What goes into choosing a suitable Secondary School

[Huang]

Hi there,


Recently a relative asked me how I choosed my kid’s Secondary School and I kind of got a shock, I had no answer. It was simply just based on the results.

My relative came then with a list of important factors that he thought would be helpful to help his kid cope with the stresses of school. I thought that I would help him make this post to help him make a better decision (the kid will be going into the Secondary School in next year).

So here goes, considering grades what else should he look out for?

1. School culture, e.g. ACS(I) sports-based, etc

2. Distance from home

3. Academic achievements, many secondary schools nowadays have banners and posters up showing the various achievements that they have.

4. Any others?

I gave personally told him to look out for culture and results, but are there more? I have browsed through most of the threads but have not come to a solid conclusion. So help, please?

Thank you

[chengsmummy]

If the kid’s PSLE score is high enough for IP schools, the distance of the school will not be an issue, as the top schools basically are quite far from where I stay ( very northern part). So the culture will be my top consideration.

Otherwise, I will balance the distance, academic and culture are equal important to me.

[Huang]

Hi chengsmummy,


Yes, I would have to agree. But what about culture? I mean there are posts that talk about the RI-RJC culture, the HCI culture, the ACS-ACJC culture. What I find hard to convince my relative is the fact that this will actually affect the kid more than academic (am I wrong to say this?)

[daisyt]

chengsmummy:

If the kid's PSLE score is high enough for IP schools, the distance of the school will not be an issue, as the top schools basically are quite far from where I stay ( very northern part). So the culture will be my top consideration.

Otherwise, I will balance the distance, academic and culture are equal important to me.

I am in the same line as chengsmummy

[chengsmummy]

Huang:

Hi chengsmummy,


Yes, I would have to agree. But what about culture? I mean there are posts that talk about the RI-RJC culture, the HCI culture, the ACS-ACJC culture. What I find hard to convince my relative is the fact that this will actually affect the kid more than academic (am I wrong to say this?)

I would suggest your relative to visit some of the schools during the open house period(May to June every year), from there, he may get some feeling of the school's culture.

[Huang]

Hi chengsmummy and daisyt. Thank you for your replies!


Will ask him to do that. But anything in particular things to look out for? CCAs, awards anything else?

Cause he is a "first-time" secondary parent. Any advice from the guru’s out there?

[schellen]

Huang:

Hi chengsmummy and daisyt. Thank you for your replies!


Will ask him to do that. But anything in particular things to look out for? CCAs, awards anything else?

Cause he is a \"first-time\" secondary parent. Any advice from the guru's out there?

Besides your friend's needs/opinion, shouldn't your friend ask his child for the child's needs/opinion too? After all, the person going to the school is the child.

[luckystar]

If the child had keep up a good result thru out the years,RI,RGS,HCI,NYGH,NUSH,ACSI – choose among these branded school based on distance. Cause these are the hottest school among the geps and high achivers.


If the child has an average results – choose the school nearer to home based on his/her result. I am sure you can list out few school nearer to home.

Finally, you got to consider the CCA, talent of the child, boy only or girl only school.

[daisyt]

When selecting sec school last year, it was a joint decision between me and my girl. Based on her result, I listed out my criterias and she listed down the schools she liked which were within my criterias.


We went to 3 schools open house and made the following observations.

1) Culture of the school
- the students converse more in English or Mandarin
- the notice boards of a few CCAs, how were they presented ?
- the performance of the CCAs during the open house, eg how well the students know their CCAs and present their CCAs.
- the classrooms decorations and cleaness. From the decos, you can more or less tell if the students are bonded to their class and feel at home.

2) Environment of the school
- the toilets are well maintained ?
- the environment of the school, homely ? comfortable ?
- very important, the canteen. Are there many variaty of foods ? Its very important because your kids would eat in school for breaks and lunches.

3) The students
- the behaviour and attitute of the students
- how helpful, how polite, how far can they make us have the homely feeling
- their attitire, how neatly they wear the uniform, school shoes, hair style

[joconde]

so does that mean all sec schs will have open houses after PSLE ? where can i check the exact dates ?