Hi fellow mummy, I’m an exisiting parent of GUG-Thomson. My eldest has graduated and my younger child has been there since 2020.


My children don’t have any issues in the school, and as a parent, I can confidently say that the teachers there have been doing their best despite almost losing their jobs due to the closure that was announced. I feel even more privileged as even though it’s a franchise now, most of the teachers from the previous management stayed on and have been working there for several years which shows their experience and expertise.

I see no harm in parent-teacher reviews as apart from being a teacher, they are also a parent. They believe in the programme, and thus they have enrolled in the school just as how we parents believe in the curriculum. If as teachers they have placed their children there, it also shows that the program is highly recognised and effective. So many parents wished to have their children continue their learning journey till they graduate and the school had the support of many parents to continue operating, some of us went all out to show our support and love for the school.

It’s unfortunate for you to feel but perhaps as parents, we have to reflect on our thoughts as well. Afterall, they are humans too and we cant expect perfection just as how we are not. I believe teachers do have some rules and so does the school. The curriculum is definitely doing justice as so many of my friend’s children graduated and are performing well in terms of social emotional skills and academics too. I’m sure your child has also benefited from the curriculum and that is a positive aspect that you should also have mentioned about apart from the negative experience only to be fair to them.

There are so many enrolments recently, something you might not be aware of. I always see new children every month and it is heartwarming to see the school grow under the care of the current committee now.

My personal opinion on the changes of staff - Anyone who is employed as a principal may not like the way the school operates, as they come from a different background, but GUG has had principals who have served more than 10 years with the company and did an excellent job with it. I have never experienced them being curt or rude, so I’m very sorry you had to experience something as such. For your information, there has been several ex-staffs returning as they share the passion and believe in the approach of GUG.

Uniforms are part of school policies. We cannot expect primary schools to allow our children to wear their own clothing despite any reason so I think that was nothing much the school could have done in that aspect apart from reinforcing it. There are somethings that we ought to follow. The school is air conditioned and I also use extra precautions in regards to the mosquitoes issue. The school’s location is such and they have taken up several effective measures since this issue was raised. It is very reassuring as the teachers have shared with us what the school has been doing. With the same hot weather, we cant ask for any schools to allow our children to be dressed in a different manner as the school uniform is in place for a reason.

If it is a one-time incident, I think as parents we don’t have to be petty, but definitely address the issue to them.
I have a friend who sends her children to one of the well-known preschools in Singapore. Their drop-off is at the main gate and parents are not even allowed to enter. So any goodbyes must be said before your child enters the school for health check. If your child has been enrolled newly, then it is understandable, but we need to learn how to let go at times so that they learn how to be independent.

During health-check, its such a busy period for teachers as well. The least we can do is not to make it any more harder for them. I don’t see why the final hug and kiss can’t be given before the child goes for their health checks. It is also how we educate our children so that they are not affected because of the parent’s wants.

There might be some time-outs for children to reflect as sometimes, we can find it hard to deal with 1 or 2 of our own kids. They are handling more than that and that is something we need to appreciate. Sometimes small unhappiness leads to bigger issues. It’s best to have an open heart talk (in a respectful manner) and build a rapport with the teachers. It takes 2 hands to clap.

At the end of the day, they are the ones caring and nurturing our child to the best of their ability, the least we can do is to appreciate and respect them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion so I’m just here to share my child’s happy journey and how contented I am since I have enrolled my child in GUG Thomson. I hope you have better school experiences now and that your child is happy.