Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[floppy]

Falala\" post_id=\"2058104\" time=\"1644463416\" user_id=\"189413:

dear kiasuparents, i am really stuck and hope to seek some advice. my girl is from a mixed marriage (chi/mly) and i intend to let her take malay as her mother tongue subject as i am able to guide her better. my husband's chinese is half past six! i also wouldn't want to rely on others to teach her mandarin. so we realised that the school nearest to us - pei chun don't offer malay. so my next consideration is first toa payoh but i heard that the kids there are rough and wild? i am not sure how true.. so hope that someone can shed some light on this. doesn't help that my in-laws like to say that there are many malays in first toa payoh (i think they forgot that i am a malay..). but i saw the website, the videos from first toa payoh and i kinda like the vibes from the school as it feels very inclusive with kids of all races. appreciate if any parent can advise. thank you.

My 5cents:
1. As per zac's mum comment, Pei Chun is a SAP school. Therefore, P1 students start with Higher Chinese. If your kid is reasonably exposed to CL and is doing reasonably ok with CL in her preschool, shouldn't be a problem to continue (at least for P1 to P4).

2. As with most primary schools in Toa Payoh (except for PCPS and CHIJ TP), most of their students come from the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, First Toa Payoh has a disproportionately higher number of disadvantaged children; thus, their (probably unwarranted) reputation.

3. Lastly, I will pick Chinese over Malay, parents' language skills aside. An important aim of the education system is to imbue the child with an enduring core of competencies to thrive in the 21st century. Fortunately, or unfortunately, an important player in the 21st century is China. As a country that relies heavily on trade, we will, sooner or later, have to learn or understand Chinese in order to better appreciate or communicate with our major trading partner. With languages, it's always easier to start young (and for the Chinese language, that's even more so).

4. My personal preference would be Pei Chun - Kheng Cheng - First Toa Payoh. Assuming you don't want to take the balloting risk, you can consider Kheng Cheng over Pei Chun (may still ballot < 1km but will be lower risk).

[Aksz84]

Dear Parents,


Just a quick check. Any parents who kids are in Pathlight now and is intending to take Mother Tongue (Chinese) PSLE?

Wanna check is there and my recommendations on enrichment/tuition for learning Mother Tongue based on MOE curriculum?

My boy is in mainstream P1 now. But is in the progress of getting into Pathlight.

Thanks in advance!

[zac's mum]

Aksz84\" post_id=\"2063667\" time=\"1649204137\" user_id=\"150582:

Dear Parents,

Just a quick check. Any parents who kids are in Pathlight now and is intending to take Mother Tongue (Chinese) PSLE?

Wanna check is there and my recommendations on enrichment/tuition for learning Mother Tongue based on MOE curriculum?

My boy is in mainstream P1 now. But is in the progress of getting into Pathlight.

Thanks in advance!

I believe Pathlight students do not take MT lessons at all, neither do they sit for MT at PSLE. They will be assigned a MT grade based on their exemption.

https://www.pathlight.org.sg/programmes/primary-school

[Aksz84]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2063679\" time=\"1649210510\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2063679 time=1649210510 user_id=53606]
I believe Pathlight students do not take MT lessons at all, neither do they sit for MT at PSLE. They will be assigned a MT grade based on their exemption.

https://www.pathlight.org.sg/programmes/primary-school[/quote]

Thanks for the reply.
Wondering if Pathlight students still able to get into mainstream Sec after PSLE without MT?

[zac's mum]

Aksz84\" post_id=\"2063707\" time=\"1649223095\" user_id=\"150582:

Thanks for the reply.
Wondering if Pathlight students still able to get into mainstream Sec after PSLE without MT?

Should be able to. I believe the MT exemption will continue in secondary school and beyond.

[Lighty]

Hello mummies,


I’m torn between valour & Punggol green,
Any feedback on these 2 ?

[Bwain]

Hi All,


Need some advise, planning for my boy’s primary registration for next year. We will be within 1 km of Marie Stella and wife is alumni for Ai Tong, conflicted on which to choose. Some of our consideration are:
- Probability of getting into the school
- Academic stress
- Benefit one has over the other

Appreciate your advice and experience. Thanks in advance.

[ChiefKiasu]

Bwain\" post_id=\"2065327\" time=\"1650867013\" user_id=\"197934:

Hi All,

Need some advise, planning for my boy's primary registration for next year. We will be within 1 km of Marie Stella and wife is alumni for Ai Tong, conflicted on which to choose. Some of our consideration are:
- Probability of getting into the school
- Academic stress
- Benefit one has over the other

Appreciate your advice and experience. Thanks in advance.

I would think your choice would be simple. Just take advantage of your wife's status and go for Ai Tong.
Ai Tong may require balloting in Phase 2A. In the rare chance that you might get balloted out, you can try for Maris Stella in Phase 2C.
If you have asked this question a year ago, I would recommend that you do PV in Ai Tong to get to know the school better and get a chance for Phase 2B. But it is too late now for that since you will be bidding in June this year.

[Mom222]

Anyone knows about St Joseph Junior please?

[Bwain]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2065331\" time=\"1650869601\" user_id=\"3:

I would think your choice would be simple. Just take advantage of your wife's status and go for Ai Tong.
Ai Tong may require balloting in Phase 2A. In the rare chance that you might get balloted out, you can try for Maris Stella in Phase 2C.
If you have asked this question a year ago, I would recommend that you do PV in Ai Tong to get to know the school better and get a chance for Phase 2B. But it is too late now for that since you will be bidding in June this year.

Thank you!