Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[zac's mum]

Das Vasudevan\" post_id=\"2071139\" time=\"1655804401\" user_id=\"190678:[quote=\"Das Vasudevan\" post_id=2071139 time=1655804401 user_id=190678]
Hi. Just wanted an opinion. If we are in the current phase 2A . What are our chances of getting in if we live more than 2 km away ?[/quote]

Depends on which school it is.

[Das Vasudevan]

Hi everyone. Both me and my spouse are in a dilemma. I am an alumni member of Henry Park Primary, so my child qualifies for phase 2A. I have also done Parent Volunteer in the school next to my house and completed the 40 hours. So my child also qualifies for phase 2B. Really unsure which to chose. Moreover we stay in Sengkang and Henry Park is in Holland Grove road. What are our chances of getting in if we live more than 2 km away for the current phase 2A? Should forgo Phase 2A and stick to Phase 2B? Confused!! Hope to get some opinions. Thanks!!

[zac's mum]

Das Vasudevan\" post_id=\"2071144\" time=\"1655805903\" user_id=\"190678:[quote=\"Das Vasudevan\" post_id=2071144 time=1655805903 user_id=190678]
Hi everyone. Both me and my spouse are in a dilemma. I am an alumni member of Henry Park Primary, so my child qualifies for phase 2A. I have also done Parent Volunteer in the school next to my house and completed the 40 hours. So my child also qualifies for phase 2B. Really unsure which to chose. Moreover we stay in Sengkang and Henry Park is in Holland Grove road. What are our chances of getting in if we live more than 2 km away for the current phase 2A? Should forgo Phase 2A and stick to Phase 2B? Confused!! Hope to get some opinions. Thanks!![/quote]

There isnt that much of a dilemma (unless u really dont wish your child to travel that far).

Phase 2A comes first. Just put in your application & you will find out in due course whether u get the place (ballot or otherwise, nothing much u can do about it).

If u dont get the place, then go for phase 2B at your <1km school. You also have phase 2C <1km.

I think u just need to decide between how much u love the 2B school & how much u think your child will hate the early travel time.

[Liew Nga Wing]

Das Vasudevan\" post_id=\"2071144\" time=\"1655805903\" user_id=\"190678:[quote=\"Das Vasudevan\" post_id=2071144 time=1655805903 user_id=190678]
Moreover we stay in Sengkang and Henry Park is in Holland Grove road. What are our chances of getting in if we live more than 2 km away for the current phase 2A? Should forgo Phase 2A and stick to Phase 2B? Confused!! Hope to get some opinions. Thanks!![/quote]

For your chance of getting in Henry Park during Phase 2A, you may refer to the follow link on the Phase 2A Projection for Henry Park Primary. For your info also, there is a direct bus 165 from Hougang Central to Henry Park Primary.

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/bukit-timah-schools-phase-2a-projections/

[phtthp]

Das Vasudevan\" post_id=\"2071144\" time=\"1655805903\" user_id=\"190678:[quote=\"Das Vasudevan\" post_id=2071144 time=1655805903 user_id=190678]
Hi everyone. Both me and my spouse are in a dilemma. I am an alumni member of Henry Park Primary, so my child qualifies for phase 2A. I have also done Parent Volunteer in the school next to my house and completed the 40 hours. So my child also qualifies for phase 2B. Really unsure which to chose. Moreover we stay in Sengkang and Henry Park is in Holland Grove road. What are our chances of getting in if we live more than 2 km away for the current phase 2A? Should forgo Phase 2A and stick to Phase 2B? Confused!! Hope to get some opinions. Thanks!![/quote]

Since u are already a Phase 2A alumni member of Henry Park primary, just enrol your boy first. Whether need to ballot more than 2 km under Phase 2A, u will know in due time.

Sengkang is very far, from the location of Henry Park primary. Check first,
whether got any school bus go to Sengkang, your area.

There are 2 outcome.

a) if no school bus goes to Sengkang, then how is your son going to school everyday ?

Can't expect him to take public bus, because he is only Primary 1 and the distance is much too far, very tiring ! Unless you or your spouse intend to drive him everyday to school, come rain or shine.


b) if got school bus,
find out what time they reach Sengkang area. Clarify with the school bus operaror, from Henry Park. Maybe they come around 5.45 am, to fetch your kid (in Sengkang) ?

That means as a parent, you will need to wake up 5.15 am, just to prepare breakfast (eg. milk + toasted bread with jam) for your son, and to bring him down to board the school bus, for safety (security) reasons.

Around 5.45 am, many people still sleeping, the road is very quiet. You think, can u (parent) tahan waking up so early 5.15am every morning when the sky is still dark and many people still sleeping , Monday to Friday, be it rain or shine, for the next 6 years of your kid's primary school education ?

===========================

Let's not talk about your K2 child.
Let's do a simple test on yourself (parent), first.

The test is :-

How long,
do u think, u can tahan waking up 5.15 am so early, everyday ?

To answer,

try out this \"experiment\" or trial run or simulation test below,
try out for one week first,
just to have a feel of how you (parent) feel.

1) set your alarm clock, to wake up 5.15 am, in the morning.

2) from 5.15 am to 5.35 am,
prepare yourself a simple breakfast : drink milk + eat toasted bread.


3) Assuming
that you need to go office to work,
that means you are Not a stay-at-home parent,

after waking up at 5.15 am, what time must u leave your house latest, to go to work (office) daily ?


4) below is an important question.
only u yourself (parent) can answer this question.

If by waking up 5.15 am so early, just to prepare breakfast for your kid, before kid catch school bus,

And

By the time u leave your Sengkang house to report to work,

a) will you be tired / exhausted, even before reaching your office to work, due to \"deprived\" or insufficient sleep ?


b) once u reach your office,

Because

you wake up so early 5.15 am,

due to lack of sleep,

will it affect your state of mind (parents), at work ?
Eg. Tired,
don't have a mind to think clearly at work, due to \"deprived\" sleep everyday, waking up at 5.15 am.


c) if you have a helper (maid) at home

OR

No maid,
but if your spouse is not working, perhaps can tahan for a short period. But, to do it continuously for the next 6 years of your kid's entire primary school education journey, waking up 5.15 am everyday : very tough!

Somewhere along the way, u will feel like throwing in the towel !


Thus,
one possible solution is :-

If this year, Henry Park primary school indeed need to ballot for Phase 2A living more than 2 km and assume that your son (SC) managed to get a slot balloted in successfully, perhaps u can still send him to HPPS up to end of (Primary 2 or 3), assuming that still got school bus to come and fetch him from Sengkang,

And then
when come to end of (P2 or P3),

if really cannot tahan anymore, waking up 5.15 am, can consider transfer him over to a nearby school in Sengkang neighbiurhood.



============================

Of course, there is always a last resort. That is, to rent out your current place in Sengkang, and with the rental income collected, you can in turn rent another house much closer to Henry Park primary.

[SG_KP1]

Just to confirm, which school are you targeting in 2B? Nan Chiau Primary or something that has guaranteed entry in 2B? Since you mentioned 40 hours, I assume it is something with guaranteed entry?


Keep in mind excess seats after 2A will be split 33% / 67% instead of 50% / 50% this year. Quick glance I don’t think this would change things for any school besides Nan Chiau but not 100% sure.

[floppy]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2071160\" time=\"1655817633\" user_id=\"188234:

Just to confirm, which school are you targeting in 2B? Nan Chiau Primary or something that has guaranteed entry in 2B? Since you mentioned 40 hours, I assume it is something with guaranteed entry?
…

NCPS is minimum 80hrs. Hence, you can rule that out. Other than NCPS, all other schools in SK have not even come close to their Phase 2B vacancies. Thus, if he / she has Phase 2B priority in SK, it’s a guaranteed.

[ChiefKiasu]

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2071157\" time=\"1655812406\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2071157 time=1655812406 user_id=195250]
For your chance of getting in Henry Park during Phase 2A, you may refer to the follow link on the Phase 2A Projection for Henry Park Primary. For your info also, there is a direct bus 165 from Hougang Central to Henry Park Primary.

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/bukit-timah-schools-phase-2a-projections/[/quote]

Thank you @Liew.

Actually, I feel you are in a pretty good position @Das. You have a moderate chance of getting your child into Henry Park in Phase 2A, which features some slight balloting for those staying >2km away. That does mean you will have to manage some challenging logistics problem as highlighted by @phttp.

I'm not sure what school you are planning for in Phase 2B, but at least you have that as a buffer against the dreaded Phase 2C.

[SG_KP1]

floppy\" post_id=\"2071162\" time=\"1655819446\" user_id=\"97579:

NCPS is minimum 80hrs. Hence, you can rule that out. Other than NCPS, all other schools in SK have not even come close to their Phase 2B vacancies. Thus, if he / she has Phase 2B priority in SK, it’s a guaranteed.

I believe Sengkang Green in 2020 would be tighter under the new rules splitting seats 33% / 67% vs 50% / 50%. Should still make it and spaces consumed through 2A (primarily Phase 1) could be less this year.

But one cannot just quick glance at the past results and since no ballot = no risk. The shift of spaces between 2B and 2C has been missed a time or two before here.

[Liew Nga Wing]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2071191\" time=\"1655857778\" user_id=\"188234:

I believe Sengkang Green in 2020 would be tighter under the new rules splitting seats 33% / 67% vs 50% / 50%.

Do you mean 2022 instead of 2020?