Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[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).

[zac's mum]

Apart from the Chinese-ness of those 2 popular schools attracting a large number of people, I’m gonna stick my head out and say that maybe these segments of the population will avoid sending their kids to Christian and Catholic schools.


I am under the impression that MCS is still very traditionally Catholic. I believe there are still some elderly nuns teaching there. Maybe the school’s direction is therefore overwhelmingly humble and holistic (they are well-known for developing the girls in the arts). U won’t see them announcing or proclaiming academic stars, even if there are.

[floppy]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1901173\" time=\"1551753326\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1901173 time=1551753326 user_id=53606]
Apart from the Chinese-ness of those 2 popular schools attracting a large number of people, I’m gonna stick my head out and say that maybe these segments of the population will avoid sending their kids to Christian and Catholic schools.

I am under the impression that MCS is still very traditionally Catholic. I believe there are still some elderly nuns teaching there. Maybe the school’s direction is therefore overwhelmingly humble and holistic (they are well-known for developing the girls in the arts). U won’t see them announcing or proclaiming academic stars, even if there are.[/quote]

While a small segment of parents may think like that, I think the majority of parents aren't bothered whether it is a Christian or Catholic schools. Otherwise, CHIJ TP (or CHS and SAJS - though they are of a different gender) should fare equally badly in terms of popularity.

The strange thing about both schools (ATS, PCPS) is: they haven't been blowing their trumpets. If you look at their websites, both schools are either not bothered or quite terrible in communicating their achievements
ATS - nearly none.
PCPS - seem to have stopped achieving since 2015 :rotflmao:
Personally, I don't buy this idea of 'holistic' being attached to some schools. All schools are holistic, even top / popular / non-religious schools.

[zac's mum]

Ok I concede that.


Separate note though. Since I’ve been downloading many school’s past year papers for my DS to practise. I can tell the SAP schools tend to set their exam papers at a much higher difficulty compared to the non-SAP schools.

Consider the effects on a child who isn’t yet able to meet those standards. Will be failing all the way thru school life and feeling bad about it.

Conversely, entering a school of so-called “lower standard” that sets easier papers, that same child has more time to grow & develop subject mastery over the 6 years without feeling sub-par (failing). Of course, the ultimate exam is the PSLE which is nation-wide. But I am approaching that by letting DS practise with the other schools’ tough papers (while he officially sits for the easier ones set by his school). Stretching the ability without denting the morale.