"branded" sch vs neighbourhood sch

[fatshrek]

diff people, diff teacher, diff perspective.. im a teacher from a neighbourhood school..

[janet88]

My son’s P1 & P4 teachers were great - dedicated and really passionate about teaching. In fact, his EL teacher in P4 gave me advice on what to expect in upper primary. I was hoping she could follow up in P5 as his EL teacher too but she is now teaching Maths.

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

My son's P1 & P4 teachers were great - dedicated and really passionate about teaching. In fact, his EL teacher in P4 gave me advice on what to expect in upper primary. I was hoping she could follow up in P5 as his EL teacher too but she is now teaching Maths.

Neighbourhood schooL?

[mint]

Initially, I was concerned with my son attending neighbourhood school but now I am actually glad.


Unlike in "reputable" schools which have very high expectations on results…I don’t want to pressure my children at such a young age and put them off in learning. I believe learning should be fun to begin with and because neighbourhood schools are generally not too pressurised with school work. My children could learn so many other enrichment lessons outside of school, from Violin, Fencing to Speech and Drama.I wish my children to be all rounder and not just academically inclined.

However, having said that, when it is time for my son to go to a secondary school; I will definitely choose a "reputable" secondary school. At that age, it is the "right time" for them to learn how to cope with stress, heavy work load and pressure which they will face in adult hood.

But mean time, my kids are not rushing to grow up too soon. They are happy and active kids I must say.

[KSP]

jtoh:

What would qualify as a 'branded' school?


Schools with traditionally strong PSLE results (neighbourhood or otherwise)?
Or schools with rich histories and traditions (eg. ACS, MGS, NYPS etc)?
Or GEP/SAP schools (eg. Tao Nan, RGPS, Rosyth etc)?

It would be subjective to define a 'qualified branded' school.

A simple method I use to define would be those schools' exam paper sold are branded schools. At least it won't go wrong.

[janet88]

Chenonceau:

janet_lee88:

My son's P1 & P4 teachers were great - dedicated and really passionate about teaching. In fact, his EL teacher in P4 gave me advice on what to expect in upper primary. I was hoping she could follow up in P5 as his EL teacher too but she is now teaching Maths.

Neighbourhood schooL?

No. Popular school within walking distance.

[Mrsbongz]

for me, to a certain degree, i also do not believe in branding for primary schools.. of course if a particular school consistently produces cohorts (not just a handful of students) with very good results, they should be recognised. But honestly, there aren;t that many.. and for all I know, may not suit my son's learning style.


For a child at such a young age, the environment and values are much more important. Children spend so much time in school and pick up alot of their teachers and friends on acceptable behaviour, attitude towards working hard, concepts on money etc.

We had the choice to try balloting for the popular schools within walking dist, or dh's school a 20min drive away. We went to observe the behaviour of the kids before we decided that braving the terrible traffic was worth it.

[dramamama70]

What about secondary school? Branded/elite or good neighbourhood school? I was talking to my husband last night about potential school choice for my son who’s taking his PSLE this year. Judging from his results last year and CA1 this year he might (we hope) qualify for a branded secondary school. I want my son to go to a branded sec school if he qualifies because academically he would have access to better teachers, peers etc. Of course "better" is completely subjective and those are my assumptions only.


My husband does not agree. His main concern is he doesn’t want our kids to go to an "elite" school because it is where "elitism" breeds. He thinks if our son (or any of our kids) can do well academically, they’ll do well even in good neighbourhood schools.

I tend to agree with him but I can’t help but feel like the plus side to going to a branded sec school is more than it’s negative side.

[sleepy]

My dd in a somewhat branded school. School is totally switched off le. 1 whole term I only see 1 piece of Science worksheet :!:


And school’s motto is no streaming & no supplementary classes regardless of results, definitely following MOE’s ‘teach less’ to the core

So parents must be prepared to ‘pay more’ to send kids to external enrichments or ‘nag more’ to get kids to do assessment books at home

[Chenonceau]

dramamama70:

What about secondary school? Branded/elite or good neighbourhood school? I was talking to my husband last night about potential school choice for my son who's taking his PSLE this year. Judging from his results last year and CA1 this year he might (we hope) qualify for a branded secondary school. I want my son to go to a branded sec school if he qualifies because academically he would have access to better teachers, peers etc. Of course \"better\" is completely subjective and those are my assumptions only.


My husband does not agree. His main concern is he doesn't want our kids to go to an \"elite\" school because it is where \"elitism\" breeds. He thinks if our son (or any of our kids) can do well academically, they'll do well even in good neighbourhood schools.

I tend to agree with him but I can't help but feel like the plus side to going to a branded sec school is more than it's negative side.

It is true that the kids pick up an elitist attitude. I had a tough time counterbalancing this at home. However, the kids get access to many opportunities for growth and development. Iron sharpens iron, and there is a diveristy of talent development programs because there is enough talent to pool together and teach together. There are Math, Science, Humanities acceleration programs. There are leadership programs where girls are sent to USA to attend leadership seminars... The growth opportunities are tremendous in a branded secondary school.

I do believe that values are taught at home, even though there were moments where I positively despaired at The Daughter, asking myself what I had done wrong that she would turn out so arrogant and self-serving. In my disappointment, I had even told her that she was despicable in her self-centredness and that she was nothing but a leech and a parasite who took the best that the nation had to give, for herself, not caring a whit for others.

It took almost all of secondary school but she SEEMS to have bloomed into a woman of grace, gentleness, humility and compassion. It took A LOT of effort though.

All said and done, I do reckon that if the parents want to badly enough, you CAN counterbalance the effects of elitism... and teach the fruits of the spirit quite successfully.

The teachers aren't necessarily better though. But the curriculum is strong. There are one or 2 very ambitious ones who see the girls as a passport to their own promotions... and there was one who taught NOTHING the whole year, but no one knew because the girls in that class were really very good in that subject already. No need to teach.