Dover court-why no waiting list?

[MrsK]

Hi have been looking at schools this week and am curious about Dover Court. It is the only alternative to Tanglin in terms of the UK curriculum, and, as Tanglin is full to the brim, shouldn't Dover be busier than it is? It is very friendly and has a great ethos but seems dated and out of touch with developments, particularly technology.I have read all the posts about Dover on this forum which are mostly positive so it would seem that families are happy there. How does it work with no parent group?

Also impressed with OFS but is just huge! any feedback.

Thanks

[Makingthemove]

Mrs K, we wondered that too (but have signed on the line anyway). Must be a cut-off point at some point. Interested in feedback you get...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Maybe they don't cater to waiting lists? e.g., first come, first served. It would give them less administrative headaches or less administrative costs. Just guessing.

[BigSis]

Some schools are just more popular than others I guess. I've always heard positive things about Dover Court but we didn't ever consider it because it's too far from where we live.

Also I'm sure they didn't used to have a secondary school - I could be wrong about that but I thought they used to be just primary. If that is true it may be that people didn't put their children there in the past because they'd have to move them again when they reached 11 years.

[Makingthemove]

In fact, Mrs K, 'what the other two said'. We went round and round the websites and forums sifting through for clues and revealing comments and in the end, forced to choose from overseas, sight unseen, had to just rely on the feel that we got. It's not how we'd usually pick a school but I came to the conclusion that pretty much most of these international fee-paying schools were of a high standard and we were spoilt for choice (as was Dover Court, in terms of applicants).

Am I right in thinking you've visited the school? Did you / do you think you'll ask them the question?

I wonder if local schools have waiting lists? They all sound of an even higher standard...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Getting into a local school is a fish of a different sort. There, they are given priorities based on Citizenship and distance from the school and a sort of "old boy" network. In other words, Kiasu parents will move to be within 1 km of the school that they desire about a year or two before the child even attains school age. Then the parents will volunteer their time at the school building up a store of "brownie points" as it were. Usually the "better" schools (and I use that term loosely) are filled on the first ballot. If not, then on the second ballot Citizens who live within 2 km are given the next choice. From there, if any places left, on the 3rd Ballot PRs & others are given a chance for the remaining seats with PRs taking precedence over foreigners on DPs.

[Makingthemove]

Blimey. Sounds exhausting. (Actually, sounds a lot like north London)

[scarbowl]

I think they have a high population of students receiving EAL (english as an additional language). Isn't Avondale also a British curricula school?

[mrs.r]

Hi MrsK,

Sorry I don't have an answer to your post.

We did wonder the same thing. I am travelling out to Singapore for a visit next week so hope to view a few school. I have contacted Tanglin & Chatsworth they have long waiting lists so not much chance of getting a place for the new school year.

It's hard to decide what will be best for your child from such a distance and being limited by where there is available places.

I hope you don't mind me asking;

What were your personal opinions of the DC?
Which other schools did you visit? What did you think of them?
Did the others give you any indication of a place being available in Aug/Sept?

Thank you.

[MrsK]

Dear mrs r
Hope I'm not too late to reply to you. I liked Dover though thought it was old fashioned. Tanglin is amazing in fact too perfect! OFS seemed huge and I didn't consider chatsworth because of Its location by orchard road.

[mrs.r]

Have you decide on a school yet? How old is your child/children?

My 5 year old and I are heading out to Sing tomorrow for a week. We are visiting various schools and looking at apartments.
We are visiting Dover Court, Chatsworth, Nexus and OFS. We couldn't get an appointment to visit Tanglin for next week so hubby will go there alone.

I will post my personal opinion on schools and apartments when we get back.

[welshfowlers]

Please let us know how you got on, we will only be visiting in July and need a pace in Yr 5 for August September and finding it hard to get a place whilst only looking at web pages...