[Central] Primary Schools

[jedamum]

Jessica:

Hi jedamum,

So for my case, chances of getting into Radin Mas Primary School equals to RVPS. Becos Delta Ave is 1-2km within RMPS. Pls advice, thanks.

hi jessica,
RMPS and RVPS sounds vaguely familiar. if i remember correctly, titank is the expert in these two schools. you can find more of their discussion on these schools http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=294&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=705.

[Puffer]

Hi, I’m new in KiasuParents and I’ve just read this thread with great interest. I’m a parent of 2 sons who are currently in RVPS. If anyone would like to find out more about the school, do drop a message in here and I’ll try my best to answer them (but what I’ll say is purely of my own view and experience as a parent of the school).

[winth]

Hi Puffer,


Many thanks for volunteering more info on the school.

Just just you a private message. Really appreciate your help.

Thanks.

[Puffer]

Let me share with you a little of our experience when we went through the 'stress and anxiety' exercise in 2006 (dragon year for our first child).


We stay in the Redhill vicinity and there are quite a handful of schools to choose from. We visited a few of these schools although our minds were more or less narrowed to RVPS, ZDPS, RMPS, or QTPS.

GEPS - Having stayed around the vicinity, GEPS seems the best option as it is the nearest to our house. There are many kids in our neighbourhood studying in the school. And many parents have asked why we didn't send our kid there. My wife did not quite like it because we have seen many of its students loitering the area and in public places i.e. playgrounds and void decks. We somehow do not have great impressions of the school. However, we have great neighbours who swear by the school and believe the school can provide their kids with good education and development. I've heard parents telling me that the school has dedicated teachers. We had good experience when we visited the school for my child's dental checkup during the last sch holidays. The school is friendly and inviting, and their buildings and facilities are clean, airy and spacious. And I know the school has before/after schoolcare.

ZDPS - Many have said good things about the relative-new school in this area. I've seen a parent whose son could easily get into ACS but rather have their child get into a good neighbourhood school (He lost the ballot into RVPS and got into ZDPS instead). The students wear unique uniforms and black sch shoes! Most parents I know opted this school because of its before-after schoolcare, and new buildings/facilites.

QTPS - We went to the school but the P wasn't around then. The school was in a quiet stretch of Margaret Drive. I've a student from the school but as he is not in the top class, his teachers did not really bother about his school work. There seems to be no follow-up or sorts during his 2-week absence from school. I don't want to be bias here and more can be done to find out about the school.

RMPS - It seems the most popular school here. Why? It is considered the top school, one of top neighourhood schools in S'pore. Plus, this area is so crowded with flats! We didn't send our child to the school because of the area surrounding the school, and within the school itself. I think parents who are interested in the school should first visit the school and get a feel first. We asked ourselves the kids must have a good condusive environment for learning. We were lost and stranded in the school. I've heard parents telling us the school performed brilliantly cos the teachers are very dedicated and hardworking - feeding the students with loads of assignments and exercises. I could feel this 'culture' when an ex-teacher of the school was posted to my child's school. Suddenly, my child is doing upper pri questions when he is only in P3.

Why RVPS? - When our kids were in N2, we had already heard people talking about RV being a good school - dedicated to holistic education, in development and character-building etc. First, you must know that RVPS is NOT affiliated to the famous River Valley High. It's a pity, as we've always wanted our kids to be in an affiliated school. The school's environment is condusive, although I must say the vicinity is surrounded by private apartments and condos, resided by mainly foreigners. This explains why the school has quite a number of foreign students - multi-nationals but mainly from PRCs, Indonesians. Foreigners take up about one class' population in a level of say 10 classes in P1. We like the fact that the student's population is mainly Chinese as it does not offer Malay/Tamil as 2nd language in the school (but there is still a very small percentage of Malay/Indian students in RVPS). I think the RV students are generally well-mannered and I don't see these kids loiter around outside schools. I think many come from well-to-do and/or educated families. The teachers esp those teaching lower levels are caring and generally fine, and the school has very 'on' parents in its parent support group.

Months before, we visited these schools on weekdays. At RVPS, we knew it was our top choice and once we made up our minds, we went for it - When we checked on the map, our house was just on the boundary line of 2km! If we were out of 2km, we would not have opted the school, but because it was the dragon year we would expect more than the previous years' applications under Phrase 2C. Fortunately, chances were good as out of about 50 places there were about 70 vying for them. I thought such high percentage success rate is worth the try and true enough we got through! [

[qms]

Hi Puffer!


Thank you very much for your information! Really helpful in our evaluation!

[Puffer]

You are welcome. May I add from my previous post: Every school has its pros and cons. Do not choose the school because your best friends’ kids are in that school, or the school has produced top PSLE students etc. You need to evaluate, apart from academic performance, a few other factors such as distance, school environment and its surrounding, transportation as in logistics arrangement, etc.


In my previous post, all the schools I’ve mentioned are also good schools - it boils down to your priorities as parents. I believe that in every school, there will be very good/dedicated teaching staff, and in every school, even the top schools, there will be some ‘bad hats’ as I may call it. The important thing is whether both you and your child, and care-taker, are comfortable. I drive my kids to and from school everyday, as I’m prepared for it. I want to give them comfortable rides and at the same time, the short journey (within 2km) is also bonding time for us.

[raynreg]

Hi Puffer


Thanks for sharing. I’ve just registered my DD at RVPS this morning. Hope I’ve made the right choice. Do you volunteer for the school since all your kids are there?

[Puffer]

raynreg:

Hi Puffer


Thanks for sharing. I've just registered my DD at RVPS this morning. Hope I've made the right choice. Do you volunteer for the school since all your kids are there?

Please do not regret once your decision is made. Every school is about the same - just whether you're alright with the logistics part (P1 is pm session hope you know that!). Just let me know if you need to find out anything.

I do not have to volunteer for the school as there are many capable parents already there! However, you will see me waiting to fetch my kids after school next year!

[titank]

Hi All,


Just to share that RVPS do offer Malay as a 2nd lanugauge. It does not offer Tamil as 2nd Language. Perhaps there is a small fraction of Malays in RVPS.

Anyway I now just choose RMPS due to I had done PV & also logistic arrangement is easy for me & my parents at a later stage (P3 onward)

[Rex]

Hi Puffer,


Thanks for your great and useful sharing.

Although my DS is still young, but we consider to register him in RV two years later.

We are 1.5km away from the school, we also want to send and pick him back by ourselves. Is there any student care center inside the school? we are working parents, can we send him to school by 7:30am and pick him back by 6:30pm?