Actually I can recommend Haig School which as a high percentage of expatriates, although not many western ones.
We purchased our
property next to Paya Leba Methodist, when my daughter was still at kindergarten, and couldn't get her into the school 30 meters from where we live.
The only option at the time was Haig School, and she was there up until last week, when she finally succeeded in a transfer, okay she was only 8 years old, but i can thank Haig School for the straight A's she achieved, and probably the reason why the other school decided to take her.
Haig School was 5 to 8 km from our home, but i didn't mind all the travelling time 20 minutes, I was impressed with the school, and the mixture of expatriate children was fine for me, my girl has picked up a little Malay and Indian and speaks Fluent Chinese on a higher level, with English and Mandarin speaking parents.
Although I forbid Singlish in the house, even from Singaporean children if possible, because in most cases it is not good for them or their future.
For her to come home with straight A's, is more than a miracle and not expected, because she is a difficult child when it comes to study, it's been teachers that have cared and my wife and i that never gave up, the effort that paid off.
Teachers have constantly kept in touch with me by telephone of any lack of concentration. So therefore I can honestly say, I was sad to move her away, when she was excepted into the new school next to our home this year.
I most certainly have no qualms about recommending Haig School, which appears to be the end of the line for many expatriates in many cases, because of distance and the fact we cannot choose.
We still have many friends there at Haig and the parents are great too! So its how much effort parents put in, that matters, rather than thinking there are good and bad schools.
The biggest threat to any childs education is the contract suppliers of reading and exercise material, which can have errors on occasions and for me, very frustrating and unprofessional that the books are not vetted for mistakes.
I was also told that if I offered my services it may help, just like SMS said above although I would never do that, basically having a bad education myself, I understand the importance of getting involved with my childs home work and many parents do not. My daughter is a tough cookie, when it comes to home work, so I have to lay down the law and get involved.
My school life, home work, consisted of being held back at the end of school, to write lines far too often, and i never did home work ever, although what does one expect when you get rubber stamped, by the system at 11 years old for not doing the 11 plus exam and you have social problems at home, who gives a toss about school.
I can also see the neglect here in Singapore too, because a parent is alcoholic and have family problems, there children are left with one supporter, normally the mother to work, and take the burden, although the privileged are well cared for, its the same the world over, so I'm not complaining, just bringing it to your attention, that it isn't the school alone, that makes good education.
