Any experiences with waiting lists for Chatsworth or Tanglin

[kfrendo]

I would be grateful for any experiences of waiting lists for Chatsworth or Tanglin Trust. I have a 4-yr old son and a 2-yr old daughter who I would like to get into Chatsworth, but am wondering if anyone has done this recently and had any idea of the size of waiting list, how long they had to wait to get a place, etc.

Any suggestions and feedback would be greatly appreciated.
We are relocating in January / February.

Kelly.

[EC]

Usually quite a few families moving about at this time of year. I would think it should be ok as long as the wait list is not too long. Any idea how many children are on the list?

[kfrendo]

I've been told by Chatsworth that there are about 8 - 10 children on their list at the moment.

What I have asked them about, and I'm not sure if anyone else knows about this, is whether you can speficy that you want the Orchard Campus when applying to Chatsworth. I have e-mailed them to ask but had no reply yet - due to timezones I guess they are perhaps on their way to bed now

[EC]

Yes, you can specify which campus. The East campus is running a different curriculum (PYP) than the Orchard campus.

Wait lists would be different for each campus.

Good luck!

[Matney]

Tanglin always has a wait list. And from experience, just because you get a place, start, and then they make a mistake grade level wise doesn't mean that they will find room for you. We know someone that this happened to after they had waited for 2 years to start both their children. Found out that their oldest child was placed in the wrong grade level (either year 6 or 7) and suddenly, didn't have room for that child. It took a whole term for her to start back, this is after she transferred to another school and made friends there. Opinion of Tanglin is not very good after this.
I haven't heard of a wait list at the Chatworth East. Call the enrolment officer to find out. There is always a lot of movement of families at this time of year.

[singapore_bob]

Maybe Matney should add that the school they support (the talkative school!) is vastly different in terms of academic standards, achievement, facilities and child-focused teaching than Tanglin. I would much rather send my child to a school where they will achieve - even if there is they make the occasional admissions error (did Matney not mention that every country has different ages for entry for years 6/7 - as the child mentioned waited 2 years - they must have been non-Bristish - thus entry into the correct year level is complex! Even within the UK there are different entry ages for year 7!)

Please do not fall into the expat parent trap of, 'admissions is easy - so the school sould be good!' It sadly is true that the longer the waitlists, the more selective, the more your child will achieve in all curriculum and personal areas.

[Matney]

Mr. Singapore Bob, I think you read my post incorrectly. I was only stating that check before starting and double check that their enrolment officer has your child in the correct grade level. I feel it doesn't speak well of their policies if they 'screw up' and then pushes the child out to another school because of their mistake. How do you think that makes the child feel and their family? This family had lived in two separate countries waiting for their spots at Tanglin, Dad working here and Mom and 2 children back home.
I didn't even touch on the education provided at any school here in Singapore. Tanglin is a good school, so is Chatsworth. Those were the only schools the OP mentioned. No school is perfect, just some would like to think they are....