Smaller primary schools offering IB?

[zhenni]

Hi,


I am new to this forum and doing a trip to SG at the end of this month to look at schools for my 5 and 7 yr old who are currently at a small primary school here in the UK. We are looking to move next summer to start kids next academic year, 2014.

I would like to find a school that offers the IB curriculum, but am quite concerned at the size of some of the top schools - my kids are not overly confident and I don't want them to feel lost. School costs will be covered by the company so fees are not the main issue, though they will not pay a 'jump the queue' fee if there is a long waiting list.

Does anyone have any suggestions on smaller IB schools?

I am really excited about the prospect of living in SG, but need to arrange some school visits quickly and am overwhelmed at where to start!

[katbh]

Eton House in Broadrick I believe is still IB. It is a gentle school and very small.

[zhenni]

Thanks very much. I will add it to my list.

[PNGMK]

IB is .... not that worth it. I'd focus more on finding a good school wiht small class sizes that maybe does your home curriculum. ICS is a good school as well as Nexus apparently.

[katbh]

^ Yes, I was wondering why you prefer an IB school. Is there any reason behind this?

[zhenni]

My kids are in the UK system at present, which incidentally is different here in Wales than England, as it's more play-based and relaxed, they don't push reading and maths at all until age 7, more like the Scandinavian model. I am an IB DP examiner and very impressed with the academic rigour, and also the holistic approach of the IB curriculum at the diploma level, and would like to track my kids into the IB system, which presumably starts with PYP.

However, if the school was the right fit and not too pushy on exams, results and such, I would willingly take it over a huge IB-based primary school. I have heard that highly 'ranked' schools such as UWC, are so concerned with maintaining their results that they chuck pupils out who can't keep up! My kids are both bright, but as they have come from a play-based educational system here, they may not test as highly as other kids at this stage. I believe that at primary age, kids should learn at their own pace and not be concerned with tests and too much homework. I have previously lived in Asia, and know how pushy parents can be, even when their kids are still young. Does this carry over to International Schools in SG?


Out of interest, is there a reason you don't really rate the IB, and are you talking about PYP only?

I appreciate any insight into International Schools in SG as there are so many!

[Hannieroo]

Some are very pushy, some are not. It's a subjective thing because one person's pushy is another's laid back.

You know what your children need. Visit a few schools, you'll find one that feels right.

My 5 year old is in pyp and they do reading and maths. As much as I am for play based modules I wouldn't have gone for a system that didn't do done formal learning.

[katbh]

^+1
Visit the schools and talk to the teachers. I would suggest not going for one system over another - but rather look to the schools. Most primary schools systems are relatively interchangeable and you can move from one to another. UK to Australian to IB to American.
PYP is not a necessary prerequisite to undertake IB at Secondary Level and to be frank PYP is pretty similar to all other curriculums in International Schools in Singapore where there is large and varied multi racial schooling.
I do not believe that large schools like UWC and Tanglin (the two offenders) would even consider asking primary school students to leave, but it is my understanding that the under performing kids at UWC and Tanglin were secondary kids and failing so for other reasons (social reasons) and that if children are hardworking, there would be no question of asking even the most 'intellectually challenged' to leave.

[Hannieroo]

I've only ever heard of it being 16 year olds.

With both of my children I have done Australian, English, Scottish, US and PYP. I see no major differences, for me the success is entirely down to whether it's a whole child philosophy and the teacher. A good teacher will get results with any system.

Our school has a no homework policy apart from reading at P1 (5-6). Their day is tiring enough.

[zhenni]

Thanks, I thought it must only be older kids. Appreciate the feedback.

I will be visiting UWC and Tanglin too and as you say, getting a feel for the school is most important.