Dazed and Confused MUM

[tdavies]

Hi
My husband was told that we were moving to Singapore at the end of the month due to an urgent job requirement. My eldest daughter is due to start school in September. We are coming from the UK, however I am Australian and my husband is British.
I am really finding this schooling thing so overwhelming. Do I need to contact each school directly to find out about waiting lists? Will I be able to get my daughter into a school at such short notice? Are the schools closed for the summer. Im interested in the British system or IB, but dont want to send her anywhere too pretentious.
We live in south east London now and Im able to walk my daughter to school. How does it work in Singapore? Do people live within walking distance to school? Or do they drive, catch the bus?
Also she does modern dance and tap here in the UK and I was wondering if anyone knows of a similiar type class.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Matney]

The two school which seem to follow the British system are Tanglin Trust and Chatsworth. Tanglin will have a waiting list, Chatsworth may not. Chatsworth, Overseas Family School(OFS), and I believe United World College (UWC) follow the IB program. UWC have waiting lists. OFS never does. My Britiish neighbour's 3 daughters attended Chatsworth and were quite happy there until they moved onto India.

Yes, you will need to contact the school directly. Check the web. Each school should have their secretaries on during the summer months and most likely someone from admissions would be there to answer your questions.

You may be able to walk your daughter to school, this will depend on where you find accommodation. Some parents drive their children to school. Most schools, if not all, provide school buses which cost extra, but will pick up/drop off your child from the condo guard house. Being a former teacher in Singapore, my students came all three ways: walking, driving, and by bus.

Most school have after school activities which may include your dancing requirements. I'm sure there are dance schools in Singapore, I just can't help with that one.

It is all a bit daunting: moving countries, finding accommodation and making sure your children are happy and settled. Remember they adapt to change a lot better and faster than we do! Good luck!

[CAT777]

Schools is o'k in Singapore...no worries...a lot of us -expats are living here, most of them with a families and children...here you can find dancing school, even though btw.locals it is not so popular

[ffsgrelier]

hi
Was in your shoes not so long ago . Came from Se london at the end of march with added 'complication' of being 31 weeks pregnant at tthe time. My 2 boys are in Dover Court prep school in the infant section and i think the teachers were amazing and because the classes were not very big, the boys settled very easily and made friends easily. The infant section wasn't big and overwhlming either and the facilities are good. All th staff seem to know the first names of all th kids which is a good sign i think.
Downside for us was the school buses as we are living very centrally so boys were picked up at 7.10 am for a 8.30 start and last dropped off after school at 4 pm when school finished at 3 . Worth calling the transport company to find that out before you pick your condo/house. we have sorted it out by buying a car which makes our lives easier with now 3 kids.
Dover Court has ECAs after school but only for year 2 onwards. They do follow the uk curriculum maybe not as rigidly as tanglin but they do not have the massive waiting list either.
Hope this helps
best of luck with the move.
Frederique

Ps : i visited tanglin and loved it too but very very big school. I have not seen Chatsworth but have heard good feedback from the one situated in orchard too.

[LBS03]

Hi,

We are in the process of moving to Sg over the next month. I had somewhat similar considerations re schooling e.g., either UK curriculum or IB. After visiting a lot of schools - decided on Tanglin, where my kids would be starting this September. BTW, I had put them on their waitlist about an year ago.

My take on Tanglin:

Established school, good track-record, teachers / students / parents seem to love the school, amazing facilities.

On the downside: bit too british (for the record, am british) and very expensive.