<![CDATA[Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools]]>KS mums/dads, any idea what should I look out for if I intend to do a tour around the primary school?

some of the following that i think i should look out for…
- ‘rowdiness’/orderliness of kids in the canteen
- cleanliness of place

should I or can I approach any parents with kids studying there and/or teachers to ask any questions?

thinking of bringing my boy to take a look at the schools and see which one he is comfortable in.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/193/choosing-and-evaluating-primary-schoolsRSS for NodeThu, 30 Apr 2026 09:07:14 GMTThu, 01 May 2008 05:19:50 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:23:47 GMT]]>Primary 1 registration: Can we stop parents from gaming the system? | Deep Dive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH_5gWRhkhY

A mother was recently sentenced to jail for faking her home address to get her child into a primary school, raising the question - just how far will parents go to secure a spot in their school of choice and how can we tighten the process?

Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang unpack the pressures some parents face with Primary 1 registration with Junda Ong, founder of SG Schooling and Assistant Professor Jacqueline Ho from Singapore Management University.

02:51 How parents try to game the system
04:52 Not following the spirit of the law
06:23 Is the system flawed or are we too “kiasu”?
09:27 Too many avenues, too much leeway?
12:10 Is jail a strong enough deterrence?
14:26 What happens when the “elite” schools are oversubscribed?
16:34 Should schools do more in promoting themselves?
17:43 Feedback by other parents matter when choosing a school

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2147067https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2147067Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:23:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 30 Jul 2025 01:33:58 GMT]]>@luoluowuya You can consider Nan Hua first and the others with lots of vacancies in 2CS. My 2 cents. Everyone wants to try the lottery pool in 2C first.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2145100https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2145100Wed, 30 Jul 2025 01:33:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:04:25 GMT]]>anyone know how is Clementi Primary school now is? probably as compared with Qifa Primary

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2145081https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2145081Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:04:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Sat, 12 Jul 2025 02:19:42 GMT]]>Everyone, do pop in to read the P1 registration articles here!

➡ https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/p1-registration

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144905https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144905Sat, 12 Jul 2025 02:19:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:45:40 GMT]]>@thebottomsupblog yeah surely. 🙂 will be glad to do that too!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144890https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144890Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:45:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:25:34 GMT]]>@tjunjie2025 Feel free to share some tips directly in here as well, and we’ll see if we can get a conversation going on this!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144889https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144889Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:25:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:39:05 GMT]]>@thebottomsupblog
Yeah i think these articles here https://www.stbbsg.com/subject-guides can also shed some light for parents for primary school.
Hope it helps!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144883https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144883Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:39:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:41:18 GMT]]>Feeling lost about Primary 1? You’re not alone.

  • Choosing a school is hard, especially when everyone has an opinion
  • Starting P1 is a big change, even for confident kids
  • Pocket money, routines, resilience: small habits make a big difference

Join the FREE KiasuParents Huddle webinar in June 2025!

KSPFamilyHuddleWebinar_June2025_FB_V2(Free).jpg

Find out more ➡ https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/activities/kiasu-parents-huddle-primary-1-prep-how-to-choose-a-school-and-ease-the-transition

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144497https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2144497Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:41:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Sat, 16 Nov 2024 10:56:43 GMT]]>i everyone,

I’d love to hear your opinions about a few SAP schools (given all the famous GEP schools are super difficult to get in). We’re planning to move and volunteer to qualify for the Phase 2B round and have shortlisted a few schools:

Red Swastika
Pei Chun
MBS
Hong Wen
Poi Ching

Could you share your thoughts on the differences between these schools in terms of culture, academic focus, or stress levels?

I’d really appreciate your advice as we navigate this decision. Thank you so much in advance!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2142349https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2142349Sat, 16 Nov 2024 10:56:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:23:41 GMT]]>@zac-s-mum thank you so much!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2142109https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2142109Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:23:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:59:04 GMT]]>@Sylvia_lawrance

Apply for PV at Kuo Chuan first. In your application, indicate that you are willing to move <1km for better balloting chance. Bear in mind 2B u will be competing with Presbyterian church members. Heard that Kuo Chuan is a good holistic school & has safety net affiliation all the way till JC if u happen to need it.

Alternatively, if u don’t mind your son starting P1 in afternoon session (some don’t mind kids waking up later, provided u have caregiver at home to settle the logistics), I think Maris Stella will be easy to get in due to their temporary moving (note your registration address should be <1km of the Mt Vernon site, and then caregiver just bring kid take mrt down. Girl can enter with sibling priority in 2029.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/maris-stella-high-school-primary-coed-morning-afternoon-sessions-parents-teachers-4319281?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_12082024_cna

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2137033https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2137033Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:59:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:12:18 GMT]]>Hi Chief and Kiasu Parents Members

I am in dilemma and hoping to seek advice.

I have 2 Singaporeans kids, son registering P1 in 2027 and daughter registering P1 in 2029. We are currently renting with contract due February 2026 where we can rent / buy somewhere else to be near schools.

I am currently staying in Sin Ming within 1km of Ai Tong and 2km of Catholic High. Both parents no alumni and not community leaders.

At first my plan was to move in between Kuo Chuan and Yang Zheng 1km zone and apply for PV in 2026. Now considering 2 BTOs TOP upcoming in Bishan and MK in Yang Zheng, I started to worry my plan may not be good.

What should I do?
Option 1: consider other location and primary school.
Potentially Anderson? Do you have any other co-ed school with good character building, good values and not rowdy to recommend?

Option 2: apply PV for KC/YZ and inform them of the move (is it possible?). If not accepted, move near Anderson and apply PV?

Option 3: any recommendation?

Thank you so much!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2137029https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2137029Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:12:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:25:25 GMT]]>Hi everyone,


My son is registering for Pri 1 this year and we are trying to decide between SJIJ and ACSJ. The plan all along was to register him in SJIJ via Phase 2b as I am Catholic. However, we have been told that ACS, in general, is stronger in terms of supporting children who are differently abled.

Some history about my son - the development paeds we saw at 3.5 years old suggested he may suffer from DCD (aka dyspraxia) and visuo-spatial processing issues. He has since benefited greatly from weekly occupational therapy and educational therapy to the extent that he has caught up with his peers at school. While he struggles with written work, he has a generally good attitude towards learning and learns well when there is an element of storytelling and dramatisation. His condition is very mild so no concerns with a mainstream school, just that he learns much quicker in a supportive and small groups environment.

Would anyone with any experience especially parents with similar higher needs children in SJIJ and ACSJ be able to give me any feedback on either schools in terms of supporting these children?

For ACSJ we will have to bank on Phase 2C as we have no affiliations, but we are in the 1-2 km category which likely would go into balloting. So I’m trying to assess whether we should take the risk if ACSJ is significantly stronger in terms of support for my child.

Thanks so much in advance for your advice!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2135200https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2135200Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:25:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:01:49 GMT]]>Hi Mummies & Daddies


Could you advise me on the following primary schools please? Yu Neng, Feng Shan Pri & St Anthony’s Canossian.

Many thanks!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134966https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134966Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:01:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:39:27 GMT]]>Thank you all for inputs. Now I understand.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134660https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134660Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:39:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:09:28 GMT]]>

Not_Kiasu\" post_id=\"2134558\" time=\"1717398436\" user_id=\"202508:

Day 3 stats will not be revealed to u during the application period. It's too dynamic and also I believe they don't want parents to overthink overanalyze too much.

Wait for Chief to give more insights
You are right. Phase 2C Day 3 statistics will only be revealed a week later, when the ballot situation is announced. You will need to make your decision based on the Day 2 statistics. Take a look at the past years' statistics to gauge the chances for Day 3.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134580https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134580Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:09:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:29:32 GMT]]>

Katie9\" post_id=\"2134547\" time=\"1717384543\" user_id=\"204817:

@chief kiasu
Thanks for advise.
Is it possible to switch over after you have already registered in phase 2A?
If u have already registered your kid in an earlier phase 2A,
but now wish to register for either phase (2B or 2C),
then

you will have to give up your seat in phase 2A, before the new school allow u to try your luck balloting at phase 2B / 2C.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134560https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134560Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:29:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:09:54 GMT]]>

Katie9\" post_id=\"2134547\" time=\"1717384543\" user_id=\"204817:

@chief kiasu
Thanks for advise.
Is it possible to switch over after you have already registered in phase 2A?
You need to drop your 2A confirmed place if you want to try for 2B or 2C. It's a ga.mb.le. This is how the current system is designed. Fair or not, u ask the authorities.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134559https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134559Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:09:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:07:16 GMT]]>

Katie9\" post_id=\"2134550\" time=\"1717390920\" user_id=\"204817:

Hi chief kiasu, How can we know how many students have been registered by day 3 phase 2C?
Day 3 stats will not be revealed to u during the application period. It's too dynamic and also I believe they don't want parents to overthink overanalyze too much.

Wait for Chief to give more insights

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134558https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134558Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:07:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:02:00 GMT]]>Hi chief kiasu, How can we know how many students have been registered by day 3 phase 2C?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134550https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134550Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:02:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Mon, 03 Jun 2024 03:15:43 GMT]]>@chief kiasu

Thanks for advise.
Is it possible to switch over after you have already registered in phase 2A?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134547https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134547Mon, 03 Jun 2024 03:15:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 29 May 2024 07:42:19 GMT]]>

Katie9\" post_id=\"2134399\" time=\"1716960996\" user_id=\"204817:

May I seek some suggestion here for primary one registration in 2024. My husband is alumini of Anderson Primary School. But we now lived in sembawang and Canberra primary school is within 1 km of our house. Anderson we can get in by phase 2A. But Canberra we have to try phase 2C. My child is Singaporean. We want to put him in Anderson but then we have to sell house in sembwang and move to Ang mo kio. Currently house price is crazy in Ang mo kio for new flats which are limited options too. Please share your opinion. TIA
You have a difficult choice. Both Anderson and Canberra requires balloting in Phase 2C, and what is worse, the balloting at Canberra in Phase 2C is likely to be for those staying <1km away. I would recommend you put your child in Anderson first in Phase 2A and monitor the situation in Canberra in Phase 2C. If by Day 3 of Phase 2C you think chances are good that balloting will only occur for those 1-2km away, then you can risk switching over from Anderson to Canberra. If not, stay put at Anderson and you can take your time to find a place nearer to the school.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134410https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134410Wed, 29 May 2024 07:42:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools on Wed, 29 May 2024 05:36:36 GMT]]>May I seek some suggestion here for primary one registration in 2024. My husband is alumini of Anderson Primary School. But we now lived in sembawang and Canberra primary school is within 1 km of our house. Anderson we can get in by phase 2A. But Canberra we have to try phase 2C. My child is Singaporean. We want to put him in Anderson but then we have to sell house in sembwang and move to Ang mo kio. Currently house price is crazy in Ang mo kio for new flats which are limited options too. Please share your opinion. TIA

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134399https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2134399Wed, 29 May 2024 05:36:36 GMT