georgechen99:

jacz:

[quote=\"Proudparentof2\"]
Thank you kindly for the input. It is much appreciated. May I know what do you mean by value added?

Please refer to the blue book for Sec Sch selection, pg G3 to G5. Look at the 3rd column from the right. The more the number of stars, the higher the academic value-add rating.

Both GES Sec and Mayflower have one star each (CCH Yishun has none).
It refers to how a school can turn the child to improve academically by measuring from the PSLE aggregate score at entry level to the child's final performance by the 'O' or 'N' level score.

For example, a score of band 5 by Gan Eng Seng Sec means that on average, a student can score aggregate 14 pts for the 6 subjects (L1B5)at 'O'level. This is good achievement when you compare with another school example, Sch X (not value-add sch), took in higher PSLE scores than GES at Sec 1 but achievement 4 years later at 'O' level is above band 5.

In effect, an academically value-add school literally adds value to enable your child to perform better than expected academically.

I am a little bit confused. I saw the historical COP of each school are actually very close, means if my aggregate is far from the COP of one school, I will get very less chance to be lucky. If this is true, the 1st option of Chung Cheng (Yishun) is most likely wasting a chance, am I right?[/quote]
Yes, you are right.
Look carefully at the past COP of each of your choice schools and choose those that have COPs close to your score.
For first 2-3 choices, you may choose those that are 1-3 pts above your score. For next 2-3 choices, choose COP that match your present score.

For the last 1-2 choices, it is a backup, in case you can't get in to the rest...so choose about 1-2 pts below your score.

Expect that most likely your score can get you into your 3rd or 4th choice which means the COP for your 3rd-4thth choice should somewhat match your PSLE score.

Proudparentof2:

jacz:

[quote=\"Proudparentof2\"]
Thank you so much for the suggestion, look it up already - there is no international dance for cca. Sigh...

Any advise on putting Chung Cheng as 1st choice?

There is no harm putting Chung Cheng as 1st choice but realistically,
the chance of getting posted to Chung Cheng is low, considering that their COP was even higher in the past years.

I would say your next choices Gan Eng Seng and Mayflower are good choices as both these are value-added schools (whereas Chung Cheng is not!). With your daughter's COP, her chances are very high indeed.

Thank you kindly for the input. It is much appreciated. May I know what do you mean by value added?[/quote]
Please refer to the blue book for Sec Sch selection, pg G3 to G5. Look at the 3rd column from the right. The more the number of stars, the higher the academic value-add rating.

Both GES Sec and Mayflower have one star each (CCH Yishun has none).
It refers to how a school can turn the child to improve academically by measuring from the PSLE aggregate score at entry level to the child's final performance by the 'O' or 'N' level score.

For example, a score of band 5 by Gan Eng Seng Sec means that on average, a student can score aggregate 14 pts for the 6 subjects (L1B5)at 'O'level. This is good achievement when you compare with another school example, Sch X (not value-add sch), took in higher PSLE scores than GES at Sec 1 but achievement 4 years later at 'O' level is above band 5.

In effect, an academically value-add school literally adds value to enable your child to perform better than expected academically.

chrilam:

Proudparentof2:

Dear All, kindly ask for your advise please for my dd who scored 223. We live in Mount Faber she is from River Valley PS. Our choices so far is:


1. Chu Cheng Main (cop 208-231)
2. Gan Eng Seng (222-239)
3. Peirce (208-231)

Hoping to get Gan Eng Seng but try to strecth it to get Chu Cheng due to dd would like to go to JC. Is it wise?

Hi, may I clarify? Chu Cheng Main = Chung Cheng High main?
cop 208?

She refers to Chung Cheng High Yishun. COP for the past 4 years were:
2010: 230, 2009: 230, 2008: 231, 2007: 234.

Proudparentof2, if your dd would like to go to JC, wouldn't she stand a better chance at Gan Eng Seng (achieved band 5 in 2010) than Chung Cheng Yishun (achieved band 6 in 2010)?
In fact, CCHY seems to be over-rated, academically.

Proudparentof2:

jacz:

[quote=\"Proudparentof2\"]Dear all, advise please. My child psle result is 223. So far this is what we have on the list:


Chung Cheng (Yishun) cop: 230, mean: 235, median: 233
Gan Eng Seng, cop: 222, mean: 228, median: 227
Mayflower, cop: 222, mean: 225, median: 225
Hua Yi, cop: 221, mean: 225, median: 225
Bowen, cop: 221, mean: 226, median: 225
Peirce, cop: 208, mean: 213, median: 212

Her cca is international dance and she is from River Valley Primary. Is the list too aggressive or good strategy. Worst outcome we are hoping she is going to Gan Eng Seng.

Advise please, pretty please to this confused mother-daughter.

You can consider Beatty sec sch, walking distance from Braddell Stn.
They have been very consistent in getting the value-add awards and the banding for 2010 'O' level is 6, one of the best schools to consider for good academic performance.
Good luck in your choices!

Thank you so much for the suggestion, look it up already - there is no international dance for cca. Sigh...

Any advise on putting Chung Cheng as 1st choice?[/quote]
There is no harm putting Chung Cheng as 1st choice but realistically,
the chance of getting posted to Chung Cheng is low, considering that their COP was even higher in the past years.

I would say your next choices Gan Eng Seng and Mayflower are good choices as both these are value-added schools (whereas Chung Cheng is not!). With your daughter's COP, her chances are very high indeed.

Anyone has children from this school and what’s your feedback?

Thinking that my son (score of 230) should opt this school as his top choice as they have been very strong academically and very consistent too.
Seems like AMKSS (COP 217, achieved band 4 in 2010) is a better choice than Presbyterian (COP 229, band 5) or Chung Cheng Yishun (COP 230, band 6)

Please do offer your views.
Thank you!

Proudparentof2:

Dear all, advise please. My child psle result is 223. So far this is what we have on the list:


Chung Cheng (Yishun) cop: 230, mean: 235, median: 233
Gan Eng Seng, cop: 222, mean: 228, median: 227
Mayflower, cop: 222, mean: 225, median: 225
Hua Yi, cop: 221, mean: 225, median: 225
Bowen, cop: 221, mean: 226, median: 225
Peirce, cop: 208, mean: 213, median: 212

Her cca is international dance and she is from River Valley Primary. Is the list too aggressive or good strategy. Worst outcome we are hoping she is going to Gan Eng Seng.

Advise please, pretty please to this confused mother-daughter.

You can consider Beatty sec sch, walking distance from Braddell Stn.
They have been very consistent in getting the value-add awards and the banding for 2010 'O' level is 6, one of the best schools to consider for good academic performance.
Good luck in your choices!

ParentingChildren:

Hi Jacz,


Guess you have already done your homework when you identified the schools that have COP near to your boy's score.

Your concerns about the attitudes of teachers and students while valid may not be so crucial. This is because:

1. The quality of teachers for schools are evenly spread out in Singapore since most (if not all) of them graduated from NIE.

2. Based on the COP, you probably can have a rough gauge about students' attitudes based on their acad performance. I would say 230 is a pretty good score and students who have achieved such a score would probably range from average to above average.

Perhaps the more important question is whether your boy likes the school for example the school culture, people and infrastructure. Also some of these schools have certain niche areas and if your boy happened to have interests in those areas, it would benefit him greatly.

A good way to tell if the school is good match for your boy is to visit the schools when they have their Open House. If that is not possible, at least drive around the neighbourhood during a weekday and observe the students and their activities.

Another thing to note is the distance of the school from your home. Secondary school activities can be hectic so if an hour saved on travelling is an extra hour of rest for your boy.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your help indeed.
Wrt to academic value-added awards,

Chung Cheng High Yishun (COP 230) has none, their banding was
6 (2010): 7 (2009): 9 (2008)

whereas for

Ang Mo Kio Sec (COP 227) has * * for value-add awards, the banding being 4 (2010): 5 (2009) : 6 (2008)

Based on the above, would not Ang Mo Kio be a wiser choice over Chung Cheng Yishun?
Would like to hear views from anyone.

Thank you!

My boy scored 229. I am staying at Bishan, have studied and shortlisted a few schools and will appreciate if anyone can feedback on the value-addedness of following schools especially with regards to quality and attitudes of teaching staff & students.

Hoping that he can go somewhere where he can be motivated to perform well academically and morally. (In bracket are the COP for Sec One 2010, 2009)


Presbyterian High (229, 232)
Ang Mo Kio Sec (227,227)
Mayflower Sec (222, 222)
Riverside Sec (is this rather far from Bishan MRT?) (229, 229)
Chung Cheng High Yishun (230, 230)
Beatty Sec (217,217)


Thank you in advance for any reply!