7 New IP schools
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Borderline passes are asked to leave. No 2nd chances are given. The school does not want to jeopardise your future, and risk having you graduate with nothing at all.
The "culling" is done early, in Sec 1 and 2 to give students the best chance to succeed. If not in IP, then in 'O’s.
I think you need at least a B in every subject. And given that the curriculum is somewhat challenging for each level, a B equals an A in the normal ‘O’ level program… roughly. In total, you still need to be a good student to stay in IP. If you’re not as good as the straight As in IP, you must be at least as good as the straight As in ‘O’ levels.
At least that is what I have observed. -
INNOVATE:
Can i understand further - when you say they are NOT allowed... do you mean the Ps dont allow or MOE dont allow you to register? Txs.vicki:
[quote=\"INNOVATE\"]
IP students are not allowed to sit for 0-level as a private candiate. If unsure whether IP is suitable, best is to take the 0-level route and proceed to jc later.
Literally, there's no difference.
Standing order from MOE, with the rare permission from principals, school candiates are not allowed to sit for more than 3 subjects.[/quote]Oh ic!! Txs for informing.... i actually tot 'O's are quite impt too!! and was thinking maybe nex time get my ds to the IP route whilst taking 'O's privately.
Guess i have to rethink... -
Chenonceau:
Wondering - if you start S3 at a new school for Os, wouldnt you missed out certain aspect of the S1 and S2 lessons which the normal O level route schools take?Borderline passes are asked to leave. No 2nd chances are given. The school does not want to jeopardise your future, and risk having you graduate with nothing at all.
The \"culling\" is done early, in Sec 1 and 2 to give students the best chance to succeed. If not in IP, then in 'O's.
I think you need at least a B in every subject. And given that the curriculum is somewhat challenging for each level, a B equals an A in the normal 'O' level program... roughly. In total, you still need to be a good student to stay in IP. If you're not as good as the straight As in IP, you must be at least as good as the straight As in 'O' levels.
At least that is what I have observed.
Or are all S1 n S2 lesson structures same - irregardless of IP or not? -
vicki:
The curriculum for each level is more challenging. It is therefore different. Some simpler aspects of topics are not covered because you assume that the kids already know. There is a fair amount of enriched content.Chenonceau:
And given that the curriculum is somewhat challenging for each level.
Or are all S1 n S2 lesson structures same - irregardless of IP or not?
This is why it is kinder to ask those who cannot keep up to leave early. No second chances are given. -
Hi Chenonceau, which schools have you observed in which the borderline cases are asked to leave? I was given the impression that borderline cases would be given special attention to bring them up to par, rather than asked to leave. Thanks.
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jtoh:
Hi Chenonceau, which schools have you observed in which the borderline cases are asked to leave? I was given the impression that borderline cases would be given special attention to bring them up to par, rather than asked to leave. Thanks.
Happened to 2 girls I know. Can't tell you which school lah... Borderline 65 is different from borderline 50. Borderline 65, you are helped but if you score less than 50 then you are asked to leave. Both girls left at the end of Sec 1.
It isn't about being heartless. It is really to help the girls. The judgment call involves considering the risks/benefits of IP for girls who can't keep up. If you are borderline pass all the way to J2, you jeopardise your As. Better to go 'O' level route and still have your 'O's. -
Chenonceau:
There shouldn't be alot of such cases. I would expect most students that have psle t-score of 250 and above to get their A levels easily.jtoh:
Hi Chenonceau, which schools have you observed in which the borderline cases are asked to leave? I was given the impression that borderline cases would be given special attention to bring them up to par, rather than asked to leave. Thanks.
Happened to 2 girls I know. Can't tell you which school lah... Borderline 65 is different from borderline 50. Borderline 65, you are helped but if you score less than 50 then you are asked to leave. Both girls left at the end of Sec 1.
It isn't about being heartless. It is really to help the girls. The judgment call involves considering the risks/benefits of IP for girls who can't keep up. If you are borderline pass all the way to J2, you jeopardise your As. Better to go 'O' level route and still have your 'O's. -
WeiHan:
There shouldn't be alot of such cases. I would expect most students that have psle t-score of 250 and above to get their A levels easily.[/quote]No... not a lot. Both were DSA cases. Champion sports girls who didn't make the cut off by a pretty long shot. Since then, I think schools have tightened up on DSA too... lower cut off but still a discriminating cut off. This prevents the trauma I saw the girls go through. It's like being expelled.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"jtoh\"]Hi Chenonceau, which schools have you observed in which the borderline cases are asked to leave? I was given the impression that borderline cases would be given special attention to bring them up to par, rather than asked to leave. Thanks.
Happened to 2 girls I know. Can't tell you which school lah... Borderline 65 is different from borderline 50. Borderline 65, you are helped but if you score less than 50 then you are asked to leave. Both girls left at the end of Sec 1.
It isn't about being heartless. It is really to help the girls. The judgment call involves considering the risks/benefits of IP for girls who can't keep up. If you are borderline pass all the way to J2, you jeopardise your As. Better to go 'O' level route and still have your 'O's.
I remember being very angry. For 2 weeks leading up to the exams, the girls were made to train up to 8pm at night and from 9am to 7pm on Sat and Sun. My daughter cried because she had no time to study. Because she cried, I defended her and I made clear to the school that she was not going to train those crazy hours. The other girl in her CCA did not have a Tigress Mother like me to defend her cub. She failed half the subjects with below 50. More importantly, she was below the 65 cutoff in BOTH English and Math. She was asked to leave.
What made me really mad was that the girl had also cried in order to be allowed to study... but some other interfering and powerful parent (who for some reason wanted badly for the team to win gold) bullied her into submission. My daughter was pressured too. The parent told my dauhter \"If you refuse to train, you may not be allowed to compete next year and your friends may not like you anymore. They might ostracise you.\"
My response was \"Oh dear! You better train.\" My husband's response was \"Try us!\" and then he told me \"You need to go face that parent and protect my daughter. Don't be a chicken.\"
In the end, I asked my daughter what she wanted. \"You want to study? Or you want to train? Because I think Mommy can accept an academic failure this once because of your training. But you must decide.\" She wanted to study and so I defended her choice.
I feel a bit scared now that I think back. I was actually ready to accept that my daughter fail because I didn't know about the seriousness of this culling business. We were lucky she chose to study. We were lucky that I decided to fight for her. Else, the one being asked to leave, could well be my daughter.
Then again... it wouldn't do for the 250+ student to begin to think it's in the pocket. Lots of things happen in adolescence. Those who choose IP need to know that borderline is not enough to stay in IP. It's not a case of you make it into IP, you're made for 6 years. Cannot be complacent. Must maintain standard of PSLE through the 6 years.
I still think the school is an excellent school, and my daughter had 4 years of fun there. Work hard. Play hard. Even in good schools, mistakes happen. The Teacher-in-Charge (who was herself very new) left the school the year after and the administration of the CCA was much improved, and for the 3 years after, there were no such cases. And the bullying parent volunteer was also absent from practices the year after. She was almost camping in on practices the year before. -
Chenonceau:
No... not a lot. Both were DSA cases. Champion sports girls who didn't make the cut off by a pretty long shot. Since then, I think schools have tightened up on DSA too... lower cut off but still a discriminating cut off. This prevents the trauma I saw the girls go through. It's like being expelled.
There shouldn't be alot of such cases. I would expect most students that have psle t-score of 250 and above to get their A levels easily.WeiHan:
[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
Happened to 2 girls I know. Can't tell you which school lah... Borderline 65 is different from borderline 50. Borderline 65, you are helped but if you score less than 50 then you are asked to leave. Both girls left at the end of Sec 1.
It isn't about being heartless. It is really to help the girls. The judgment call involves considering the risks/benefits of IP for girls who can't keep up. If you are borderline pass all the way to J2, you jeopardise your As. Better to go 'O' level route and still have your 'O's.
I remember being very angry. For 2 weeks leading up to the exams, the girls were made to train up to 8pm at night and from 9am to 7pm on Sat and Sun. My daughter cried because she had no time to study. Because she cried, I defended her and I made clear to the school that she was not going to train those crazy hours. The other girl in her CCA did not have a Tigress Mother like me to defend her cub. She failed half the subjects with below 50. More importantly, she was below the 65 cutoff in BOTH English and Math. She was asked to leave.
What made me really mad was that the girl had also cried in order to be allowed to study... but some other interfering and powerful parent (who for some reason wanted badly for the team to win gold) bullied her into submission. My daughter was pressured too. The parent told my dauhter \"If you refuse to train, you may not be allowed to compete next year and your friends may not like you anymore. They might ostracise you.\"
My response was \"Oh dear! You better train.\" My husband's response was \"Try us!\" and then he told me \"You need to go face that parent and protect my daughter. Don't be a chicken.\"
In the end, I asked my daughter what she wanted. \"You want to study? Or you want to train? Because I think Mommy can accept an academic failure this once because of your training. But you must decide.\" She wanted to study and so I defended her choice.
I feel a bit scared now that I think back. I was actually ready to accept that my daughter fail because I didn't know about the seriousness of this culling business. We were lucky she chose to study. We were lucky that I decided to fight for her. Else, the one being asked to leave, could well be my daughter.
Then again... it wouldn't do for the 250+ student to begin to think it's in the pocket. Lots of things happen in adolescence. Those who choose IP need to know that borderline is not enough to stay in IP. It's not a case of you make it into IP, you're made for 6 years. Cannot be complacent. Must maintain standard of PSLE through the 6 years.
I still think the school is an excellent school, and my daughter had 4 years of fun there. Work hard. Play hard. Even in good schools, mistakes happen. The Teacher-in-Charge (who was herself very new) left the school the year after and the administration of the CCA was much improved, and for the 3 years after, there were no such cases. And the bullying parent volunteer was also absent from practices the year after. She was almost camping in on practices the year before.[/quote]Thanks Chenonceau. Good thing your dd had supportive parents. But it is scary to think that if you had given in, your dd may well have been the one asked to leave.
Did the school make it clear from the start that they would be asking the underperforming students to leave? It seems rather unfair otherwise. If the students were far from the COP to begin with, and made to practise such long hours, it makes it doubly hard for them to do well in the exams. If that's the case, then the DSA sports girls would do better to focus on studies rather than sports. -
Jtoh, the cut offs were communicated. But you know… You always think there might be some 2nd chance. At least, I myself underestimated the school’s determination to keep standards high. That’s why I want to sound this warning to parents. It’s dangerous to assume that there will be a 2nd chance. If you get a 2nd chance, it is good. Don’t count on it. It’s safer to assume no 2nd chance.
Kindness dictates that the school ask students to leave if they assess that the child is not keeping up… No matter the circumstances. Never mind that the child failed because of too much training. The black and white report card shows that the child cannot keep up.
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