Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[psmissyou]

Me too. I was from canossa but comtemplating putting my child in poi ching which is near my place.


not too sure how to go about choosing…

[Ang Mo Joe]

I'm a foreigner (non-PR) with a 6 year old ready for Primary 1. I'm very intersted in giving my son a Singapore education but am currently faced with two options: 1. take whatever school is left over in Phase 3 after all Singaporeans, PRs, etc. get assigned to their top choices, or 2. pay for an international school and give up on the local school option. Advice? How can I determine whether any given school that is only subscribed to 50% of capacity is an \"overlooked gem\" or an \"unmitigated disaster\"? I live in Marine Parade area and am hoping for spaces left in Tanjong Katong. :?

[ChiefKiasu]

Ang Mo Joe:

I'm a foreigner (non-PR) with a 6 year old ready for Primary 1. I'm very intersted in giving my son a Singapore education but am currently faced with two options: 1. take whatever school is left over in Phase 3 after all Singaporeans, PRs, etc. get assigned to their top choices, or 2. pay for an international school and give up on the local school option. Advice? How can I determine whether any given school that is only subscribed to 50% of capacity is an \"overlooked gem\" or an \"unmitigated disaster\"? I live in Marine Parade area and am hoping for spaces left in Tanjong Katong. :?

Unfortunately, schools in the Marine Parade area will not normally have any space left over for Phase 3 enrollment. You will have to look for schools in the http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/geylang. http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/bedok, or http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/hougangl areas.

[Ang Mo Joe]

I'd be interested to hear what people have to say about the following schools, and perhaps provide your stack rank of them. Any specifics about why some schools are not popular would be helpful as it would allow me to evaluate the information and make an informed decision. Our first choice is to go to a local school, but as foreigners we do have the option to go to an international school if a good local school isn't available. :?:


Tanjong Katong
MacPherson
Eunos
East Coast
Bendemeer
Bedok Green

[mexx]

Hi All,

Gosh… I really didn’t know that so much effort needs to be done in order to get our kids into our choice of primary schools…

My girl is only 1 year’s old, and I’m an old girl for South View Pri. But I’m still hesitating whether to enrol her for SV in future…

Heard from colleagues that SV is a popular neighbourhood school that requires balloting… is that true? Why? Was it because their PSLE results was good? Also, heard that it has a new Principal now. Is she good?

I would also like to know what can I do in order to have a smooth ride during Pri registration. I heard some ground works needs to start as 2 - 3 yrs before your child starts pri 1…

Pls advise… thanks…

[schellen]

mexx:

Hi All,

Gosh.. I really didn't know that so much effort needs to be done in order to get our kids into our choice of primary schools...

My girl is only 1 year's old, and I'm an old girl for South View Pri. But I'm still hesitating whether to enrol her for SV in future...

Heard from colleagues that SV is a popular neighbourhood school that requires balloting... is that true? Why? Was it because their PSLE results was good? Also, heard that it has a new Principal now. Is she good?

I would also like to know what can I do in order to have a smooth ride during Pri registration. I heard some ground works needs to start as 2 - 3 yrs before your child starts pri 1...

Pls advise... thanks...

Since you're an old girl of SV, I don't think you need to worry. Just register your girl in Phase 2A2. So far, balloting for SV has only occurred for later Phases. (However, since your turn to register is a few years down the road, it's still best to be prudent and keep track of SV's balloting \"history\" for the next few years.)

[tankee]

mexx:

Hi All,

Gosh.. I really didn't know that so much effort needs to be done in order to get our kids into our choice of primary schools...

My girl is only 1 year's old, and I'm an old girl for South View Pri. But I'm still hesitating whether to enrol her for SV in future...

Heard from colleagues that SV is a popular neighbourhood school that requires balloting... is that true? Why? Was it because their PSLE results was good? Also, heard that it has a new Principal now. Is she good?

I would also like to know what can I do in order to have a smooth ride during Pri registration. I heard some ground works needs to start as 2 - 3 yrs before your child starts pri 1...

Pls advise... thanks...

Since you are a old girl of SV, your girl is eligible for phase 2a1 or 2a2 (depending whether you joined alumni). Balloting has not happen for these phases.

[lschang]

I’m in a similar situation to Ang Mo Joe. I’m currently a foreigner without a PR yet and need to find a place for my son who will be at P3 level next year. How do I get him registered into a SAP school (I want him to be bilingual and spend more time in Chinese language)? What is the process? Thanks for any input.

[tinkfirst]

Hi!

I’m currently in dilema. My hubby and myself argue over transfering our DD to another school next year. I’m staying in the East and wanting to transfer DD to a school near Bukit Timah which is more than 10 km. She likes a particular CCA there in the school which her current one does not offer. This CCA in this new school is paricularly very strong and won alot of recognition. DH thinks otherwise cos for a 9 year old to travel such a long distance daily is no joke, though I work from home, able to ferry her to & fro. I understand that this CCA may take 3 times a wk practices till quite late when competitions draw near. So by the time she reach home, may be 6.30 to 7 pm. All parents want the best for their kids. Don’t wish to make any rash decisions thereby regret at the expense of the kids. Also fearing whether DD is able to adapt to a new enviroment.
Any advise from parents? Thanks

[sleepy]

tinkfirst:

Hi!

I'm currently in dilema. My hubby and myself argue over transfering our DD to another school next year. I'm staying in the East and wanting to transfer DD to a school near Bukit Timah which is more than 10 km. She likes a particular CCA there in the school which her current one does not offer. This CCA in this new school is paricularly very strong and won alot of recognition. DH thinks otherwise cos for a 9 year old to travel such a long distance daily is no joke, though I work from home, able to ferry her to & fro. I understand that this CCA may take 3 times a wk practices till quite late when competitions draw near. So by the time she reach home, may be 6.30 to 7 pm. All parents want the best for their kids. Don't wish to make any rash decisions thereby regret at the expense of the kids. Also fearing whether DD is able to adapt to a new enviroment.
Any advise from parents? Thanks

Would that CCA help her in DSA? However, the intensive training hours & long journey to/fro may tired her out & affect her studies. Indeed a difficult decision.

By the way, I heard it's possible to train privately & represent her current school for competition even though her school doesn't offer that CCA. In that case, no need to switch school.