Choose Secondary school for 2010

[Bentan]

jinglebelle:

Any old/current boys from St Andrew's/Maris Stella High here? Care to share your experiences? Many thanks.

Read about Maris Stella here:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6298

[thelims]

MGSS has a special in-house gifted programme (SBC - Sophia Blackmore Class) for those who are able to take on a more rigorous route. There are 2 or 3 such classes in Sec 1-4. Each class size is abt 26. In order to get into this programme, you need to score 255 and above and sit for a selection test held at the school. For selection test date, I suggest you call the school to find out. It's a good programme cos the girls are prep well for the O levels as well as the IB programme (if they chose/qualify to take the IB programme at ACSI in year 5). Places are limited cos the MGS SBC Primary girls get priority if they meet the PSLE cut-off points.


MGS is a good Christian school that teaches good Christian values to the girls. Most of the girls speak impeccable English and are well-groomed. They specialise in music (MEP prog), performing arts(dance, choir and strings ensemble) and sports like swimming, tennis, bowling, golf,netball.

If you child is keen on a more rigorous academic route leading to O levels, it's a good school to consider. It has a balanced environment stressing both academic, social, physical and spiritual development.

SCGS - the admission criteria is almost on par with MGS. SCGS has a new principal on board and I was informed that she is very enthusiastic. I am not sure if they have an in-house gifted programme but I do notice the girls are well-groomed and speak good English. They are known to be really good in dance.

All things being equal and if distance is not an issue, I'll pick MGS over SCGS cos it has an in-house gifted programme and it's affiliated to ACJC (2 pts for O levels). Both schools have been rumoured to house \"rich\" kids but I think if you have raised a confident and self-assured kid, she'll have no problem fitting in at both schools.

[turquoise]

noob:

Hi Turquoise, please advise which is a better school - MGS or SCGS? :?:

Hi noob,

It's a hard call between SCGS and MGS because both are top girls schools and both offer school-based gifted education programmes to their top students. MGS offers its Sophia Blackmore Programme and SCGS has its Talent Programme.

From what I understand, MGS has 2 Sophia Blackmore classes (SBC), where the students do a slightly differentiated programme from their mainstream classes, and offer subjects like Philosophy. All the SBC students would be exposed to similar content.

SCGS' Talent Programme is made up of different modules which are offered to their top 1 or 2 classes. The modules include mentorships and stints with university professors, business communities etc. The girls choose/are selected for different modules.

Academically, SCGS provides better value-add to the students they take in at S1 based on their overall excellent O level results. They have maintained their status of being a Band 1 school for many years, bearing in mind that their COP for their own affliated students is only 200. I think this is important to keep in mind because it is the overall performance of all the students that's important, not just the performance of a few scholars.

One advantage MGS has over SCGS is that it has affliation to ACJC, so its students currently enjoy a 2 point bonus when seeking admission to ACJC. (Note: this is to ACJC and not ACS(I) ). Given the competitive nature of entry into JCs, the 2 point bonus is something to consider.

One has to also consider the culture of the school. MGS is a Methodist school. I have had friends who weren't comfortable in the environment because they weren't Christians. Then again, these are probably the minority.

If I had to make a decision, I'd choose based on which school my dd would be more comfortable in, where she would fit in better, and that would include the overall environment and CCAs offered. If the schools have Open Houses, do go take a look. That helps a lot in making your decision.

[noob]

Turquoise & thelims,


A big thanks for the succint info. It has indeed place me in a better stead for decison-making.

[turquoise]

noob:

Turquoise & thelims,


A big thanks for the succint info. It has indeed place me in a better stead for decison-making.

You're welcome.

[vvwil]

Hi, my daughter got 254+2 and we are deciding few schools as we are staying in Sengkang but not sure which is better than the other. Pls give us your opinion, thank you!


1) St. Nicholas
2) Anderson Sec
3) Cedar
4) Zhonghua

[jitancat]

vvwil:

Hi, my daughter got 254+2 and we are deciding few schools as we are staying in Sengkang but not sure which is better than the other. Pls give us your opinion, thank you!


1) St. Nicholas
2) Anderson Sec
3) Cedar
4) Zhonghua

Hi

look at the following forum :- more info and post there will get many replies

PSLE 2009 RESULTS!!

[shrext]

jazzie69:

Bentan:

Students from NT (Normal Tech) can go as low as 70. So you have to do a lot more homework if you decide to let her join the NT class. May I suggest the following considerations:

1) You should assess your niece carefully and ask her what she wants. If your niece is not ready for Poly or JC, NT is probably the better choice as NT students are destined for ITE. Whereas if she is keen to do better than ITE, NA should be the choice for her.

2) PLMS is a good school. Check with them what is their lowest for NT. The higher the better since your niece is at the high range. Check also with them what is the criteria of converting your niece to NA at Sec 2. Some school such as ACS Barker allows good students to be converted at Sec-2.

Hope the suggestions are acceptable. Drop me a note at http://singapore.math-chinese-tutor.com/contact-us/ if you need more assistance.

I understand it is possible to convert from NT to NA. Is it applicable to all schools or only for some schools?

Personally, I feel going to NA at neighbourhood schools is better since NA has a chance to go to express if she can perform extremely well. I took this route then. Also, this year, most of top psle performers are from neighbourhood schools too.

Thanks to Bentan and jazzie69 for your views on my niece's case. Will discuss with my sis and niece

[rains]

Hi,


I would like to ask the experts here on the following matter:

I overheard a child with T-score of 247 trying to decide which school she could go last year.

She’s from nyps, and the COP for nygh was 250 for her due to affiliation. However, her mother discouraged her from putting nygh as the first choice. She asked her to put Crescent Girls as first choice instead as according to her, the COP was 24-something and if the child put Crescent Girls as first choice, she would definitely get a place there. But if she put nygh as first choice and Crescent Girls as 2nd choice, she would be at risk of not getting Crescent Girls if she’s rejected by nygh.

How true is that?

[peakpeak]

rains:

Hi,


I would like to ask the experts here on the following matter:

I overheard a child with T-score of 247 trying to decide which school she could go last year.

She's from nyps, and the COP for nygh was 250 for her due to affiliation. However, her mother discouraged her from putting nygh as the first choice. She asked her to put Crescent Girls as first choice instead as according to her, the COP was 24-something and if the child put Crescent Girls as first choice, she would definitely get a place there. But if she put nygh as first choice and Crescent Girls as 2nd choice, she would be at risk of not getting Crescent Girls if she's rejected by nygh.

How true is that?

It is indeed true that there is a possibility that she would not get in2 Crescent Girls if she gets rejected by nygh... as there would b little vacancies after those who put CG as their first choice gets in... If her score is a lot higher than the cut-off point then she should hav a higher possibility of getting in..