Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

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xyun08\" post_id=\"2027405\" time=\"1623913624\" user_id=\"128943:

Hi

Need some advice from fellow parents staying in Fernvale and SK area.
I am going to register my girl in St Nicholas under 2A1 but as everyone knows they usually have ballot at this stage . So now I am looking at my other choices should we fail to be successful for SNGS.

I am staying at Fernvale . Most of the schools around here seem to be new and I am not sure what school I should choose .
The schools within 1km of my house are
1) Fernvale Primary
2) Sengkang Green
3)Fern Green

Which of these schools will fellow parents recommend ? I read that even Seng Kang Green has ballot at 2C stage and is one of the popular choices , and Fernvale Primary now has a MOE kindergarten so I am sure there will be fewer vacancies too.
Should I go for a school with higher chance of getting in (lesser ballot risk) or go for one of the popular schools like SK Green in this area ? Since the schools here are all considered relatively newer so I was wondering is there a need to risk for schools like SK Green ? Is it so much better than the other primary schools in fernvale area?

I was actually looking at Anchor Green which is 1-2km from my place but I read someone said they have a MOE Kindergarten now too so well I guess it will be risky for me to put this as a choice ?

I am really worried if I end up at 2C stage coz most of the schools here seem to be oversubscribed at 2C stage . I don’t want to end up having to wait for MOE to randomly allocate a school for us.
Any advice will be appreciated.
PS: My girl has an interest in dance and going competitive ballet now . Will be good to go to a school with a decent dance society

Thank you in advance !!

It's not a guaranteed that SNGS will ballot at Phase 2A1. However, if it does ballot, SC > 2km will probably be at the highest risk. Just hope for the best.

Among the 3 other schools that you have listed, SK Green is the most popular - guaranteed to ballot for SC < 1km in Phase 2C. Fern Green will probably ballot in Phase 2C and if it's going to be a repeat of last year, it will be for SC < 1km as well (though I suspect SC < 1km has a high chance since it's highly unlikely that everyone who applied last year are SC < 1km). Fernvale will probably be safe for SC < 1km and will probably have enough vacancies carried over to Phase 2CS. TBH which school you choose is a personal choice. These schools are very typical of government schools and SK Green isn't really much better than the others. However, it's the oldest school around Fernvale and has a 'track record' for reference.

Anchor Green is difficult to tell at the moment. It should be clearer once Phase 2A2 is over. The number of applicants from MK (since it doesn't have many other types of 2A2 applicants) will roughly give you an indication of where 2C applicants stand. If it has more than 100 places left for 2C (it won't have many applicants for 2B as well), SC 1-2km should be quite safe. If it has less than 100 places left for 2C (which happens in 2012 to 2014), balloting will probably happen (at what distance or for SC or PR, will depend on actual numbers). Can only wait and see for now.

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Davischew\" post_id=\"2027391\" time=\"1623905447\" user_id=\"132882:

Gawyen\" post_id=\"2027364\" time=\"1623893331\" user_id=\"193295:

Thanks all for the output. High chance I will go for SAJS, considering the \"guaranteed\" journey throughout secondary school and the school culture. My working time is flexible, so I still can manage on this part. Just that the poor boy will need to wake up early in the morning. Haha

Please reconsider, the journey is not worth the sleep and it's for at least 10 years! Though Secondary school is almost guaranteed, it is not considered the \"top school\", so i think any good secondary around your area will be good. JC though affiliated, you need to be getting very good grades, only -2 points.
I would rather you try ballot NCPS, if failed, any school around your place will be good enough.

I beg to differ.

While SASS isn’t one of the top tier schools, it is still among one of the better schools in Singapore. If you wanna compare secondary schools around SK with SASS, besides NCHS, I don’t think any other schools come close to SASS in terms of history and achievements. Their who’s who list of alumni says it all - they have been consistent in producing capable and outstanding students.

[zac's mum]

And to chip in about affiliation to JC, my personal opinion, having -2 points (given free) is a huge deal. Other kids with no affiliation have to either climb very high in their CCA, or take Higher MT and get at least C6, to get -2 bonus points. Not given free like affiliation points.

[Xzienlyiia]

When can we go on waiting list if 2c fails?

[phtthp]

Xzienlyiia\" post_id=\"2027428\" time=\"1623926679\" user_id=\"166811:

When can we go on waiting list if 2c fails?

Wait for Phase 2C registration to be over first, then can submit Wait list to that primary school which u are interested in

[zac's mum]

Xzienlyiia\" post_id=\"2027428\" time=\"1623926679\" user_id=\"166811:

When can we go on waiting list if 2c fails?

You have to contact the particular primary school that you’re interested in, directly.

[mummyvolk]

hi parents, if anyone take the route to rent a hse please than 1 km from the school, do you rent with a tenancy period of 30 months? and with early termination clause, in case you didn’t get a place or intend to move into another hse few months later?

[zac's mum]

mummyvolk\" post_id=\"2027610\" time=\"1624172525\" user_id=\"192657:

hi parents, if anyone take the route to rent a hse please than 1 km from the school, do you rent with a tenancy period of 30 months? and with early termination clause, in case you didn’t get a place or intend to move into another hse few months later?

Read up more here: https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/tenancy-agreement-breaking-lease/

Make sure all your desired special clauses are written into the Tenancy Agreement after negotiation with the landlord.

For private property, the usual lease is 1 year. If 2 years, landlord may give you discount. Many parents I know signed 3-year lease (since they wanted to move in few months earlier, before P1 registration started). This sweetens the deal for the landlord since they don’t need to look for new tenant for 3 whole years. Some willing to give good rental price due to this, depending on the market conditions.

Standard is 1-month notice, either side. But check carefully as most online templates don’t have this. If u want even shorter notice period, maybe u can be upfront during the negotiation phase. If the property is <1km of good school, usually the landlord has dealt with plenty of parents intending to join the ballot. He may understand the need to terminate if balloting fails. Or he may not. If he has a potential non-parent wanting to rent for 2-years straight confirmed, he may pick them instead. It’s a risk unless u speak out to test the waters.

[Yuki Chua]

Hi mums, I would like to know academic feedback/review for Wellington Primary School and Endeavour Primary School.


I am aware that Canberra primary shcool might be best among 3, but it’s competitive.

Searched the latest (2020) primary school ranking, not sure why Wellington primary school ranking had improved(so much) from 177(Y2019) to 76(Y2020). We are still confusing which one better. Unfortunately, there is no open house for us to visit the shcool now.

[mummyvolk]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2027614\" time=\"1624175909\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2027614 time=1624175909 user_id=53606]

mummyvolk\" post_id=\"2027610\" time=\"1624172525\" user_id=\"192657:

Read up more here: https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/tenancy-agreement-breaking-lease/

Make sure all your desired special clauses are written into the Tenancy Agreement after negotiation with the landlord.

For private property, the usual lease is 1 year. If 2 years, landlord may give you discount. Many parents I know signed 3-year lease (since they wanted to move in few months earlier, before P1 registration started). This sweetens the deal for the landlord since they don’t need to look for new tenant for 3 whole years. Some willing to give good rental price due to this, depending on the market conditions.

Standard is 1-month notice, either side. But check carefully as most online templates don’t have this. If u want even shorter notice period, maybe u can be upfront during the negotiation phase. If the property is <1km of good school, usually the landlord has dealt with plenty of parents intending to join the ballot. He may understand the need to terminate if balloting fails. Or he may not. If he has a potential non-parent wanting to rent for 2-years straight confirmed, he may pick them instead. It’s a risk unless u speak out to test the waters.

Thanks zac mum!

Do these parents usually rent a room with lowest rental price first? And later on if ballot successfully than they look for a bigger accommodation? Because if rent start in July, at least 3 months rental will be wasted as unlikely to move in until results are out, or move in Nov-Dec.
move in there