[Marine Parade] Primary Schools

[phtthp]

hi Ran1977,


my niece study in Ngee Ann primary, she is P3 this year.

if you keen, i can pm you my cousin's (the child's mom) telephone.
you may ring up and ask her qns about Ngee Ann. is a school that is pretty \"on\" type. Overall, I would say that the teachers are hardworking.

P1 - all kids start with Normal Chinese. Towards end of P1, Chinese teachers would have identified who are the stronger pupils ready to tackle Higher Chinese. Higher Chinese starts from P2. Those pupils who show keen interest & have a flair for Chinese - some can be selected to learn Chinese calligraphy, provided the child is interested & willing to learn. My cousin can also help advise you what to look out for, since my niece already finished P1.

ngee ann 2011 psle:-
http://www.ngeeannpri.edu.sg/2011psleresults.html

i am not familiar with Tanjong Katong, so can't comment.
perhaps parents with kids studying in these 2 schools may comment.

[Ran1977]

Hi, any parents got any idea which is a better school in terms of academic, disclipine - Ngee Ann Primary or Tanjong Katong primary?

Also is Ngee Ann too Chinese-based emphasis?
We live in Marine Drive - what are the chances of Phase 2C in both Ngee Ann and Tanjong Katong?
Appreciate advice please. :?

[phtthp]

last night spoke to my cousin. my niece P3 Ngee Ann this year.


she said please ground your child well in Chinese - during kindergarten K1, K2 foundation years. She said Ngee Ann now P1 offer 3 type of Chinese:-

- Higher Chinese
- Core Chinese (ie. normal or ordinary Chinese)
- Bridging Chinese (for weaker students)

the Bridging Chinese is \"unofficial\". But once enter P1, after about one month, the Chinese teacher would have already assessed your child. Teacher will classify your child under one of the above 3 category. Cousin said other primary schools normally intro Bridging Chinese at higher level. But Ngee Ann do it early, around P1 Term 2.

i ask her, \"any idea how are the Indian kids coping with Chinese so far in school?\" She replied if your child start from kindergarten years, shouldn't be an issue. In fact, she cited me one example where got one Indian child in the school excel in Chinese. Every year this child sure to go up stage collect prizes not just for Chinese, but also for English. She said not sure how his parents groom this child. But if start from kindergarten, should be fine.

next, i ask \"how you find the teachers there?\" She replied, \"Oh! the teachers are very caring. I like Ngee Ann. It is a good school. The teachers are supportive and caring. They bother to walk the extra mile to help your child.\"

next i ask \" does she need to stay back in school, besides CCA ?\" She replied, \"this year my girl's P3 Maths getting tougher. There is quite a huge jump from P2 to P3 curriculum. So her Maths teacher recommend her stay back after school, attend extra Maths lesson called Neuro maths to help strengthen her.\"

next, i ask \"how about Tanjong Katong ?\" She replied \"not sure. Is a relatively new school. Last time only have Tanjong Katong Sec, no primary.\"

perhaps parents with kids currently studying in Tanjong Katong or Ngee Ann may help comment.

[phtthp]

Tao Nan balloting breakdown


2011

Total no. of available places : 360

Phase 1 - 185 applicants

Phase 2A1 - 22 applicants
Phase 2A2 - 57 applicants

Phase 2B - 47 vacancies } 1km : 76 (Balloting), 1-2km : 3, >2km : 5
Phase 2C - 49 vacancies } 1km : 88 (Balloting), 1-2km : 0, >2km : 0

2010

Total no. of available places : 360

Phase 1 - 158 applicants

Phase 2A1 - 17 applicants
Phase 2A2 - 59 applicants

Phase 2B - 63 vacancies } 1km : 94 (Balloting), 1-2km : 8, >2km : 12
Phase 2C - 63 vacancies } 1km : 94 (Balloting), 1-2km : 5, >2km : 0

[phtthp]

Ngee Ann primary


Balloting exercise was conducted for last year, 2011 and the previous year 2010 for applicants living outside 2km from the school.

[Siglaplover]

Hi everyone,I’m new to the forum.

I’m kiasu,newly wed, currently contemplating to buy a property in the east but may be out of 1km for Ngee Ann Primary,St Stephen and CHIJ Katong. As the property rules now you have to more or less stuck for the next 4 years and above.I would like to know the chances getting into the above.
If I join Ngee Ann Kongsi,will it help better than staying within 1lm? how popular are the above schools and academically wise?

[mamona]

Hi All


My son will be in P1 in 2014 and my home is within 2 km of both Tanjong Katong & St Stephen. Since only two of these school offer parallel hindi program at the school so I need to choose between two of them.

Can someone suggest which school will better ? As per the ranking St Stephen is little higher than TKPS in the table.

[Ran1977]

Ngee Ann better if you are talking about Marine Parade area.

[mamona]

Yes but Ngee Ann doesn’t offer Hindi mother tongue in the school.


Also my impression about Ngee Ann is they have more emphasis on Chinese.

[hokkiengirl]

Siglaplover:

Hi everyone,I'm new to the forum.

I'm kiasu,newly wed, currently contemplating to buy a property in the east but may be out of 1km for Ngee Ann Primary,St Stephen and CHIJ Katong. As the property rules now you have to more or less stuck for the next 4 years and above.I would like to know the chances getting into the above.
If I join Ngee Ann Kongsi,will it help better than staying within 1lm? how popular are the above schools and academically wise?

Hi!

If you join NA Kongsi, your child can get into Ngee Ann Primary in Phase 2B, so that definitely gives you an advantage. However, the last I heard, you can't just apply to join NA Kongsi. You have to be Teochew (obviously) and have to be INVITED to join and that usually involves knowing someone in the kongsi who will vouch for you. You may want to check it out, though.

Entrance into schools in the Marine Parade area will likely be more competitive in the years to come simply because there are more condominiums being built. More families with young children are moving into the area and that obviously means that getting into 'neighbourhood schools' like Ngee Ann and TK Pri will no longer be a walk in the park. Balloting is slowly but surely going to be the norm. Best to be really strategic about what sort of school you wish for your future offspring and plan accordingly.

The schools mentioned above all have their strengths. TK Pri, St Stephen's and Ngee Ann all have a rich school culture. It all depends on what you're looking for. From what I hear from friends, the kids there are happy ones. In terms of academic excellence, every school will have its A class and good teachers. Nowadays, how well the child does often depends on how involved the parents are in the kid's learning (sadly). For what it's worth, the 3 schools above in general will not overload your kid with homework, so you will have the time and space to help your kid build on strengths and brush up on weaknesses. My kid goes to school to play with friends; I gao tim the teaching at home.

And may I say I really admire the way you plan ahead? If only I had been as smart when I got married!