Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[ChiefKiasu]

rinrin1988\" post_id=\"2069141\" time=\"1653955434\" user_id=\"186840:

Hi everyone,

Need some advice..

My husband is a former student of St Gabriel Pri. Should we enter St Gabriel via 2A or try our luck at Maris Stella/St Andrew's via 2C where we stay <1km?

Leaning towards SAJS because of the affiliation but don't know if it is worth the risk to ballot anot..

What would you all do? Appreciate any comments!

https://i.imgur.com/68cgr5v.png\">

St Gabriel's is a shoo-in for Phase 2A even with reduced places in Phase 2A. Not balloting at all. Why not just take St Gabriel's at Phase 2A first, and then monitor the take-up rate at Phase 2C for Maris Stella or St Andrew's to make your final decision?

[rinrin1988]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2069159\" time=\"1653965396\" user_id=\"3:

https://i.imgur.com/68cgr5v.png\">

St Gabriel's is a shoo-in for Phase 2A even with reduced places in Phase 2A. Not balloting at all. Why not just take St Gabriel's at Phase 2A first, and then monitor the take-up rate at Phase 2C for Maris Stella or St Andrew's to make your final decision?

good idea! why didn't I think of this before

Is it difficult to withdraw my 2A seat during 2C exercise? Will MOE display the take up rate for 2C at the end of every day?

Thanks!!

[ChiefKiasu]

rinrin1988\" post_id=\"2069168\" time=\"1653969321\" user_id=\"186840:

good idea! why didn't I think of this before

Is it difficult to withdraw my 2A seat during 2C exercise? Will MOE display the take up rate for 2C at the end of every day?

Thanks!!

It should be easier to do it now since everything is computerized. Last time, husband and wife has to coordinate so that one physically deregisters while the other registers, all within 1 hour For Phase 2C, MOE updates the numbers at the end of each day. Phase 2C takes 3 days. The numbers are usually not updated on the 3rd day until after the decision on which school needs balloting.

[Clafia]

Hi Parents,


We stay in Tiong Bahru area and we will be registering our daughter (SC) for phase 2C this year. We aim for either Alexandra Primary or Zhangde Primary and both of the schools are within 1 km from our home. Can you please advise in term of academic and overall school culture, which one is better school? Thank you!

[ChiefKiasu]

Clafia\" post_id=\"2069620\" time=\"1654402806\" user_id=\"194635:

Hi Parents,

We stay in Tiong Bahru area and we will be registering our daughter (SC) for phase 2C this year. We aim for either Alexandra Primary or Zhangde Primary and both of the schools are within 1 km from our home. Can you please advise in term of academic and overall school culture, which one is better school? Thank you!

https://i.imgur.com/tGITaCo.png\">

https://i.imgur.com/29oXcMV.png\">

Alexandra Primary was online only in 2013, and has been balloting in Phase 2C since.
For the last 4 years since 2018, it has been balloting at <1km. About 20 people gets
balloting out everytime. You may think that the extra 20 seats for Phase 2C this year
will do the trick, but don't forget... those that didn't make it in Phase 2A and 2B will
be competing with you in Phase 2C, so be careful.

Zhangde has a rather spotty Phase 2C. It has 28 places left from Phase 2C last year
but it required some balloting at >2km in 2018. Demand seemed to have dropped
since 2012 and 2013, where balloting was <1km.

So which is the better school? Judging from the parents' reactions, it seems they prefer Alexandra, but it also means that it is harder to get in.

[SG_KP1]

Clafia\" post_id=\"2069620\" time=\"1654402806\" user_id=\"194635:

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2069633\" time=\"1654407984\" user_id=\"3:[quote=ChiefKiasu post_id=2069633 time=1654407984 user_id=3]https://i.imgur.com/tGITaCo.png\">

https://i.imgur.com/29oXcMV.png\">

Alexandra Primary was online only in 2013, and has been balloting in Phase 2C since.
For the last 4 years since 2018, it has been balloting at <1km. About 20 people gets
balloting out everytime. You may think that the extra 20 seats for Phase 2C this year
will do the trick, but don't forget... those that didn't make it in Phase 2A and 2B will
be competing with you in Phase 2C, so be careful.

Zhangde has a rather spotty Phase 2C. It has 28 places left from Phase 2C last year
but it required some balloting at >2km in 2018. Demand seemed to have dropped
since 2012 and 2013, where balloting was <1km.

So which is the better school? Judging from the parents' reactions, it seems they prefer Alexandra, but it also means that it is harder to get in.

For Alexandra Primary, the number of 2C seats available is unlikely to change this year, as it is already in excess of 40.

The ballot is one way to look at it, as it does reflect differences or at least the perception of differences. However, if one school was particularly more convenient (i.e. few minutes walk), I may just take that one (or at least try for it), absent knowing more specifics about each school.

In the odd case that you go for Alexandra and fail and somehow also fail Zhangde in 2CS, keep in mind the next option may not be as convenient. Whether this matters or not probably depends on your own household situation (car, other children to look after, etc).

[Liew Nga Wing]

Could I ask a question here?


Does Clafia still has a better chance in competing with those didn’t make it in Phase 2A and 2B for both schools during Phase 2C and Phase 2CS balloting this year because she is staying within 1 km from both schools?

[SG_KP1]

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2069638\" time=\"1654414562\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2069638 time=1654414562 user_id=195250]
Could I ask a question here?

Does Clafia still has a better chance in competing with those didn't make it in Phase 2A and 2B for both schools during Phase 2C and Phase 2CS balloting this year because she is staying within 1 km from both schools?[/quote]

There is no failing in 2A and 2B for these two schools; everyone that applies in 2A or 2B for these schools will get in. For people that failed 2A or 2B at other schools, it is unlikely (although possible) they will be trying for either of these schools. If they are (trying), then if they are < 1 km they have the same chance as Clafia (if they are > 1 km they are probably trying somewhere else. i.e. not relevant to the chances).

[Clafia]

Thank you so much, this is indeed very useful suggestion and comment

[Liew Nga Wing]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2069639\" time=\"1654415902\" user_id=\"188234:

There is no failing in 2A and 2B for these two schools; everyone that applies in 2A or 2B for these schools will get in. For people that failed 2A or 2B at other schools, it is unlikely (although possible) they will be trying for either of these schools. If they are (trying), then if they are < 1 km they have the same chance as Clafia (if they are > 1 km they are probably trying somewhere else. i.e. not relevant to the chances).

Thank you so much for your above explanation and I am now more clear how this system works.