw the most crowd. It’s really hard for the rest of the schools to stand out.

MCS catchment area is not exactly the main Toa Payoh HDB estate. For those living nearer to TPY central and the other side, there is the perpetually popular Pei Chun.

I think MCS’ main competitor is CHIJ Toa Payoh nearby. The estate is attracting younger couples, as the Caldecott area has The Peak DBSS, also the new BTOs, some blocks already occupied and further blocks near to MSF (former SLF auditorium) under construction right now. Who knows, in coming years, more parents with girls may opt for MCS due to the convenience of distance proximity?

[manorway]

Thank you Floppy and Zac’s mum. Affiliation aside, is academic standards or PSLE achievement of Marymount perceived as average?


People I spoke to often said it is an average school. But what does that mean?

Why is Pei Chun so popular when it also does not have affiliated Secondary school?

I also don’t understand why Ai Tong is so popular?

[floppy]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1901159\" time=\"1551750318\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1901159 time=1551750318 user_id=53606]

MCS catchment area is not exactly the main Toa Payoh HDB estate. For those living nearer to TPY central and the other side, there is the perpetually popular Pei Chun.

I think MCS’ main competitor is CHIJ Toa Payoh nearby. The estate is attracting younger couples, as the Caldecott area has The Peak DBSS, also the new BTOs, some blocks already occupied and further blocks near to MSF (former SLF auditorium) under construction right now. Who knows, in coming years, more parents with girls may opt for MCS due to the convenience of distance proximity?[/quote]

I agree CHIJ TP is probably MCS main competitor and CHIJ TP main advantage is having an affiliated sec school.

MCS catchment comprises nearly the entire (old) Toa Payoh except Kim Keat, Potong Pasir and Bidadari (the latter being a young estate and Potong Pasir having seen intensive renewal recently). It also extends into Bishan (including Sin Ming, Shunfu and Thomson). While the catchment does have a few new projects, it's very limited to the areas you mentioned, as well as Thomson. Within this zone, schools like CHIJ TP, Pei Chun, Ai Tong and even Kheng Cheng will continue to draw them away from MCS. I doubt MCS fortunes will be changing very much.

[floppy]

manorway\" post_id=\"1901166\" time=\"1551751704\" user_id=\"9303:

Thank you Floppy and Zac’s mum. Affiliation aside, is academic standards or PSLE achievement of Marymount perceived as average?

People I spoke to often said it is an average school. But what does that mean?

Why is Pei Chun so popular when it also does not have affiliated Secondary school?

I also don’t understand why Ai Tong is so popular?

80% to 90% of the schools in Singapore are considered 'average' school
Therefore, yes, MCS is an average school
What does it mean? It means nothing. I suppose it could also mean that the school isn't attached with a label that says \"SAP\" or \"GEP\".

Which brings us to Ai Tong and Pei Chun: both are SAP schools.
Parents who are attracted to the inculcation of traditional Asian culture (i.e. Confucianist values - but the G don't like to say that :evil: ) tends to gravitate towards them (these parents are usually Chinese - but the G don't like to highlight that as well :evil: ).
Plus, SAP schools / students receive additional funding (https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sap-school-students-each-receive-s300-more-funding-year-ong-ye-kung, but I would imagine it is the same for pri schools) to develop their proficiency and interest in Chinese language-related studies. In a system where exam (i.e. PSLE - and CL is a key part of PSLE) is critical, any form of advantage is welcome by parents
Furthermore, interest / proficiency in CL has longer term implications for the children with the awakening and coming-of-age of the second largest economy in the world (P/S: we already speak the language of the largest economy of the world relatively well).