Hi, I am thinking of starting CMA at Novena. Does anyone have any referral code to share ? Also any recommended teachers ! Thanks much !

Hi Dokimo,


Both my kids are in GUG Thomson.

On (1), I generally don’t think so. But this year a few of the Chinese Teachers quit for various reasons - two left or leaving to go back to China, one to dunno where. The other teachers are mostly quite long serving GuG Teachers.
(2) English Teachers are almost all locals (I don’t think there is any foreigner currently) and speak well generally.
(3) don’t know about that cause all the teachers now are experienced teachers who have been with GUG for some time

Happy to help answer any other query you may have.

Btw if you want to sign up, you can PM me, i can split the referral fee with you

Hi Bubbleblossom,


On (1), I really cant tell. Last year they seem to have a system, where they will go outdoor per timetable - 2 or 3 outdoor a week (including water play) and they will follow the time table and go. This year, after COVID, no more water play. Then playground/outdoor also disappeared (apparently apart from COVID, it was due to fear of dengue cause across the road at united square that side got dengue cluster - the sch is really very KS abt this kind of thing). Recently, they started going outdoors again. So everyone gets more outdoor time now (older one is supposed to outdoor 4 times a week now).

On (2), I agree with you. I do feel that they seem to be a bit too focus on their curriculum that they sometimes lose sight that kids need to play a lot too. So other schs tell u that they got study, but end up only play and play no study, GUG seems to be a bit of the opposite, esp at K2 level. My impression is that the academic part always takes priority, so even tho timetable says play, they may end up doing the academic part, or more useful stuff like science experiments / art if there is not enough time. "Useless" things like playground will take a backseat to that. For the younger level, I think still a lot of fun and play - no issues with my younger one who enjoys school. But my older one at K2 says not enough play until they started going outdoors again recently, so she is happier now… So it really depends on what you want. I like that they make sure all the teaching is done in sch, and i can just play with them when i get home. for me, it is easier to play with them than to study with them.

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May I know by which year can the students in GUG can read and write ? Which year do they learn to write their own name ?[/quote]

I think it depends on the individual child. I noticed that by middle of K1, a number of my kid's classmates can read quite independently already. My other kid in N1 already started to write his own name letter by letter (though not perfectly yet) , so my guess is N2?

My kids are in the Thomson branch, n1 and k2. Curriculum is very good, very all rounded and broad base. At the n1 level they incorporate phonics into their play so my kid already knows all the phonics sounds and can sing them on his own and the teacher would introduce a trivia on each alphabet they learn eg if u is for umbra umbrella bird, they would teach the kids some fun facts about that bird. At k1 and k2 Is even more intensive and extensive, my kid comes home to tell me things I didn’t even know about. I thought it would be too difficult for them at that age but they never fail to surprise me what exposure can do to young children. I would say they are very structured and play with purpose. So not one of those schools that you play and play and learn nothing. Think every day of the month the food is different… you can pm for the menu