Selecting local schools

[Sandy@1]

Hi

Apart from the distance to school, how to select low pressurising schools? Is it like high ranked schools are pressurising? I know pros and cons are in all schools. But I am also seeing it depends on each school as well. I want a school to be both academic and PE focused as well. Not too much pressure. How to select like that? Thanks

[abbby]

For local schools, you can try out the neighbourhood schools one which is near your home. The top ranking schools usually have a lot of prep work and extra lessons after school. Local schools probably do not emphasis so much on PE but more on CCAs. Some CCAs require 2-3 weeks training/practice ie: Sports, track and field, music etc.

If I were to choose primary school, I'll choose one near the home. Since upper primary level emphasis on CCAs and remedials so children tend to return home quite late.

[Sandy@1]

Hi abby

Thanks for your reply. Top ranking school means till what rank it will be like that?
Thanks

[smoulder]

Academic focused and low stress.... In Singapore.... Sounds like an oxymoron.

[Sandy@1]

I understand. Many people select school based on balloting. I am unclear on this.

[abbby]

Hi abby

Thanks for your reply. Top ranking school means till what rank it will be like that?
Thanks

Top 10 schools: Raffles Girls Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Catholic High, Tao Nan, ACS, St Nicholas etc..

Getting in can be challenging unless you're alumni (might ballot) or live nearby (ballot too).

[abbby]

I understand. Many people select school based on balloting. I am unclear on this.

Priority admission to a school will be given to children in this order:

Singapore Citizens (SC) living within 1km of the school.
SCs living between 1km and 2km of the school.
SCs living outside 2km of the school.
Permanent Residents (PR) living within 1km of the school.
PRs living between 1km and 2km of the school.
PRs living outside 2km of the school.

Also, it will be in Phases:

Phase 1: Child in the current school who has sibling entering pri 1

Phase 2A: For a child:
Whose parent or sibling is a former student of the primary school, including those who have joined the alumni association of the primary school as a member.
Whose parent is a member of the School Advisory or Management Committee.
Whose parent is a staff member of the primary school.
From the MOE Kindergarten under the purview of and located within the primary school.

Phase 2B: For a child:
Whose parent has joined the primary school as a parent volunteer not later than 1 July of the year before P1 registration and has given at least 40 hours of voluntary service to the school by 30 June of the year of P1 registration.
Whose parent is a member endorsed by the church or clan directly connected with the primary school.
Whose parent is endorsed as an active community leader.

Phase 2C: For a child who is not yet registered in a primary school.

Phase 2C Supplementary : For a child who is not yet registered in a primary school after Phase 2C.

Top schools will usually require parent volunteering for XX number of hours in one or two years, but also might not guarantee a spot.

[malcontent]

Hi abby

Thanks for your reply. Top ranking school means till what rank it will be like that?
Thanks

As a parent with a child who just completed the entire system from N1 to JC2 (all 16 years), I can tell you that the local system is not for the faint of heart. All schools follow the MOE curriculum, so there’s no easy school… the main variable is how slack the students are at the school. And slack students are not always the kind you want your child to be friends with. You need to know your kid. My first took to the local system like a fish to water, scored well enough on PSLE to get into St. Nick’s IP and finished JC with full marks on all H2’s. My other child is a totally different story, and ended up in International School… and that was for the best.