Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)

[hypergatak]

When I say rowdy, it’s really rowdy, you won’t believe the stuff they talked about. But my hubby says it’s normal in boys’ school.


My son enjoys school and made many good friends, not to mention quite a number of birthday and play parties too. In terms of homework, though it’s not alot, he is able to cope with Math and Science without tuition. I think the reasons being the teachers provide them with worksheets with challenging questions and also my boy has time in the afternoon to do self-study. He has no problem doing the past years’ exam papers. Importantly, ACS is affiliated to 2 secondary schools, and has ACS Barker to fall back on. Heard that the principal of ACS Barker, who just came on board 1 or 2 years ago, is quite good.

I am not sure how is ACS Chinese standard compared to other schools. But my son’s ex-chinese tutor commented that my son’s Chinese standard is behind the standard of her other students from other schools. I think we parents have to work harder to help them where Chinese is concerned, especially in terms of spoken Chinese. In P4, the weightage of oral Chinese is quite high at 30%.

I hope I have provided some insight for you.

[cambriant]

I think if there's not a lot of homework thats fine. It has to be just sufficient so that the kid knows his work but not overwhelming such that it doesn't leave him anytime to do anything else. As for ACS's Chinese standard, most parents I've talked to say its not as good. Does that mean if you do well in ACS Chinese, you will still do terrible in the exams? Do you feel like the school is doing a good job to get the kids interested in Chinese? You mention the oral Chinese weightage is 40%, wow... that's quite a lot. Does the school help? As in lots of opportunities or role play for the kids? Or are the parents have to seek help from outside?


Yeah, I'm not so crazy about the rowdiness in boys' school, but I guess my husband knows whats its like since he spent both primary and secondary in acs, so if he's fine with that, I think its ok with me too.

I just think ACS seems like a good school for character building and kids that I've spoken to all love the school. Its not all about grades and academics in primary school so perhaps ACS will be great for my son. Then again, I would like him to be challenged somewhat but not overwhelmed to the point where he feels jaded with school or stressed with constant exams. Its a fine line I know, but from what I'm writing, does ACS you know seem like the one I have in mind?

Thanks so much for taking time to answer my queries.. really appreciate it.

[hypergatak]

Hi Cambriant


Sorry to take quite a while to respond. Personally, I am quite against the teaching of Chinese these days. I find that the Chinese syllabus now is alot more difficult than what was taught during my time. Coupled with the fact that most kids are from English speaking background, I am not surprised that they are struggling with Chinese. I think the school do try to get the kids interested in Chinese, but the resentment against Chinese is pretty strong among the boys. So, I don’t blame the school.

[cambriant]

With the new minister of education on the helm, the chinese syllabus and way of teaching is also bound to change. So hopefully they will make it more fun and lively for the kids. But hmm… it doesn’t help that there’s that negative stigma towards the language.


Now that your son is in primary four, are you happy with the amount/quality of work that your child gets? Some parents say that its level is not high enough and not stressful enough. But for me, I think its good if its not so stressful then the kids don’t have to worry so much. But it needs to be sufficient for the kids to perform well. Do you know how the school has been doing for its PSLE in recent years?

Thanks!

[laughingcat]

Hi cambriant, not too sure whether does this info helps.


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/singapores-top-primary-schools

[cambriant]

Thanks laughingcat. I guess its kinda useful though its a couple of years behind. Plus really what I want to know is how the school does on the whole and not how many top students they have.

[laughingcat]

I remembered I read it somewhere in this forum that there is a compilation throughout the years but I can't find the link now. :sad:


From MOE press statement, here is the link. ACS is one of the school that have top students and also one of the school with good progress in PSLE in 2010.

Alternatively, you can scan through the list at http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=16286&start=2470

Hopefully this helps lah.

[South African]

Hi, my DS in P6 now. He loves school.


One of the reasons why I sent my son to ACS is because I believe in an all rounded education. It’s not impt that ACS does not produce top PSLE kids, what’s important is that the school produces happy kids with good social skills and values.

My DS is into competitive sports (one of the reasons why I chose the school) as I believe competitive sports mould character. My DS is highly motivated now, wants to do well (aim for RI), is highly vocal and is socially adapt. A shy person by nature (another reason for ACS), I felt an all boys environment would nurture him to become more inquisitive and be more participative. He also holds leadership positions in the school as well.

Like any other schools, there will always be a share of good/lazy teachers. At the end of the day, the parents need to partner the school in nurturing the kids.

Generally no academic pressure till P6 - by then the boys already understand the importance of PSLE as the teachers kept reminding them & parents too. Assuming your kid goes to University, that’s 16 years of education marathon, so give your kids a break for the first 4 years. What’s more important is the motivation and discipline to do well needs to be inculcated from P1, not the pressure to be band 1 all the time.

Knowing my DS, I let his academic results slipped in P3/P4, (no tuition). But being a competitive sportsman, he gets up each time he is defeated and he is showing improvement now (and he is happy going for tuitions because he wants to do well, not because his parents want him to). Such is the character building from competitive sports.

At the end of the day, I would rather my son be a 240/250 with strong leadership and social skills, than being a 270 (tops) with no social skills and leadership exposure. Of course its a bonus if its both.

But no pressue, think in perspective a top P6 student may not be a top earner or corporate warrior, or business owner.

[South African]

Shame on the big bully!

hypergatak:

jtoh:

[quote=\"ng4145\"]I was at ACS (Pri) transport centre to pick up my son yesterday & I saw this incident.

A lower primay chinese boy was stopped by non-chinese father & son. The father started scolding & shouting at the chinese boy for hurting his son on the face. The poor little boy was shivering with fear & crying uncontrollably & he kept on saying sorry to them. However, the father did not stop his shouting & replied that \"what is there to say sorry now\". Obviously, he did not want to let go & puting all his anger on the poor helpless boy.

After a while, a teacher came. She was trying comfort the boy & calm the angry father. Neverthless, he continued shouting at them. The teacher, however, had to tell him to write a complaint letter to the principal if he insisted to take up the case.

I am sad to withness this incident & felt shameful for the father. He was a big bully! I tried to call the school regarding this incident however, it telehpone line was always engaged.

I've heard of a similar incident happening a couple of years ago too, with an angmo father. Wonder if it's the same bullying father.

My son also had similar experience in ACSP when he was a monitor in P1. He wrote angmoh boy's name on the board for talking before lesson proper and was scolded by the angmoh father. I am surprised that these angmoh parents are so protective.

A few comments about ACSP:
(a) Academically, it is not stressful, hardly any homework. My boy in P4 also does not get much homework up till now.
(b) Discipline-wise, it is not probably not as strict as those Chinese school. Heard that in schools like Aitong, students have to bow and greet teachers, not sure if it's the same for Nanyang.
(c) CCAs wise, lots of choices and my boy is able to get into the CCA that he wanted with much ease, he has tried 3 different types of CCAs so far. I heard it's quite competitive in some schools and the student is required to have some knowledge of the sports/game before he can join.

However, I personally find that the boys are more rowdy, noisy in an all boys school vs co-ed school.[/quote]

[yarex]

Any parent advised on this year registration for Phase 2C at Anglo Chinese Primary for 2012 intake.

Would like to register my son as we are staying within 1km to the school. Last year need balloting, am very anxious if this year will be the same.