[Tampines] Primary Schools

[meeyah]

I am deciding whether to go for St Hilda (GEP), Poi Ching (SAP) or normal neighbourhood school. I wonder what are the difference?


St. Hilda even though is a GEP does not really guaranteed you that your child will be in GEP. So what’s the difference between its normal stream and its GEP stream? Will the normal stream in St. Hilda be the same curriculum as the normal neighbourhood school? GEP only starts after streaming which is I think from pri. 3 or 4 onwards, right?

I also heard that other kids in non-GEP school if after taking streaming test and are found out that they are very smart, they will still be transfered to St.Hilda vying for the competitive space in St. Hilda. In fact the top student in St. Hilda was once from gongshang transferred to St. Hilda GEP class.

Being in the GEP school, does it offer Higher Chinese as well? After all gifted students should be capable of taking Higher Chinese isn’t it?

Poi Ching (SAP) - at least SAP is consistent all the way from pri. 1-6 focusing on higher chinese.

[jedamum]

meeyah:

I am deciding whether to go for St Hilda (GEP), Poi Ching (SAP) or normal neighbourhood school. I wonder what are the difference?


St. Hilda even though is a GEP does not really guaranteed you that your child will be in GEP. So what's the difference between its normal stream and its GEP stream? Will the normal stream in St. Hilda be the same curriculum as the normal neighbourhood school? GEP only starts after streaming which is I think from pri. 3 or 4 onwards, right?

I also heard that other kids in non-GEP school if after taking streaming test and are found out that they are very smart, they will still be transfered to St.Hilda vying for the competitive space in St. Hilda. In fact the top student in St. Hilda was once from gongshang transferred to St. Hilda GEP class.

Being in the GEP school, does it offer Higher Chinese as well? After all gifted students should be capable of taking Higher Chinese isn't it?

Poi Ching (SAP) - at least SAP is consistent all the way from pri. 1-6 focusing on higher chinese.

meeyah,

1) do you intend to pv?do you have priority? how far away from those schools are you staying? check these out first before even comparing the schools, cos St Hilda and Poi Ching is very popular.

2) Q: Will the normal stream in St. Hilda be the same curriculum as the normal neighbourhood school?
A: curriculum are MOE curriculum; however, teaching method will surely be different.

3) Q: GEP only starts after streaming which is I think from pri. 3 or 4 onwards, right?
A: Yes

4) Q: Being in the GEP school, does it offer Higher Chinese as well?
A: i think even some neighbourhood schools offer higher chinese for students who has potential.

[titank]

meeyah:

I am deciding whether to go for St Hilda (GEP), Poi Ching (SAP) or normal neighbourhood school. I wonder what are the difference?


St. Hilda even though is a GEP does not really guaranteed you that your child will be in GEP. So what's the difference between its normal stream and its GEP stream? Will the normal stream in St. Hilda be the same curriculum as the normal neighbourhood school? GEP only starts after streaming which is I think from pri. 3 or 4 onwards, right?

I also heard that other kids in non-GEP school if after taking streaming test and are found out that they are very smart, they will still be transfered to St.Hilda vying for the competitive space in St. Hilda. In fact the top student in St. Hilda was once from gongshang transferred to St. Hilda GEP class.

Being in the GEP school, does it offer Higher Chinese as well? After all gifted students should be capable of taking Higher Chinese isn't it?

Poi Ching (SAP) - at least SAP is consistent all the way from pri. 1-6 focusing on higher chinese.

Hi meeyah,

Suggest you check the distance of your home to these schools & check out the past balloting history. When are you registering for P1? Both Poi Ching & St Hildas are very hot hot schools in Tampines Town area.

To get into these schools must either PV & depends on your luck as well. Heard a friend's friend failed Phase 2B then go Phase 2C again! Lucky get into Phase 2C.

[meeyah]

In relation to qs1, yes I intend to do pv if necessary. Schools within 1km are St.hilda and Poi ching.


Then in relation to all of jedamum’s ans to my qs. Can i say it is better to go to Poi Ching cos it is a SAP school guaranteed for your kid to take Higher Chinese whereas in St Hilda, going in doesn’t mean you are in GEP class and GEP student comprises only maybe 10% or even less? Unless in your heart you know your child is very smart otherwise it will be the same for those gg to other normal neighbourhood school and those in St. Hilda normal stream? I mean what’s the attraction for the parents to vie for the limited positions in St. Hilda? I don’t understand why that school is so popular? I see that St. Hilda has good PSLE results for the past years. I personally feel that it is because of the students in GEP who contribute to the excellent result. Really would like to know more from the parents abt those students in normal stream.

BTW, my kid still have a few years to go before registering for P1 registration. I’m just reading up and doing some research.

[titank]

meeyah:

In relation to qs1, yes I intend to do pv if necessary. Schools within 1km are St.hilda and Poi ching.


Then in relation to all your ans to my qs. Can i say it is better to go to Poi Ching cos it is a SAP school guaranteed for your kid to take Higher Chinese whereas in St Hilda, going in doesn't mean you are in GEP class and GEP student comprises only maybe 10% or even less? Unless in your heart you know your child is very smart otherwise it will be the same for those gg to other normal neighbourhood school vs those in St. Hilda normal stream? I mean what's the attraction for the parents to vie for the limited positions in St. Hilda? I don't understand why that school is so popular? I see that St. Hilda has good PSLE results for the past years. I personally feel that it is because of the students in GEP who contribute the excellent result. Really would like to know more from the parents abt those students in normal stream.

Just my 1 cents worth where I think it is better to go Poi Ching. As it is a SAP School where majority of the students would take HMT? :? Correct me if I'm wrong.

By past balloting history, the chance to get into Poi Ching is higher than St Hilda's. St Hilda's have Grassroot, Church affilations which this number are really unknown!

[meeyah]

titank:

Just my 1 cents worth where I think it is better to go Poi Ching. As it is a SAP School where majority of the students would take HMT? :? Correct me if I'm wrong.

By past balloting history, the chance to get into Poi Ching is higher than St Hilda's. St Hilda's have Grassroot, Church affilations which this number are really unknown!

Thanks titank. I think you and I think the same. guarantee HMT.. But really would like to hear from mommies who have different views from mine. Why would you still prefer St. Hilda esp if you know your child may not get into GEP.

[jedamum]

meeyah:

Can i say it is better to go to Poi Ching cos it is a SAP school guaranteed for your kid to take Higher Chinese whereas in St Hilda, going in doesn't mean you are in GEP class and GEP student comprises only maybe 10% or even less?

'better' is relative. if you prefer a rich chinese-learning environment, probably a SAP school is a better choice for you.

meeyah:

Unless in your heart you know your child is very smart otherwise it will be the same for those gg to other normal neighbourhood school and those in St. Hilda normal stream? I mean what's the attraction for the parents to vie for the limited positions in St. Hilda? I don't understand why that school is so popular? I see that St. Hilda has good PSLE results for the past years.

perhaps people translate good PSLE scores to a proven record of teaching techniques and peer influence - that is probably the reason why some parents prefer their regular kids to go to more popular schools rather than a regular neighbourhood school.
another reason is affiliation. St Hilda pri is affiliated to St Hilda sec.

[titank]

[quote]Thanks titank. I think you and I think the same. guarantee HMT.. But really would like to hear from mommies who have different views from mine. Why would you still prefer St. Hilda esp if you know your child may not get into GEP.[/quote]
Hi Meeyah,

Yes all the students would go through HMT if you are in the SAP School. Again have to think that does all of then \"Able To Swim\" well in the HMT?

Basically SHPS is a church school, most parents would like to enrol thier child in there esp is christain based, good PSLE star performer & affilation to a secondary school.

Hope you can come to a good decision mind.

[meeyah]

Thanks titank and jedamum. These are good info to process in my research. It is true to see that st. hilda has good PSLE results for the past years. Ironically, Poi Ching does not show their past records of PSLE results in details like St. Hilda. Hmmm…so funny.


Affiliation, is it out of topic to ask whether St. Hilda Sec is it a good sec school like St. Nicholas, RGS etc? Popular? Has good O level results? If yes, then it is worth it to try to go for St. Hilda.

[titank]

meeyah:

Thanks titank and jedamum. These are good info to process in my research. It is true to see that st. hilda has good PSLE results for the past years. Ironically, Poi Ching does not show their past records of PSLE results in details like St. Hilda. Hmmm...so funny.


Affiliation, is it out of topic to ask whether St. Hilda Sec is it a good sec school like St. Nicholas, RGS etc? Popular? Has good O level results? If yes, then it is worth it to try to go for St. Hilda.

Hi meeyah,

Both St Hildas & Poi Ching have pros & cons. Both of them are good, you won't go wrong with either one of them. In terms of practical point of view, I would go for the one that have high probability to go into.

Some schools like to show off in thier website how they perform in PSLE. Others quite low profile & maybe you need to ask the school to release to you privately. I do have a hard when come to getting these PSLE performance indicators.