Which are the best schools for Primary Education?

[akolah]

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

[Matney]

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]

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!

[akolah]

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.

[sundaymorningstaple]

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.

[Stay Cool]

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!

[skye]

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.