Top sch vs Good neighbourhood sch

[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.

[doodbug]

Interesting debate.

At AL6, my gut feel is, go for a top school.

At AL8, I think I would be more neutral.

Many people say top schools have a ton of opportunities like special programmes, which is true.

None of my kids took any special programmes lol

Did I find the ECG outstanding for university applications? Actually I didn’t.

A lot boils down to individual effort and what you make out of the experience.

I am grateful to the schools my kids went to. But I have equally seen a ton of casualties from top schools.

Whichever choice you make, make the best out of it - and don’t look back.

[doodbug]

@iRabbit these personal experiences and anecdotes are always interesting.

It goes to show that even within top schools, the experiences can vary a lot.

If you are in a top class within a top school, possibly majority will take a H3.

But if you are in an average or below average class within a top school, the profile may be very different.

My kid’s class in JC, it may be surprising to some, about one third took H3s, and not many students are going overseas or pursing Med or Law.

Some parents seem to have the impression that most top school kids end up in Med/Dentistry/Law/CS/Overseas - it may be so for some classes, but I would say it cannot be generalised across all classes in the top schools.