Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[thevocationalmommy]

Hi everyone,


My son is registering for Pri 1 this year and we are trying to decide between SJIJ and ACSJ. The plan all along was to register him in SJIJ via Phase 2b as I am Catholic. However, we have been told that ACS, in general, is stronger in terms of supporting children who are differently abled.

Some history about my son - the development paeds we saw at 3.5 years old suggested he may suffer from DCD (aka dyspraxia) and visuo-spatial processing issues. He has since benefited greatly from weekly occupational therapy and educational therapy to the extent that he has caught up with his peers at school. While he struggles with written work, he has a generally good attitude towards learning and learns well when there is an element of storytelling and dramatisation. His condition is very mild so no concerns with a mainstream school, just that he learns much quicker in a supportive and small groups environment.

Would anyone with any experience especially parents with similar higher needs children in SJIJ and ACSJ be able to give me any feedback on either schools in terms of supporting these children?

For ACSJ we will have to bank on Phase 2C as we have no affiliations, but we are in the 1-2 km category which likely would go into balloting. So I’m trying to assess whether we should take the risk if ACSJ is significantly stronger in terms of support for my child.

Thanks so much in advance for your advice!

[Sylvia_lawrance]

Hi Chief and Kiasu Parents Members

I am in dilemma and hoping to seek advice.

I have 2 Singaporeans kids, son registering P1 in 2027 and daughter registering P1 in 2029. We are currently renting with contract due February 2026 where we can rent / buy somewhere else to be near schools.

I am currently staying in Sin Ming within 1km of Ai Tong and 2km of Catholic High. Both parents no alumni and not community leaders.

At first my plan was to move in between Kuo Chuan and Yang Zheng 1km zone and apply for PV in 2026. Now considering 2 BTOs TOP upcoming in Bishan and MK in Yang Zheng, I started to worry my plan may not be good.

What should I do?
Option 1: consider other location and primary school.
Potentially Anderson? Do you have any other co-ed school with good character building, good values and not rowdy to recommend?

Option 2: apply PV for KC/YZ and inform them of the move (is it possible?). If not accepted, move near Anderson and apply PV?

Option 3: any recommendation?

Thank you so much!

[zac's mum]

@Sylvia_lawrance

Apply for PV at Kuo Chuan first. In your application, indicate that you are willing to move <1km for better balloting chance. Bear in mind 2B u will be competing with Presbyterian church members. Heard that Kuo Chuan is a good holistic school & has safety net affiliation all the way till JC if u happen to need it.

Alternatively, if u don’t mind your son starting P1 in afternoon session (some don’t mind kids waking up later, provided u have caregiver at home to settle the logistics), I think Maris Stella will be easy to get in due to their temporary moving (note your registration address should be <1km of the Mt Vernon site, and then caregiver just bring kid take mrt down. Girl can enter with sibling priority in 2029.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/maris-stella-high-school-primary-coed-morning-afternoon-sessions-parents-teachers-4319281?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_12082024_cna

[Happycafe]

This post is deleted!

[Sylvia_lawrance]

@zac-s-mum thank you so much!

[polaipoqu]

i everyone,

I’d love to hear your opinions about a few SAP schools (given all the famous GEP schools are super difficult to get in). We’re planning to move and volunteer to qualify for the Phase 2B round and have shortlisted a few schools:

Red Swastika
Pei Chun
MBS
Hong Wen
Poi Ching

Could you share your thoughts on the differences between these schools in terms of culture, academic focus, or stress levels?

I’d really appreciate your advice as we navigate this decision. Thank you so much in advance!

[thebottomsupblog]

Feeling lost about Primary 1? You’re not alone.

• Choosing a school is hard, especially when everyone has an opinion
• Starting P1 is a big change, even for confident kids
• Pocket money, routines, resilience: small habits make a big difference

Join the FREE KiasuParents Huddle webinar in June 2025!

Find out more https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/activities/kiasu-parents-huddle-primary-1-prep-how-to-choose-a-school-and-ease-the-transition

[tjunjie2025]

@thebottomsupblog
Yeah i think these articles here https://www.stbbsg.com/subject-guides can also shed some light for parents for primary school.
Hope it helps!

[thebottomsupblog]

@tjunjie2025 Feel free to share some tips directly in here as well, and we’ll see if we can get a conversation going on this!

[tjunjie2025]

@thebottomsupblog yeah surely. will be glad to do that too!