Singapore Expats

Which are the best schools for Primary Education?

Discuss about childcare, parenthood, playschools, educational, family & international school issues.

Sponsored by:

Canadian International School
Post Reply
akolah
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:13 am
Location: Moving to Singapore
Contact:

Which are the best schools for Primary Education?

Post by akolah » Sun, 06 Jan 2008 1:26 am

I am currently researching schools for our daughter who's currently in Year 1 at Primary School in Wimbledon, London. She is 6 year of age.

Please post any advice/experience of schools in Singapore which follow the IB or international GCSE as we would prefer her to go to a school that followed one of these curriculum.

Any thoughts about the United College of South East Asia?

Many thanks
Ardi Kolah
Moving to Singapore early 2008

Matney
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 754
Joined: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:11 am
Location: Brunei

Post by Matney » Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:03 pm

Have you gone back and read about the schools in the forum? Previous posts will answer your post. IB schools in Singapore are Overseas Family School (OFS), United World College(UWC) and Chatsworth. UWC is considered the best school in Singapore, but it will have a waiting list, they all do these days. There may be other schools since I left Singapore.

Stay Cool
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:15 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by Stay Cool » Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:33 pm

UWCSEA is opening a 'state of the art' new campus in Tampines in 2010. They also have a Transition Campus in Ang Mo Kio opening Aug 2008. You might want to call the admissions office and check out their website.

They are taking admissions right now and I have just registered my child. It is the best school in Singapore. Consider yourself very fortunate if you get in as the new campus opening has opened up places that wouldn't have been possible in the past.

Good Luck!
Stay Cool

akolah
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:13 am
Location: Moving to Singapore
Contact:

Thanks

Post by akolah » Sat, 12 Jan 2008 2:58 am

Thanks v much - that's v helpful. What are the fees? We're looking for a Primary School as our daughter is 6yrs. Also, which areas can you suggest we should look at for decent rental accommodation?

Many thanks again.
Ardi Kolah
Moving to Singapore early 2008

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40533
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Sat, 12 Jan 2008 8:55 am

Stay Cool wrote:It is the best school in Singapore.
Yes, I agree it is a "good" school. But to say that it is the "Best" school is subjective at best but you are entitled to your opinion. I don't think, however, that it should be taken as the gospel.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

Stay Cool
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:15 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by Stay Cool » Sun, 13 Jan 2008 1:22 pm

School fees are listed on the UWCSEA's website as are the applications forms. When I was overseas, I downloaded the forms and emailed/faxed them to their admisisons office as applications are logged in order of the receipt date and that helps with being higher up the waitlists. You have to pay the registration fees but you can do this by telegraphic transfer! It is so easy. The website is uwcsea.edu.sg.

Once you decide on which school and if it is UWC on the east side then it would be relatively cheaper in rental than the west side too. Tampines is in the east and closer to the airport.

School choice is ofcourse subjective and you have to check out whether the values match those of your family. The environment has to be the right fit for the child to develop his/her full potential. It is not an easy decision however, when I saw how much UWCSEA is involved in developing the 'whole child' I was absolutely convinced that we have made the right choice. It is not just about the academics although this school as amazing results its other extra curriculm activities, social services and global concerns involvement is one of a kind in Singapore.

I hope this helps!
Stay Cool

skye
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 202
Joined: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:04 am

Post by skye » Sun, 13 Jan 2008 5:41 pm

IGCSEs are taken around age 16 and IB at 18, so they don't have much relevance for your 6 year old, who is at the infants/primary stage. Some IB schools follow the Primary Years Program (PYP) which is a method of teaching rather than a prescribed list of things to be covered. You don't say when you need a place but that will determine whether you have much of a choice. Best bet is to contact all the International Schools and see what is possible then do your research on their websites re curriculum and if possible, visit and get a feel for the schools. Some are huge, others smaller or have multiple campuses. Will your child have to move campuses at a certain age? Will that affect where you choose to live? Some have only or mainly english speakers, others higher numbers of ESL children, which may give you a bigger international and cultural mix. You have to ask yourself what environment will best suit your child. The schools list info on fees on their websites or contact them direct.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Parenting, Family & Schools”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests