Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
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Hi there!
Zero risk for Phase 2B for PLMGS. Your girls are guaranteed a place there. It is a good holistic school with affiliated secondary. Your girls will have a nice stress-free time to bloom over there.
Things don’t look so good for your boy’s chances. Maris Stella in Phase 2c always has balloting for 1-2km. If demand from Bidadari residents heats up over the years, then <1km will edge out the 1-2km and you may not even get a chance to ballot.
Likewise for ACS (junior) for Phase 2B. Always balloting for >2km. Watch the demand closely as your son grows up. You should enrol him to Mayflower Pri first then watch the numbers to decide whether to switch on the final day of 2B.
Relocate to Bishan and attempt to enrol Phase 2C for Ai tong Pri? You’d be extremely crazy to do that. The balloting odds (and confirm u have to ballot) range from as bad as 5x oversubscribed (pessimistic) or 1.5x oversubscribed (optimistic). IMO it is not worth the fight just for a school with no affiliated secondary. I have seen the P1-P2 exam papers that the Ai Tong kids have to take, they are extremely difficult compared to other schools. Even if your kids are brilliant at studying since preschool days, my personal opinion, its cruel to be subjecting them to this sort of stress level just mugging for the exams and keeping up with the school standards. No life.
If what u really want is a co-ed school for all your kids to study together, and u are willing to move house, I strongly suggest u move to Dover and enrol your kids all to Fairfield. 2B <1km is a guaranteed spot. Your boy will thank u for it. And your property investment will be well worth your while. Affiliated secondary plus JC all in Dover. Your 3 kids can enjoy their schooling relatively stress-free. Your relocation will give u peace of mind for the next 17 years at least. No better place to relocate to, in your situation and for your family. -
P1Des:
For your children batch now under AL marking psle scheme, always try to target affliated school. Times had changed. Is very easy to clock up points per subject, under AL. Unlike the past T-score system.Dear Chefkiasu and Fellow parents,
Can I get some opinions/advice on my kids P1 registration?
Living: Hougang (Near Kovan MRT). Within 1KM of PLMGS and 2KM of Maris stella
Kids: 5 years girl, 2 years boy and 1 year girl
Membership & Association:
1) Member of a Methodist church
2) Alumni of Mayflower Primary School
Opinions/Advice:
1) Any risk in registering my girl for Phase 2B for PLMGS?
2) What’s the risk to register my boy for Maris Stella in Phase 2c?
3) Should I even try ACS (junior) for Phase 2B?
4) Should I consider relocating to Bishan and attempt to enrol Phase 2C for Ai tong Pri
Forget about Ai Tong, because it has no affliation to any Secondary school and balloting within 1 km at Phase 2C is very risky, as many people had been balloted out. Don't waste time on Ai Tong
If possible, just enrol under Paya Lebar Methodist primary, study all the way up to affliated Secondary, and to an affliated Junior College awaiting, Anglo Chinese Junior College. If not from any affliated Methodist denomination Secondary school, it is not easy to enter ACJC, as her cut off point nowadays also not easy to achieve, as the O-level exam getting more difficult, than compared to the past. Many subjects have become more slanted towards application based, in terms of answers required.
After Psle, if don't want to remain in Paya Lebar Methodist Girls Secondary, prefer to go MGS because of IB programme there, also worth considering. Whichever Methodist Secondary school, whether remain in PLMGS Sec or go to MGS Sec, all are affliated to ACJC, in Year 5.
Don't lump your 2 children, son and daughter together. Settle your first child enrolment first, ie. Your older one.
For Maris Stella, once Bidadari estate open up for residents to start shifting sometimes towards middle of year 2020, can forget about Maris Stella, if you are not an SC staying less than 1 km. -
P1Des:
I believe you have already gotten pretty good advice from fellow parents who are very experienced. The only thing I need to add is that you should consider if you want your kids to be in the same or different schools. There are pros and cons of both angles - convenience vs customization. Some think that customization is better - it will certainly cost more, but not necessarily more effective depending on the kids and the institution. You need to think carefully if you can handle the kids being in different schools.Dear Chefkiasu and Fellow parents,
Can I get some opinions/advice on my kids P1 registration?
Living: Hougang (Near Kovan MRT). Within 1KM of PLMGS and 2KM of Maris stella
Kids: 5 years girl, 2 years boy and 1 year girl
Membership & Association:
1) Member of a Methodist church
2) Alumni of Mayflower Primary School
Opinions/Advice:
1) Any risk in registering my girl for Phase 2B for PLMGS?
2) What’s the risk to register my boy for Maris Stella in Phase 2c?
3) Should I even try ACS (junior) for Phase 2B?
4) Should I consider relocating to Bishan and attempt to enrol Phase 2C for Ai tong Pri -
One thing I have noticed is that boys who have grown up with sisters are generally more gentle-natured, ie they have been trained not to play too rough.
While such boys are good for society and make very good husbands in future, they may not adapt well when thrown into an all-boys school. The boisterous camaraderie and general rough-housing that is common among boys when they play together…may shock some milder parents or kids who have not encountered this before. I’m not even talking about outright bullying situations. I’m just covering their general natural behaviour. -
P1Des,
Just to add to take note that properties prices at Dover area (within 1km) is very high. If the family hv no issue selling off your current to purchase one at Dover, then you’re blessing all your 3 kids with benefits of time savings in many many ways:-
1. walking distance (near home)
2. Do not hv to wake up early for sch bus
3. Kids learn independence of going to sch on their own
4. Arrives home earlier for lunch then peers staying far off
5. Caregivers can run errands before picking up kids as there is NTUC Fairprice within estate & wet mkt and Sheng Siong supermkt across road at Ghim Moh
6. Affiliated Sec sch at FairField Sec Sch or if PSLE T-Score good to qualify for ACSI IP, it’s just across Dover estate.
7. FairField Sec Sch affiliation to ACJC just next to FairField Schools.
8. NUS & Spore Poly within 1-2km
Yes. It’ll be great investment (there are HDBs at both Dover & Holland V but check OneMap for within 1km; condos at Dover & Bouna Vista) considering stability of environment for yr 3 kids to grow up in. If you can settle your decision by next year, u’ll becready for yr eldest P1 registration.
All the best to family decision. It’s an exciting journey! -
zac's mum:
Or the sisters becomes tomboys enjoying legos, tankers, dinosaurs, planes and insects? :evil:One thing I have noticed is that boys who have grown up with sisters are generally more gentle-natured, ie they have been trained not to play too rough.
While such boys are good for society and make very good husbands in future, they may not adapt well when thrown into an all-boys school. The boisterous camaraderie and general rough-housing that is common among boys when they play together...may shock some milder parents or kids who have not encountered this before. I’m not even talking about outright bullying situations. I’m just covering their general natural behaviour. -
Estéema:
U mean me ah?
Or the sisters becomes tomboys enjoying legos, tankers, dinosaurs, planes and insects? :evil:zac's mum:
One thing I have noticed is that boys who have grown up with sisters are generally more gentle-natured, ie they have been trained not to play too rough.
While such boys are good for society and make very good husbands in future, they may not adapt well when thrown into an all-boys school. The boisterous camaraderie and general rough-housing that is common among boys when they play together...may shock some milder parents or kids who have not encountered this before. I’m not even talking about outright bullying situations. I’m just covering their general natural behaviour.
I grew up playing with my brother’s Mask & Transformers toys. I can “pa” any cockroach dead & carry my tantrumming kicking toddler boy away from shopping mall to carpark under one arm, the other arm loaded with groceries.
Tomboy girls can still survive in girls school. We had to move our own tables and chairs and heavy concert band instruments ourselves! -
Estéema:
A universal statement and generalisation that isn't always true.
...zac's mum:
One thing I have noticed is that boys who have grown up with sisters are generally more gentle-natured, ie they have been trained not to play too rough.
...
Or the sisters becomes tomboys enjoying legos, tankers, dinosaurs, planes and insects? :evil:
Chinese says, 一种米养百种人 -
zac's mum:
U mean me ah?
Or the sisters becomes tomboys enjoying legos, tankers, dinosaurs, planes and insects? :evil:Estéema:
[quote=\"zac's mum\"]One thing I have noticed is that boys who have grown up with sisters are generally more gentle-natured, ie they have been trained not to play too rough.
While such boys are good for society and make very good husbands in future, they may not adapt well when thrown into an all-boys school. The boisterous camaraderie and general rough-housing that is common among boys when they play together...may shock some milder parents or kids who have not encountered this before. I’m not even talking about outright bullying situations. I’m just covering their general natural behaviour. I grew up playing with my brother’s Mask & Transformers toys. I can “pa” any cockroach dead & carry my tantrumming kicking toddler boy away from shopping mall to carpark under one arm, the other arm loaded with groceries.
Tomboy girls can still survive in girls school. We had to move our own tables and chairs and heavy concert band instruments ourselves![/quote]zac's mum :nailbite: I'm getting old & bruise easily ah. How if I'll like to meetup with u for teatime? Now hv worry.
But l like yr guts & air of independence. :hi5: I'm used to carrying my heavy books when in uni & then groceries. DH complained in our early marriage if I grab everything to do, then why marry him. I learnt to comply & be 'demure'. Now I resume even with backaches & recentlybinjured my left elbow, coz he's got slip-disc. -
Can anyone recommend any primary school in Bukit Batok? I stay within 1km from princess Elizabeth but i know need to ballot so was thinking other primary school but could not find much details like Dazhong, Bukit View and Jurong Primary School.
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