School Of The Arts, Singapore
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Startz:
Thanks for the info but what does SOTA actually stands for ?SOTA students admitted via what they call TAlent Camps or Talent Auditions ( Theatre/Music/Visual Arts/Dance) .This is conducted twice - once in March / the other in June.
I'll relate my experience to tell you how my kid got into SOTA.
I went for one of their talks when she was in P4 or P5 to find out their requirements for admission(I had already read it on the website but wanted to hear it from them)It was then I learnt I had to prepare a portfolio of my kid's art works(Visual Arts) and I had to sign up for one of their talent auditions in her P6 year(mine was in June 2009 this becos I heard it's better for them to be well rested- June got one month break compared to March which has only one week)In addition, I learnt that if your child is confirmed a place after the Talent Auditions , in this case applied under DSA, whether in the end the kid gets into SOTA depends on her PSLE results.She must do well enough to get into Express stream .
And the story continues.. :idea:
At the beginning of Jan 2009, I signed her up for Talent audition via website of which my kid was allocated an admisssion number. Her form and payment of $150 had to be submitted via post or by hand by a certain date.( The $150 is refunded via first month's fees of the first school tem when she child becomes a SOTA student)She was given a date to come for auditions.(this letter comes later ,2 weeks before auditions)
Then there was an OPen House by SOTA (can't remember if it is in end of last year 2008 or beginning of this year 2009) I could not make it on that day as I was working so I asked a friend of mine to bring my child. I needed my girl to find out abot the school and if she liked the 'vibe' - it's a six year prog. leading to the IB diploma and the school days are long (abt 8 to 4pm) Besides the daily training of the Arts fields-3 hrs a day- she still must go for classes in the various academic disciplines. (Whatever I am writing here is what I learnt from their talks as my dd has yet to atttend her first day of school
)
My friend informed me that during the Open House, there was a talk given and they mentioned kids must get at least aggregate 230 during their PSLE to get into SOTA.
Anyhow my dd got into SOTA via DSA (confirmed place) and after the PSLE exams saga was over, we all began to worry if she would make it for the COP (as stated above)
Kiasu parents always worry ..regardless...sigh..'personiality' hazard!!
Between the time after PSLEs were over and the time the results were released, just before the end of school term, you have to confirm if your kid wants to accept the DSA offer.At this time,To help us understand SOTA better, SOTA invited the parents to a talk to detail the curriculum and the IB diploma better so that we would know what her schooling years would be like at this specialised school of the arts.At the talk, it was mentioned - whether DSA students get into SOTA would depend on PSLE results-must get into Express stream (Express stream 200 and above?)
Anyhow my dd got aggregate of 240+ (after blood , sweat and tears over her Mother Tongue and Maths!!)
Her classmate who auditioned for Dance (received a confirmed offer for Dance) had 220+ also got in.They will be reporting for school on the 23rd of December.
Hope this information helps..
You can get addititional details on their website.
School of Technology Arts ?
Sorry for my ignorance -
SOTA - S chool O f T he A rts
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Startz:
SOTA - S chool O f T he A rts
Oh yes, juz realized it is on the title of this thread.
Sorry for the stupid question !! -
No worries..!
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Startz:
No worries..!
So, how is your kid doing in SOTA now ?
He/She is happy there ? -
Heh..heh..she going in in January next year..she's excited abt linking bridge and air - con rooms..and ..long long escalator (The building is very tall)
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Hello Startz
The open house you mentioned was in 2008. 2008 was the 1st batch so SOTA is now 2 years old.
Can you please tell me how to prepare the art port folio?
Was it a difficult decision for you to let your daughter join this specialised school? Was it her choice, her calling?
Most parents with talented kids have a hard choice taking the road less travelled when their kids want to do what they love. I’m sure the decision for you was not easy. Could you share?
If it’s the choice of your dd, I’m sure you’ve made the right choice. What’s more the IB is a very holistic program that teaches them how to learn and think, integrates humanities with science and math that makes so much sense in the real world. It’s getting so popular that the IBO is setting up their Asia Pacific Headquarter in S’pore next year (I think). Broad-based learning is the in-thing in the future, the SMU has structured their courses that way and NUS and NTU are starting to copy that. IB is broad-based learning and I’m sure your dd will enjoy and benefit from it.
What I’m concern is if there is a back-up for SOTA students if they decide that they do not want to do that much of music/art/theatre/dance anymore. Where can they go? Did the principal say anything about that?
The Singapore Sports School has the same admission method as SOTA, talent followed by T-score, but it’s more inclusive as it accepts NA stream students all the way up to those with T-score of >260. They offer NA, GCE ‘o’, through train polytechnic as well as the IB diploma. Only the cream gets to do the IB and like SOTA the T-score criteria is 230 and above. However, all students from SSP (sports school) has a reserved place in the mainstream secondary school which they can go to if they should want to leave the SSP due some reason. It’s not a very fair policy for the mainstream side but it’s wonderful to see how much our government is willing to put in resources to have diversity in education and nurture talents. I’ve heard that SSP is the only specialised independent school in Singapore that has this privilege, is it true?
It’s so exciting for your dd to embark on a journey of her choice. Many P6 kids don’t know what they want and their choices are more based on their result or parents decision more than their hearts.
I’ve seen students from both SSP and SOTA. They’re very different. They’re happy to be where they want to be and I’m sure they’ll do well in what they do, both academic and in their area of talent. Best of all, the school culture is very different from mainstream which over the years has become more corporate and cold rather than altruistic.
I wish your dd all the best! -
solo:
Hi Solo,
The Singapore Sports School has the same admission method as SOTA, talent followed by T-score, but it's more inclusive as it accepts NA stream students all the way up to those with T-score of >260. They offer NA, GCE 'o', through train polytechnic as well as the IB diploma. Only the cream gets to do the IB and like SOTA the T-score criteria is 230 and above. However, all students from SSP (sports school) has a reserved place in the mainstream secondary school which they can go to if they should want to leave the SSP due some reason. It's not a very fair policy for the mainstream side but it's wonderful to see how much our government is willing to put in resources to have diversity in education and nurture talents. I've heard that SSP is the only specialised independent school in Singapore that has this privilege, is it true?
!
Can you clarify something? I understand that for those offered a place in SOTA through their Talent Auditions, all they need is to qualify for the Express stream to get a place in SOTA, ie about 200. I've also heard the aggregate 230 mentioned. What is the aggregate of 230 for? Does it mean that only those who score >230 are eligible to take IB? But everyone in SOTA takes IB right? -
turquoise:
Yes, SOTA has only 1 track, 6-year course leading to IBDP. I think they mentioned to StarZ the figure 230 because that was their ave T-acore for that year's intake. The IB is quite a rigourous prog and if your T-score is too low, even if it's the express stream, the student may not be able to cope. Although SOTA mention just express stream is enough, it is up to their discretion to choose the students combination based on a good balance of the academics and talent. For specialised independent schools, they selection scheme is more complex, not just base on COP. COP does not work for them because selection also base on talent of available in that cohort.
Hi Solo,solo:
The Singapore Sports School has the same admission method as SOTA, talent followed by T-score, but it's more inclusive as it accepts NA stream students all the way up to those with T-score of >260. They offer NA, GCE 'o', through train polytechnic as well as the IB diploma. Only the cream gets to do the IB and like SOTA the T-score criteria is 230 and above. However, all students from SSP (sports school) has a reserved place in the mainstream secondary school which they can go to if they should want to leave the SSP due some reason. It's not a very fair policy for the mainstream side but it's wonderful to see how much our government is willing to put in resources to have diversity in education and nurture talents. I've heard that SSP is the only specialised independent school in Singapore that has this privilege, is it true?
!
Can you clarify something? I understand that for those offered a place in SOTA through their Talent Auditions, all they need is to qualify for the Express stream to get a place in SOTA, ie about 200. I've also heard the aggregate 230 mentioned. What is the aggregate of 230 for? Does it mean that only those who score >230 are eligible to take IB? But everyone in SOTA takes IB right?
I suppose the benchmark of 230 for IB is for 2010 intake for both and SOTA and SSP. For SOTA, I guess if you are below 230, you still take IB but must be prepared to work very hard to catch up. For SSP, if below 230, yo can tale O-level or through-train track to poly. This number will move from year to year, I think.
BTW, disclaimer, the info given is only what I gather and understand them to be. Please find out from schools if you want the true picture. -
Hi Solo,
Apologies for not replying earlier..some technical glitches with my laptop...
I let my dd interest/s lead me in the decisions I make for her. It's always difficult with children..ye know..their interests change over time. I observe..if I am not sure.
But my dd is not cut out for the school 'system'.She is a cheerful and bright kid and has a definite point of view. Such a talent should be nurtured, nut surpressed. As early as Pr 2, I had already made a conscious decision to send her to SOTA.
From Pri. 4 to 6, I cut out newspaper articles of SOTA and read snippets of it to her, to gauge her reactions, 'retreating' when it became too 'overpowering', 'advancing' when an opportune moment arose. Altho' I knew it was in her best interest, but it is a six year programme and she must like the Arts or else her teenage years will be unhappy ones..
At the Open House/ talks held by SOTA, I made sure I was not around when she attended. Then I asked those who accompanied her (aunty /friend) for feedback on her reactions during these events. The feedback was positive, so the decision to go SOTA was confirmed by Pr 6.
She attended Art classes at Arts Fission (Cairnhill Arts Centre)She discussed with her teacher which artwork to compile as part of her portfolio.Any Art teacher will know what those 'dimensions' for portfolio submission means - can approach them for help ( I left it to my dd- told her it's good 'training' for her - heh heh )
Children who go to SOTA must like the arts - music, literature, dance etc. I think u can return to the Mainstream ( I heard a parent ask that at a QA session in P6 at SOTA) Call/email/visit Sota and have a word with the Principal - she's very friendly- It's worthwhile doing your research
Dd's journey at SOTA is one more of exploraton/experimentation. With the teachers/mentors guiding her, she should know which field or course she wishes to specialise in, be it University or work after six years. I think an individual has a right to be happy. Self-esteem / confidence is something worth nurturing in anyone.It's all they have :lol: 'out there'
Thanks for your well-wishes
Hope the information helps in any way..
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