School Of The Arts, Singapore
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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.. -
i have 2 daughters in sota, both in dance, 1 in the pioneer cohort & the other now in year 2.
though it is not a vocational school, the training (at least for the dancers) can be long & tiring but like most sota sudents i know, they are enjoying themselves.
yes the school culture is very different from main stream schools & there is also a vibrancy when i visited their interim campus in goodman road.
i am not familiar with ib but i can see what my daughters are doing is very different from main stream school so i think it may be quite difficult to switch to GCE after say a couple of years.
i understand competition amongst each art form itself can also be vicious & i understand some become disillusion because may be before sota, they may be the best but when in sota they find that are probably competing with the best in their art form age for age -
Hi eager_beaver
Finally I 'meet' someone whose children are in Sota..
Yeah..I understand when you say the competition within each arts group can be 'intense' - if one does a bit of reflection, they are a talent before they get in, but after they are in , they are amongst the 'talented' - so anything goes..
For me, I look at the positive side .. my daughter mentions who is good in something..cartoons, anime...and I think it is all abt getting inspired..and a little edgy competition is always good for an individual..and I sense that is what the school's direction is all about..
at this point because she is in Year one, I am allowing her to adjust first..because Year one can be pretty overwhelming..being in a massive building doesn't help.. :?
what I like is the 'culture' which encourages independence and creativivity. when she tells me what happens and who, I sense the kids are not'talked down to'..they are encouraged tto be passionate abt things , to be 'good' (people) and that's important..
I do worry abt her academia and keep a watchful eye..but at this stage of her life it's all abt being independent and self-disciplined..no one can predict what's going to happen..we'll sow one grain at a time.. -
Several SOTA students came to http://singapore.math-chinese-tutor.com for Math tuition.
Being Arts-inclined, many SOTA students are weak in Math, since primary school. I was told that many of them scored B for Math in PSLE.
SOTA program is IB and students therefore do not need to take O-Level. Many SOTA students therefor do not really know how bad their Math is. Personally I think that their Math is really bad. I am encouraging all my students to sit for O-level as private candidate so as to benchmark their standard against the Express students. -
Thks Bentan for the useful info .. always good to know..
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