Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[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.

[zac's mum]

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1958247\" time=\"1578567538\" user_id=\"2964:

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.

Safety net is to catch the kid in case he/she turns out not to be the “can study” kind. Like mine lor.

If can study kind then can use T score go to any better secondary school mah.

What puzzles me is those affiliated secondary schools with high COP. That’s not a safety net at all.

[MerlionInGermany]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1958251\" time=\"1578568782\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1958251 time=1578568782 user_id=53606]

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1958247\" time=\"1578567538\" user_id=\"2964:

Safety net is to catch the kid in case he/she turns out not to be the “can study” kind. Like mine lor.

If can study kind then can use T score go to any better secondary school mah.

What puzzles me is those affiliated secondary schools with high COP. That’s not a safety net at all.

Hm... how should I put it? Say Manjusri 188. If you are from the Maha B and you score 199, and then go back to Manjusri. Vs, if you are from another pri sch and score 199, while you cant get into Manjursi and end up in another school, it doesn’t make any difference at all. So such a safety net is like no safety net.

[zac's mum]

MerlionInGermany\" post_id=\"1958259\" time=\"1578573216\" user_id=\"2964:

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1958251\" time=\"1578568782\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1958251 time=1578568782 user_id=53606]

Hm... how should I put it? Say Manjusri 188. If you are from the Maha B and you score 199, and then go back to Manjusri. Vs, if you are from another pri sch and score 199, while you cant get into Manjursi and end up in another school, it doesn’t make any difference at all. So such a safety net is like no safety net.

It’s more like this:

If from Maha Bodhi and score 199, then you are free to go another school that accepts 199 score.

Safety net is for those from Maha Bodhi who score 188 lah. Can go Manjusri with 188. Cos I don’t think they can find another school willing to taking them in with 188...