GEP 2011 - Screening & Selection

[jtoh]

stressedoutdaddy:

[

Thank Comfy, I am stressed out because my DD actually refuses to take the round 2 tests but my DW and me pushed her to take it as we think that she has potential. We told her that we leave the final decision to her as to whether she wants to go to GEP school or not.

After reading thru' the 100 over pages, I think GEP is good in general for students but we don't want to corner her.
As parents, we are proud that our kid can make it and now it seems the logical choice is to take it!

I have 2 younger boys who will be in Pri 2 and Pri 1 next year. So there will be some logistics challenger for us.

In fact, I was in the 1st batch chosen to take round 1 in 1984 due to my good PSLE results but I didn't make it to GEP so I guess there is some redemption kind of feeling in me.

Just to update, after some \"brainwashing\" from us, she finally think RGPS is good for her last nite. I am not longer stressed up oredi. Guess we will just give her our best support in the next 3 years!!!

But it will be good for us to know more about the number of classes and class sizes in RGPS and other GEP centres like Rosyth, Nanhua.
Whether these schools provide good after school care facilities for students!
Hope to hear from those who have been thru' the same stress!

RGPS has 3 classes. Nanhua has 2 and Rosyth had 3 last year. Maximum number of children in each class is 25. Depending on the intake, sometimes there are fewer than the maximum in each class.

[Michecplow]

OrangeJuice:

OrangeJuice:

for someone who lives at River Valley, which school is more convenient by public transport (bus/mrt/cab) ? catholic high primary or nanyang primary ? I would assume the latter is more popular ? Any advice ?

DS just came home and told me out of the 10 in his class, 6 are opting for Henry Park, 1 is opting out of GEP, 3 including him hvnt decided what school to choose ....

Heard Henry Park is moving, anyone knows when and where ?

think yr ds and rest of his schoolmates will mostly posted to HPPS .

all my ds schoolmates posted to same GEP center last year .
and all another batch of students from same school( different year )posted to NY, despite that some of the students did not put it as their 1st choice .
the end , it is still decided by MOE .

[phankao]

OrangeJuice:

Hi phankao,we \"spoke\" in the PSLE thread on DHS vs NJC when I was considering sec schools for my DD earlier...now I am looking at schools for DS the younger one for GEP, do you have a son in CHS ? Hear lots of gd feedback re CHS and its teachers in the GEP. Do you hv more to share ? Also, do you know how are non-Christian kids excluded or included in religious activities(if any) in ACS? Are bible studies compulsory in Christian schools ?
Thanks !

As far as I know, religious studies are not compulsory. THey will do some other activities while the catholic boys go for \"Jesus & I\" programme (not strictly Catholic either). I'm not sure about ACS. No experience there. I've only had kids in CHS & SNGS. CHS is certainly even less \"catholic\" than SNGS as in, they might not even arrange masses on days of obligation for the catholic boys, unlike SNGS - maybe bc SNGS still have the nuns next to their premises.

I still have a son in CHS primary but graduating class - now p6. Only waiting for PSLE results now. Then it'll be on to secondary.

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

[OrangeJuice]

phankao:

OrangeJuice:

Hi phankao,we \"spoke\" in the PSLE thread on DHS vs NJC when I was considering sec schools for my DD earlier...now I am looking at schools for DS the younger one for GEP, do you have a son in CHS ? Hear lots of gd feedback re CHS and its teachers in the GEP. Do you hv more to share ? Also, do you know how are non-Christian kids excluded or included in religious activities(if any) in ACS? Are bible studies compulsory in Christian schools ?
Thanks !

As far as I know, religious studies are not compulsory. THey will do some other activities while the catholic boys go for \"Jesus & I\" programme (not strictly Catholic either). I'm not sure about ACS. No experience there. I've only had kids in CHS & SNGS. CHS is certainly even less \"catholic\" than SNGS as in, they might not even arrange masses on days of obligation for the catholic boys, unlike SNGS - maybe bc SNGS still have the nuns next to their premises.

I still have a son in CHS primary but graduating class - now p6. Only waiting for PSLE results now. Then it'll be on to secondary.

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

Thanks phankao for sharing
BTW good luck to your son in his PSLE results, I am too anxiously waiting for DD

[syshi]

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.
Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

[vlim]

syshi:

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh
Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.

Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children
know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

Glad tt that don't happen in my Ds school or at least not his cohort .. :roll:

[phankao]

syshi:

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.
Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

If the boys don't go to any outside tuition then the problem will be solved, won't it?

Minority always don't get specials lah. On Higher Chinese exam days, there is no early let-off either. As for CCA, can always excuse yourself as there's generally no pressing issues like competition or performance during GEP exam days? Except for SYF in April of alternate years? That one almost everyone affected? FOr my elder boy, in 2009, his p6 SA1(CHS call it Prelims 1) was during the week of SYF.

Anyway, even the high achiever class(there is only 1 class now) - there are many boys who go to other schools. So if the rationale is that the school doesn't put in effort in teaching the ones who leave - then why do they put in effort for the best class? Ultimately, the school still wants their students' performance to be as good as possible, altho' the students may not continue on to secondary. That is inevitable.

[Mvm]

jtoh:

Mvm:

from what I know, if you are fixed on a particular school, just put in that school as first choice. And leave all the rest blank (ie 2nd , 3rd choice) and they will post you to the school of your choice. However if you list more than one choice, they tend to post to school that is nearest to your home with vacancy, even if thats your 3rd choice. If not happy with posting can appeal, and likely they will give it to you.

Friend put NYPS as her first and only choice even though she lived far away. They sent her kid to the GEP school nearest her home bec NYPS was over-subscribed.

I know someone like yours, posted to the Tao nan as they live in the east, but she appealed and got into Nyps! If you appeal, it shows you really want it and they will give. That year Nyps had 26 in some classes.

[syshi]

phankao:

If the boys don't go to any outside tuition then the problem will be solved, won't it?

Problem for me is I can't afford TLL, so during P4 DS struggled for those he didn't understand but other boys 'understand'. I spent long time to 'dig' out info from my U-time and through internet, instead of through teacher.
Whereas the other parents really prepared their boys, even sending since P1. And currently some school marking are based on the class average. So if some of the children achieve better, then you'll end up at the below average.

phankao:

Minority always don't get specials lah. On Higher Chinese exam days, there is no early let-off either. As for CCA, can always excuse yourself as there's generally no pressing issues like competition or performance during GEP exam days? Except for SYF in April of alternate years? That one almost everyone affected? FOr my elder boy, in 2009, his p6 SA1(CHS call it Prelims 1) was during the week of SYF.

For CCA always have to find excuses during exam not to go. Especially when they were busy preparing for the CHS Performance. And if the boy never turn up, normally the teacher will call the parents up. Good measure if in case the boy actually skipped CCA and went somewhere else. But also stress out for parents
Next year DS will have to be busy for PSLE preparation and SYF also. Not sure whether he'll be involve with SYF, if not, I think I'll pull him out of the CCA to concentrate. Some of the other boys in his class do that. Not sure whether what is the implication. Can share?

phankao:

Anyway, even the high achiever class(there is only 1 class now) - there are many boys who go to other schools. So if the rationale is that the school doesn't put in effort in teaching the ones who leave - then why do they put in effort for the best class? Ultimately, the school still wants their students' performance to be as good as possible, altho' the students may not continue on to secondary. That is inevitable.

That is the reason. When the Principal sharing with GEP parents, he also mentioned that most of the GEP boys will be going to those top schools, not many will stay back. Compare to those high achiever, the percentage staying back higher. Somemore, those are considered as 'Old Boys' as compared to GEP boys which came in in P4. Even for Sports CCA, were told that all full and GEP boys cannot choose. Unless you have some achievement, then they'll be considered. So only left Aesthetics CCAs.

[felinej]

Was just wondering.. if my DD has always attended a non-GEP school near NYPS, will they take that into consideration that she has always been traveling this distance even though we don't stay near the school?


My choice are either NYPS or RGPS. DD is from a girls school, was wondering whether we will stand a better chance with RG. Btw.. We stay at SengKang