Top sch vs Good neighbourhood sch

[jkids]

Hi, my child has AL6. But she wants to go to a good neighbourhood sch coz its nearer(either a short bus trip or walk), less competitive and be a big fish in a small pond. The top sch which is nearest to us still require her to take mrt followed by a bus so total from home to sch takes coming to 50 min.

Is it losing a good opportunity not going to one of the top sch which has better resources?

Your thoughts please.

[bbbay]

@jkids

There are many dimensions to look at the situation.

Firstly let me share with you my situation. All my children did well enough in PSLE to qualified for any secondary schools. We did not go for any IPs schools, nor any neighbourhood schools. They went into Chung Cheng High Main, not a neighbourhood school, and can be considered an above average school. Reason for not selecting any IP schools because we wanted for them a more relax environment, and to avoid the perceived “elitist” (btw we learn now we were wrong about it) environment in IP schools. In the end they enjoyed their 4 yrs in that school and did well enough in O level to study in RI and HCI JCs. In JCs, we discussed any differences between IP and JAE students in academic performance, my child told me the JAE boys generally are better than IP boys, and both JAE and IP girls are on par, in academic performance. All my children got an A for their H1 project work, which is mainly collaborative and presentation works.

These are my personal perspectives base on my experiences:

• travel distance should not be the main consideration, ahead of others like good fit, school environment. Many argue 30min less in travel time will translate to 30min more sleep. I think it comes down to the discipline of the student to avoid distraction, complete work on hand and sleep early. Spending 30min less on social media is 30min more sleep.
• Many are concern about competitiveness of top schools. I think it comes down to the child, and also the parent too. If being ahead of the rest is importance to both child and parent, yes you will feel the heat. If both child and parent focus on challenging the child himself/herself and not compare with others, it will be fine. Up to 30% of IP schools’ intake can be from DSA, which mostly looks at non academic strength. So not all top schools students are academically inclined. so these top schools may not be as competitive in academic domains as we think.
• Our thinkings are often either or. But we have the option of middle ground. So instead of top schools or neighbourhood schools, can consider 2nd tier top schools. These schools may still offer more opportunities than others and relatively less competitive.
• I may have limited view. But to me the perception of IP schools having more resources, they offer advantages to their students to achieve better academic performance and better presentation skill. I do not quite agree. My children were not from IP school. their all round performance in IP JCs, are on par with their IP counterparts.

On hindsight if you ask me, if I can do it all over again, would I choose top school
for my children instead of the above average CCHM, I would say as it it now, I do not feel I have missed out anything. When I ask my children the same question, one of them appreciate the 4 years relax environment in CCHM. The other one said he hope he had study in a top school.

So I think when making school choice, it’s about understanding/listen to input from the child, try focus on facts and not sentiments, and avoid thinking it’s either/or.

Good luck.

[zac's mum]

@jkids IP schools are usually single-gender. This may be an important consideration versus the good neighborhood school.

Is the good neighborhood school having FSBB? Is it having students with a wide spread of AL scores in the PG3 track? This is an important consideration because the G3 teachers will have to teach at a pace suited to the majority. Their after-school hours will be giving the failing students remedial lessons; rather than have time for top students to consult them (versus in IP schools). Can your child self-study independently at home to push and stretch herself without relying on the school teachers for support?

IP system IMO is like having affiliation advantage & safety net to top JCs. I don’t understand why parents think IP will give more stress. It is just like affiliated primary schools, there is a very lenient safety net if don’t score well for PSLE. Similarly, in order for IP students to progress to their IP JC, just need to meet the lenient overall 50% promo criteria. Whereas JAE students literally have to top the whole of SG O levels in order to get in. The latter has more stress. Is your child confident of repeating her success in 4 years’ time? Bearing in mind that humanities and English must be counted into the L1R5 score. Bearing in mind that the neighbourhood school may not offer the subject combi that will allow her to maximize her best subjects.

IP schools offer special programs due to no need for O level cramming. These may be better for stretching her ability and interests compared to entering a top neighborhood school and hoping that the teachers will favour her enough to send her for any special after-school enrichment programs.

O level program also requires the child to be on the CCA LEAPS treadmill of grinding for the 2 bonus points (bear in mind that in order to JAE to the top JCs, most kids aim for 2-4 bonus points). In IP schools, the time can be better spent on what truly interests the child.

[iRabbit]

@jkids

First of all, congrats on your kid’s stellar performance. At AL 6, he can enter almost any IP sch.

My priorities if he were my kid will be as follows:

a) His happiness which will be non-negotiable. Therefore, he’ll be the one who makes the final decision while I only play the guiding role (and I’ll be totally fair and won’t emotionally blackmail him into choosing what I want for him).

b) My assessment of his mental strength - whether he’s confident and self-assured enough to believe in his own abilities even in the company of an academically strong crowd. If not ready yet, then better to be a big fish in a smaller pond.

c) The superior resources that top sch typically provide. Why would I not want my kid access to better resources and support? I recall many eons ago, I attended an open house and the presenter shared on stage that the GCE A level exam was just one of the focus pts of the sch. There are also other priorities and they will groom the student holistically (he painstakingly highlighted that he doesn’t use that word lightly).

My kid is out of the Singapore educational system and I’m unsure if things have changed. But in the past, only the top sch have resources to set up a further education office that will guide graduating students on applying for choice local degree programmes or renowned overseas uni (you’ve to pay for this yourself if you get commercial help and it’s not cheap).

Also in top sch, a larger proportion of students go beyond the A level syllabus to take H3 papers. These 2 examples showed that top sch focus goes beyond A level.

Anyway, good ‘problem’ to have. Good luck in your search!

[bbbay]

@iRabbit said in Top sch vs Good neighbourhood sch:

@jkids

Also in top sch, a larger proportion of students go beyond the A level syllabus to take H3 papers. These 2 examples showed that top sch focus goes beyond A level.

Sharing what I see now on the H3 matter. My child’s JC discourage students from taking H3. During meet teacher section, the teacher told me take H3 only if the child is aiming for overseas Uni, where A level H3 subject will be considered during selection. Local U will not consider H3 subject. My child’s class, out of around 25, 6 students took up H3 chemistry. In the end 4 of them drop out to focus their time on core subjects.

[iRabbit]

@bbbay

The cher is right that H3 is only applicable for overseas uni apln, and mostly likely only for the elite UK uni I may add (too many local straight A students applying). I don’t think it matters at all for US ones. Still, there’re other ways to show proof of subject interest besides taking H3 so it’s definitely just an optional item on the bucket list.

The stats from your kid’s class are markedly diff from my kid’s class though. I was told that the vast majority, if not all of them took H3 with some sitting for double H3 upon MOE’s approval. The cher’s advice then was that to take H3 as a personal challenge, nothing more than that. I suppose the class subscribed to his ideals. Having said that, we know that there are lots of academically strong students who declined taking H3 to focus on other interests and priorities in life, and that’s perfectly fine.

I’m aware that I’m gg off tangent from the main topic and will close here.

[jedamum]

@jkids
If u can name the schools, we may probably be able to share more views as some top schools may not worth the 50min dual transport daily 2x commute and there may be more choices between your 2 options etc.

[bbbay]

If going for O level secondary school instead of IP school, another suggested consideration is bonus point, use in offsetting O level score during JAE admission. There are 4 categories of bonus point:

1. CCA (1 or 2 points)
2. Apply for affiliated Junior college (2 points)
3. Taking O level Higher mother tongue (2 points)
4. Taking Chinese/Malay/Bahasa Indonesia special programme (2 points)

Maximum of 4 bonus points from combinations of any of the above categories. See here for details:
https://www.moe.gov.sg/post-secondary/admissions/jae/junior-colleges-and-millennia-institute

My personal experience is,

• CCA is compulsory but whether it’s 1 or 2 points awarded. My impression is, as long don’t play truant and play your part, likely will be given the maximum 2 points.
• Category 3 and 4 offer more flexibility than 2. Category 3 and 4 can be used for offsetting during application for any schools whereas category 2 is applicable only for the affiliated Junior colleges
• For higher mother tongue, how it work is students take lessons in higher mother tongue （高华, in the case of Chinese) level during lower secondary. In Sec 3 they will sit for standard Chinese (普华) O level paper. For those students obtain at least an O level B3 (may slightly diff between schools, but it’s around there) grade for standard Chinese , they can proceed to take Higher Chinese O level paper in Sec 4. As long they pass that paper (C6), and a pass in English too, they will be awarded 2 bonus point.

Above information are what I remember during my children time, 2 yrs ago. You may also want to verify from official source in case any changes.

If it suit the child, It will be beneficial to pick an O level secondary school that offers more bonus points categories, for more flexibility to accumulate and use bonus points.

[jkids]

thanks all for your replies! will have a discussion with my child.

[Mark_81]

My child went to one of the IP schools in Singapore following his PSLE. I think access to resources (e.g. facilities, materials, quality teachers, etc.) is one factor, but more importantly is the type of learning environment that he/she will be subject to.

In such schools that may be deemed “better”, students are generally motivated to study harder and are more focused on their academics. This will play a huge part in what your child prioritises during these early / impressionable years.

Even if your child is smart and capable, it is very easy to get influenced by the wrong crowd at that age. I would suggest that he/she attend a “top” school to chart a better potential future. Of course, do have that chat with him/her to ensure it’s aligned and his/her happiness is not compromised as a result.