Schooling confusion

[Jacstar]

Hello, I am sure this topic has been done to death but I am really struggling to get my head around the schooling options for expats in Singapore. Can people please help me by advising what options there are for primary school aged children.
I have found out a lot of information about the International Schools like Tanglin Trust and Stamford etc. I don't understand with them what is required to be paid upfront?
I have seen the options for the top local schools but wonder if there is an option in between the top International Schools and the local schools.
If you go on waiting lists for the top international schools what do people do in the meantime?
Thanks for all help offered to inform me better, we are considering a move to Singapore but need to know what we are commiting to first. Thank you

[Mad Scientist]

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

The above are some of the comms we had recently. Read. If still not enough info, go to the search button at the top right hand corner under the profile link and type in whatever you are after. Then on you will be able to understand all your concerns. It is a pretty much standard concerns that has been discussed before

[Jacstar]

[quote="Mad Scientist"]http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... on+schools

The above are some of the comms we had recently. Read. If still not enough info, go to the search button at the top right hand corner under the profile link and type in whatever you are after. Then on you will be able to understand all your concerns. It is a pretty much standard concerns that has been discussed before[/quote]

Thanks for those links, I am hoping the first one is irrelevant as I am not looking to get divored. I have read all of these links and many more like them. What I can't find through the extensive research I have done is
1. what is actually required to be paid up front for the schools?
2. what options exist outside of the $25k a year International Schools and local schools?
3. what do people do if they want an International School and the wait list is 1 - 2 years. What do they do with their children while they wait for this position to come up?

I understand schooling is a common query but I am struggling to find the information I need to make decisions. I find heaps about which schools people like and dislike and we have already made our list of the top international schools we like but I have two children and coming up with a $25k per child is not an easy task so I want to see if there are other quality options available.

[Mad Scientist]

Sorry , I cannot help you on your questions. Maybe others can help

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hello, I am sure this topic has been done to death but I am really struggling to get my head around the schooling options for expats in Singapore. Can people please help me by advising what options there are for primary school aged children.
I have found out a lot of information about the International Schools like Tanglin Trust and Stamford etc. I don't understand with them what is required to be paid upfront?

The following from the Singapore American School - the balance will be communicated upon acceptance:

http://www.sas.edu.sg/admissions/online.html

The completed online-application must be accompanied by the full payment of non-refundable application fees (S$3,424.00) including 7% GST. In addition, a 2% administrative fee will be charged for all credit card transactions and the total payment will be S$3,492.48. Online payments may be made using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

From Tanglin Trust:

http://www.bolmamabol.com/web/tanglin-t ... s-results/

School Fee Schedule 2010-2011

Enrolment Fee: S$2675 (applicable to all year groups)

From Overseas Family School:

http://www.ofs.edu.sg/admissions/tuition-fees/

And so forth. You can find a list of International Schools on my links page below. Not all are suitable for your child but it's the majority of reputable ones. The bigger brand names also have what is knows as corporate "donations" in order to hold places for their expatriate employees' children (these are figures in the hundreds of thousands.

I have seen the options for the top local schools but wonder if there is an option in between the top international schools and the local schools.

There are not any options between the International Schools and the local school system. Both have waiting lists to get into (the local school system has a priority admissions scheme so often a given school doesn't even have enough room for all the locals (who naturally come first) so getting into one may well mean travel distances further than that which you might be comfortable with.

If you go on waiting lists for the top international schools what do people do in the meantime?

Lots of parents just wait while other use the home schooling route.

http://expathomeschool.com/forums-singapore/
http://teachingourown.wordpress.com/
http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/S ... efault.asp

Thanks for all help offered to inform me better, we are considering a move to Singapore but need to know what we are commiting to first. Thank you

[Jacstar]

Thank you. That clears up a lot for me. It sounds like no matter what option you run with it is almost impossible to get your children into a school straight away. Is that right?

Are the fees for the schools paid in term blocks or are they required to be paid in full for the year? So the admin fees come off the fees once the child is accepted or is that additional?

I hadn't heard about the home schooling, definitely something I can read up on now.

Thanks again for your detailed reply. It is much appreciated. Some of this information os so hard to get your head around from a distance.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unfortunately, my children went through the local system (not unfortunately but by choice - just I don't have ready answers for the int'l systems) so I don't really know how the school fees are paid, e.g., by the semester or the year. I don't think the registration fee will be considered as part of the school fees, as most say that it's a non-refundable amount, so if you accepted, I would plan on another larger chunk when the kid start school.

Mid-year start-ups will be virtually impossible for lack of places. Some of the schools actually have longer than a year's wait list, depending on the grade the child is starting in. This is why homeschooling is gaining traction here. Maybe 'Mary Hatch Bailey' or 'road.not.taken' will drop in with more concrete facts as their kids went through the SAS for many, many years, if not all, of their schooling here.

[cbavasi]

To the original poster - you haven't mentioned the ages of your children. I can't speak for all International Schools but for my children's school there is the initial (non-refundable) fee to the school (only once) and then the fees are broken into 3 term payments. There is also a term deposit for each child that is held until you withdraw. You will also need to account for transportation. If they are planning on taking the school bus this will be an added expense.

If you have narrowed down your top International Schools - it's best to call them for the exact deposit payments, availability, ect. In re: to the waiting lists being extremely long - this can be the case for certain years and then in other years there are spots available so don't think because you read on here there is no space - this is the case - it's really best to call.

[Jacstar]

Thank you for that info. My boys are 5 and 9. They are in Prep and Grade 4 here in Australia. It's all starting to make a bit more sense now. I have read about entrance exams as well, is this needed for the little ones as well or is that more for secondary?

Thanks everyone for the help, it really is helping me to understand better.

[boffenl]

I'm not sure of the waiting lists anymore. I'd query the individual schools to be sure. I know when I arrived 5 years ago the waiting lists were horrible but I think most schools have spots available, especially as new campuses are built.

Like SundayMorning, my daughter attends a local school. I also know that loacl schools have spots available if you go there (they see you're white--sorry, racist here). It's happened twice now that I know of and just suspected before. But you have to make the effort--if you want the local option--to go and visit the schools.

Good luck! We chose the local route after visiting three International Schools and three local schools. The Singapore curriculum is very intense if you let it--four and a half years on we're incredibly pleased.

[cbavasi]

Jacstar - You may have more of an issue with finding space in Prep than in Grade 4 - but if you secure a place for your older child and they commence - then in most schools the sibling will move up on the list. Again, it's really about calling the individual school. In re: to testing - I haven't heard of any children being tested before Grade 7 - but many schools would require a report from the previous school and in some cases may meet with the child (especially if the birthday is on the borderline between grades) to assess placement.