Local vs International schools

[merlion88]

Whats been your experience? and in particular to the below questions? we are considering Primary 1 at NPS, St Josephs International or UWC vs a local school (likely to be some way off from where we stay, as my child is not a PR)

Local Schools
1. Whats the % that make it to the express stream?
2. Did you find your child or yourself too stressed coping with homework?
3. If your child didn't make it to the express stream, was he made to feel inferior by other students or teachers?
4. Did you notice any change (for the worse or better) in your child's personality by going to a local school?
5. Is the lack of creativity such a big issue?
6. Do you send your child for tuition? if so at what stage? primary or secondary school? how much do you spend monthly on these?

International Schools (besides the exorbidant fees)
1. Are they academically a bit too easy?
2. Are they just marketing the "lack of creativity in local schools", if not, in what way do you find your child more creative than those that attend local schools?
3. Do you find your child doing better in an international vs a local school environment, if so, in what ways?

[movingtospore]

Well, this doesn't answer your question really but my experience with local schools was that they didn't really want us there. Tried two years in a row to get a spot in primary 1 - the only one they had was way out by the airport somewhere. So we gave up. Others have had more luck - I've heard the catholic local schools can be easier to get into.

Although my bank account is not happy with going the International School route I'm very happy with the school we're at now. It is definitely not easy and there are many opportunities for sports, arts, etc.

Buyer beware though - we started out at a mediocre international school and I would say that was too easy - there didn't seem to be any standards at all. Changed schools and our current school is much better. I wish I could have gone to a school like this! Choose well if you go the international route. And good luck on getting a spot if you go the local route!

[BedokAmerican]

If you go the local route, keep in mind that "public" in Singapore doesn't mean "free." For a foreigner from a non-ASEAN country, it's $513 per month for primary and $670 monthly for secondary school (if I'm recalling things correctly). Here's a link on tuition/fees, scroll toward bottom of page:

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissi ... eral-info/

Like the previous poster mentioned, you might not be able to get your child into the school of your choice or the school nearest your residence. And if you have several children, it could be very difficult to get them all into the same public school.

A local once told me that public schools can prioritize based on whether the child had a parent attend the school. That sounded odd to me. I know that legacies hold some weight with some colleges, but legacies at the primary school level? I was stunned.

[Wd40]

I am glad my daughter is still in playgroup. We are good here for the next 3 years N1, K1 and K2 i.e. until 2017 end. There is montessori called Hope near our house in Tampines and the fees is like $150 or $250 something. If we are in Singapore until then, we are planning to put our daughter into Hope for N1 onwards. P1 onwards looks quite scary. Thats the stage when lots of my colleagues decided to leave Singapore.

[zzm9980]

A local once told me that public schools can prioritize based on whether the child had a parent attend the school. That sounded odd to me. I know that legacies hold some weight with some colleges, but legacies at the primary school level? I was stunned.

It's true. See Phases 2A(1) and 2A(2):

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissi ... on/phases/


Why they can't just label each phase numerically is beyond me. Kiausism so parents can think they're applying in "Phase 2" when it's really the 6th or 7th? Or is it logic taught by the local education system?