looking for a local school for my 14-year old

[kathyram87]

Hi All!

My family and I moved here about 4 months ago and we have a 13-year old (almost 14) whom we want to enroll in a local school. International School prices are just waaay out of our budget. And since we're staying indefinitely (my husband's here on a local hire) the idea of letting our boy go to local school might help him integrate better with society. We've already enrolled him in a "tuition" (tutorial) school that'll help him adjust to the work load of a local school (wwOW). But we'd rather try our luck appyling to the school directly rather than having the government assign him to a school through the Admissions Exam for International Students (AEIS- if you pass it, you have no choice but to go to the school assigned to you).

SO, does anyone out there know of a good local school...preferably in the Tanjong Katong area. By good I mean warm, friendly, well-balanced (focussed not just on academic excellence but emotional, social and spiritual development as well.)

Also, how do you know if a school is a public or private school?

Many thanks!!!

[Thaiclan]

Which country are you moving from, and what was his school experience like there? Also how long do you anticipate staying in Singapore for?
I'm only asking these questions as Singapore really does have a unique school system. There are lots of assessments, homework, academic expectations and depending on the character and interests of your child you may unwittingly do more harm than good by immersing him in a system he just isnt emotionally prepared for. If you are staying here for only a year you may want to look at other options.
As for socialising and immersing in the culture, there are many other and better ways to do that other than via school. Enrichment programs, camps, tuition, local hangouts, groups, church and on and on and on.....

[kathyram87]

Hi Thaiclan, thanks for taking the time to reply to this!

We're from the Philippines. My son came from a relatively small school (about 30 to a class and only 4 classes per grade level) where everyone knew everyone because they all pretty much grew up together from first grade. He made good grades and usually brought home some sort of academic award at the end of each term. His study habits could still need improving, but it's only a matter of helping him establish a better after-school routine. He's an excellent reader so his visualization skills makes it easy for him to absorb new topics. Math poses a unique challenge. But he gets it, with practice.

We enrolled him in Brighton Commercial Training a week ago and it seems to be doing him good, socially and academically. He brought home a couple of new friends and had a very nice time hanging out with them all afternoon. He's reportedly doing well with his other classmates, gaining some sort of popularity because of his English skills. (Most of his classmates speak very little of it.) I guess helps boost his self-confidence when they're always looking to him for help with their homework, and seeing him come up with all the right answers in class. (He's by nature a shy person but lately we've been seeing him open up to people more, and he started taking public transportation by himself for the first time.) But at home we ALL struggle with his math homework. (Thankfully, his teacher is one of those rare math teachers that are as patient as they are smart.) So I think that's basically where our main school challenge will be, when we enroll him in a local school. I have no doubt being with locals will do him more good than harm. I really believe the experiences of being exposed to new cultures will only expand his mind and make him more tolerant of other people's differences. Besides, kids are resilient. And the old adage is true, what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger.

We expect to be here a long time. My husband came here on a local hire (not expat status) so there is no time limit on his contract.

So, any good local schools?