Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[Zenz79]

Hi all,


I recently wondered what is the difference between Autonomous, SAP and independent schools? And which is better? Or are they similar?

Can anyone advise me please?

Thanks so much!

[Davischew]

KierstenS\" post_id=\"1958045\" time=\"1578482126\" user_id=\"126351:

Hi everyone,

We’ve two daughters, and are staying < 1 km of Hong Wen & 1-2 km of St. Margaret’s Primary.

Assuming we can get into either school without balloting, which school would you recommend, and why?

Thank you in advance for any input!

SMPS for the fact it’s affiliated

[firstda]

KierstenS\" post_id=\"1958045\" time=\"1578482126\" user_id=\"126351:

Hi everyone,

We’ve two daughters, and are staying < 1 km of Hong Wen & 1-2 km of St. Margaret’s Primary.

Assuming we can get into either school without balloting, which school would you recommend, and why?

Thank you in advance for any input!

I will prefer the school closest to my house. Till now it is a challenge to wake my girl up for school every morning.

[floppy]

KierstenS\" post_id=\"1958045\" time=\"1578482126\" user_id=\"126351:

Hi everyone,

We’ve two daughters, and are staying < 1 km of Hong Wen & 1-2 km of St. Margaret’s Primary.

Assuming we can get into either school without balloting, which school would you recommend, and why?

Thank you in advance for any input!

The two schools are dissimilar in every way. The answer will really depend on individual preferences and priorities.

HWS
- SAP school
- Co-ed
- Government-aided (clan affiliated)
- Has a good reputation for academic excellence

SMPS
- Single gender
- Government-aided (religious body affiliated)
- Affiliated to secondary school

[KierstenS]

Thank you for breaking it down for me, floppy!


Cos elder one is rather delicate 😅 and I worry about her in a co-ed environment.

However, is it true that with the new PSLE system, it would be more advantageous to be in a SAP school, since it offers Higher Chinese from P1?

Thank you!

[zac's mum]

Zenz79\" post_id=\"1958046\" time=\"1578482789\" user_id=\"178005:

Hi all,

I recently wondered what is the difference between Autonomous, SAP and independent schools? And which is better? Or are they similar?

Can anyone advise me please?

Thanks so much!

Read this: https://www.learnerslodge.com.sg/blog/sap-government-autonomous-independent-schools/

[floppy]

KierstenS\" post_id=\"1958215\" time=\"1578556522\" user_id=\"126351:

Thank you for breaking it down for me, floppy!

Cos elder one is rather delicate 😅 and I worry about her in a co-ed environment.

However, is it true that with the new PSLE system, it would be more advantageous to be in a SAP school, since it offers Higher Chinese from P1?

Thank you!

What makes you think it will be easier in a girls’ school with all the bitching and sniping going on?

The SAP bonus is only helpful if you are aiming for NYGH, SNGS. Otherwise, it’s probably not very helpful in the context of PSLE (since you can only use the bonus tie-breaker for SAP schools). However, if you would like your child to better appreciate Chinese culture, and are thinking that 耳濡目染 could improve her Chinese-ness, you will be in the right place.

[lee_yl]

To get into St Marg secondary without affiliation, one needs to score ard 242, whereas affiliated girls can get in at 200?


For Chinese, can pump in tuition $$ to help improve the grades but affiliation discount cannot be bought with $$.

The advantage of going SAP primary under new AL system I suppose is, because many SG kids dislike Chinese and find Chinese very hard to score well (zuo wen/oral/compre etc), like what Floppy said, 耳熟目染, can help the kids to achieve a better AL banding for Chinese. Esp for those aiming for IP, must do well in chinese.

[zac's mum]

I think another consideration is that HWS needs balloting <1km most years. Whereas SMPS 1-2km is confirmed seat, don’t need to worry about balloting at all.

[MerlionInGermany]

While affiliation basically seems like a good safety net, I always think if the sec sch is just so so, that sort of affiliation is not much a a safety net.