Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Sat, 11 Apr 2015 12:47:56 GMT

Song22 — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 12:47:56 GMT

iRabbit:
Nebbermind:
[quote=\"Olive3\"]
OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:
:rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:

Why are you so excited? Your dotter in SCGS? :scratchhead:[/quote]I think so oso :evil:

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Sat, 11 Apr 2015 10:38:35 GMT

iRabbit — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 10:38:35 GMT

Nebbermind:
Olive3:

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:
:rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:

Why are you so excited? Your dotter in SCGS? :scratchhead:

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 14:42:47 GMT

Song22 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 14:42:47 GMT

zbear:
Olive3:

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:

May I know in what way is SCGS awesome?

As iFF put it, 凉凉的, :rahrah: and the most beautiful uniform

:offtopic: sorry

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:12:11 GMT

starlight1968sg — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:12:11 GMT

zbear:
Olive3:

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:
May I know in what way is SCGS awesome?

OT: there is a banner outside this school which says \"From a face in the crowd to one the crowd faces\" (something similar).

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:08:30 GMT

zbear — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:08:30 GMT

Olive3:

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:

May I know in what way is SCGS awesome?

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:56:53 GMT

Nebbermind — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:56:53 GMT

Olive3:

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:

:rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:51:02 GMT

Olive3 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:51:02 GMT

Nebbermind:
Olive3:

Not refering specifically to SCGS.

Students going to their affiliated sec sch will enjoy lower COP to get into their O levels track. Those who meet the affiliate COP and put the sec sch as first choice will hv priority over the non-affiliated students. This will reduce the number of available vacancies for students from non-affiliated pri schools. FYI.
On the other hand, if she can get into the O of, say, SCGS, she would definitely be among the top in the O level cohort.

Yup. Agree.

So it's safer for non-affiliates to arm with a slightly higher Tscore than the published COP when applying to schools with sec sch affiliation. Just in case.

OT. SCGS is an awesome school :love:

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:36:01 GMT

Nebbermind — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:36:01 GMT

Olive3:
mwchua:
Have asked 2 girls schools for their intake of O and IP students. Both are equal in terms of the number of O and IP track classes (Cedar & SCGS).

Cedar open house will be on 30 May.
Not refering specifically to SCGS.

Students going to their affiliated sec sch will enjoy lower COP to get into their O levels track. Those who meet the affiliate COP and put the sec sch as first choice will hv priority over the non-affiliated students. This will reduce the number of available vacancies for students from non-affiliated pri schools. FYI.

On the other hand, if she can get into the O of, say, SCGS, she would definitely be among the top in the O level cohort.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:35:36 GMT

Olive3 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:35:36 GMT

mwchua:
Have asked 2 girls schools for their intake of O and IP students. Both are equal in terms of the number of O and IP track classes (Cedar & SCGS).

Cedar open house will be on 30 May.

Not refering specifically to SCGS.

Students going to their affiliated sec sch will enjoy lower COP to get into their O levels track. Those who meet the affiliate COP and put the sec sch as first choice will hv priority over the non-affiliated students. This will reduce the number of available vacancies for students from non-affiliated pri schools. FYI.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:22:16 GMT

mwchua — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:22:16 GMT

Have asked 2 girls schools for their intake of O and IP students. Both are equal in terms of the number of O and IP track classes (Cedar & SCGS).

Cedar open house will be on 30 May.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:21:46 GMT

Olive3 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:21:46 GMT

The confidence level and the personality of the child will also play a part in how the child will fit in. Even in a full O levels track school, the child may still feel 'inadequate' in certain circumstances. Eg, the academically stronger ones will get to attend 'niche or special' programs.

My dd's good friend opted to go to the o levels track although she qualifies for the IP track. She does not envy the IP students at all, who seem to hv endless project/assignments/research datelines to meet. Neither does she feel second-best by being in the O levels track. She's gunning for the top leadership position in her CCA :rahrah:

I agree with another comment regarding school culture. My suggestion is, bring your child to Open Houses, speak to the students and teachers, discuss the pros n cons of the school and let your dd decide which school/track she's most comfortable with. Afterall, she's the one who will be in that school for 4-6 years.

All the best.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:49:46 GMT

spicyblackpepper — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:49:46 GMT

My DS is in a school with dual track IP (O’levels & IB) school, I was very impressed by his principal when he told parents that both tracks are aggressive. The school does not ‘demote’ any student from IP(IB) track to O’level track, any failure case in IP(IB) will be retained a year in original track. But, O’level track students have opportunities to ‘upgrade’ to IP(IB)… hmm… sounds unfair hehe. This case O’levels track is not taken as ‘lower’ class, they will progress to their affiliated

JC for A’levels.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:21:08 GMT

mwchua — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:21:08 GMT

Hi mummyv - Yes thanks. Understand what you mean.

谋事在人，成事在天。

For my case even worse, I am just the eunuch, the \"real stakeholder\" still in dreamland......

皇帝不急太监急 :slapshead:

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:02:16 GMT

mummyv — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:02:16 GMT

Schools that offer dual track have an established O level track prior to offering the IP track. The IP track student is seen to be given "more" opportunities i.e. more modules mainly because the syllabus for IP is slightly different. It’s wider approach. Some parents choose O instead of IP in a dual track school because DC must be pushed via exams…

There is no elite differentiation between the O and IP track. However, if the school offers both tracks, children in these schools are academically stronger. In IP or O levels, the workload is extremely heavy both for studies and CCA. IP students are loaded with more project work while O levels is more exam based.

For dual track school, there is a possibility of switching track bef Sec 3 (usually promotion is at Sec 3). However, the crossover is more O to IP than IP to O…

Happy selecting! While we can plan and plot, at the end of the day it’s not easy to predict which school or track is best for DC unless DC is already in it.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:15:09 GMT

mwchua — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:15:09 GMT

Tks everyone for your advice will find out more from individual schools their intake of IP and O Level, if they are willing to disclose. Will also update of I manage to get some prelim stats

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:34:01 GMT

Funz — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:34:01 GMT

For me, the school culture, it’s philosophy and area of focus and CCA strength is more important than if it is a dual or single track school.

I think, regardless of whether the school is a dual or single track school, there will be disparity in opportunities given to different classes. Not sure if in Sec schools the classes are banded according to their subject strength like what they are doing now in Pr schs. But however they band them certain opportunities will usually be available only to the more capable.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:09:42 GMT

Pen88n — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:09:42 GMT

Being in O level track in an IP school will also give the kids in the O level track an opportunity to join the IP track should they perform well and top the cohort in lower sec. This acts as an incentive and a 2nd chance to opt for IP for the kids after PSLE.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:02:33 GMT

zeemimi — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:02:33 GMT

There are only a handful of dual track schools for girls. why don’t you post in the respective school thread and ask for feedback instead of speculating here? Your fears may be unfounded. I worried if my jae kid can fit into ip jc but she fit in really well.

i asked my ds if there is any differentiation between the ip and o level kids in his school. He doesn’t feel any difference. Maybe boys are just clueless most of the times and girls are more sensitive.

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:23:11 GMT

Mdm Koh — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:23:11 GMT

I think it depends on the school and how many O level classes there are. You may want to find out more from the students of the school that your DC is interested in…

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:02:49 GMT

KSP — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:02:49 GMT

I think to be in the upper 50% based on PSLE results would mean at least 5 points above the COP. So one would have to choose a Sec Sch which has a COP 5 points lower than PSLE Tscore. But in actual fact many (or majority) would choose within 0-2 points away. Unless the child has an outstanding Tscore which is way above the COP of the top 4. But for children with that kind of results really doesn’t matter whether in a big or small pond. JMHO…

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:59:55 GMT

Dreamgear — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:59:55 GMT

mwchua:
Would like to seek some advice from parents with kids in O level track in a dual track IP school.

It used to be that IP schools only offer 1 track, i.e. IP. So all kids are in the same track. However, now we have more schools which offer dual tracks of IP and O level. We often see this as positive since students can switch easily between the 2 tracks depending on their academic progression.

However, it is also quite clear which track has a higher COP. My concern is, if my child can only qualify for the O level track of an IP school, should I put her in that IP school or another school with similar COP, but everyone is taking O level and thus, more \"equal\"?

The reason for my reservation is that my child is currently already facing the different \"labelling\" in her primary school. The GEP kids in her school are often given more opportunities (no offence to parents with GEP kids), and this is quite common even during occasions like P5 camp and intermingling class. Even though they are just primary school kids, they can already feel and sense the \"differentiation\".

I myself came from a SAP school. During then there were still 2 streams of Special and Express. The 1 class of \"Express\" students were often marginalised and teachers do treat them, differently.

Kids nowadays are even more sensitive and aware of the often not subtle labelling being placed on them.

Welcome any frank sharing of experience from parents Please also feel free to drop me a pm if you think it's better to discuss that way.

:thankyou:

This is why understanding the culture and choosing the right fit is very important

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:45:00 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:45:00 GMT

zbear:
slmkhoo:
This is just my personal opinion. I think that, ideally, a child should be in the upper 50% of his school cohort. Of course, I know that this is not always possible, and things may happen which we cannot foresee. But when choosing a school, I would not intentionally place my child in a school where he is likely to be in the lower 50%.

slmkhoo, can you elaborate more as I cant follow what you are saying?

It's the \"big/small fish in a big/small pond\" issue. I think that a child will feel better about himself and struggle less if he is in the top 50% of his cohort. He will not be at the bottom and trying to catch up all the time, and will probably have more opportunities to take part in school activities etc. Academic results are important, but the child's self-esteem and all-round development are more important in the long run. A child who is barely keeping up will probably spend all his time being tutored to keep up, and feel bad about his performance.

I know that some kids will be motivated to push harder when they find themselves at the bottom, so parents have to \"read\" their kids. When choosing schools for my kids, we chose schools where we hoped they would be at least comfortably in the middle of the pack. It's turned out that one is well ahead and the other is not, but we did our best when choosing!

Reply to Advice needed - O level in a dual track IP school on Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:24:33 GMT

zbear — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:24:33 GMT

slmkhoo:
This is just my personal opinion. I think that, ideally, a child should be in the upper 50% of his school cohort. Of course, I know that this is not always possible, and things may happen which we cannot foresee. But when choosing a school, I would not intentionally place my child in a school where he is likely to be in the lower 50%.

slmkhoo, can you elaborate more as I cant follow what you are saying?