School Locations

[dogface]

I am going to be in Singapore for only three days to interview for a job and I would like to visit two or three international schools. I am an American and will be living near Clementi, if I take the job. I was wondering what int. schools are nearest to Clementi and what what MRT stops are for the American School, OFS, and the Australian School. Thanks. I would appreciate any help...

[jws]

the best way to determine this is on-line with www.streetdirectory.com  
it gives you all the info you need. btw we also live near clementi (Sunset Way area) and our kids go to OFS. Our neighbours kids go to the American School by bus and the Aussie School is just around the corner

[Mother]

Dogface - I don't know your nationality but please bear in mind that the Aussie school has the school terms/semesters which follow the Southern hemisphere - so of course Down Under their Summer is coming to an end and the school academic year begins I think sometime in February.

I heartily recommend that you pay a visit to United World College of South East Asia in Dover Road - it has a superb reputation with excellent exam results. Also, like SAS it is *a non-profit making school* unlike OFS and the Australian school, so all income is ploughed into education and not the director's pockets...

See: http://www.uwcsea.edu.sg    

[dogface]

Thanks for the help...I'll look into all of these schools. My kids are only 6 and 3 so, the United World College might not be right for them. OFS is pretty close to Clementi, but I'm a little worried by the idea of a for-profit school. The American School would be good (I'm a Yank) if it wasn't so far away...Thank you again.

[Nic]

Hi, the Canadian International School is very close to Clementi. My girlfriend has recently started teaching there and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Her e-mail is : wrightleah72@hotmail.com

[Mo3]

Dogface, I'm an American with two kids at OFS (ages 7 and 4) who also lives near Clementi.  Perhaps its because I'm an American, but the for-profit nature of OFS doesn't bother me.  In fact, I am exceedingly happy with the school.  The curriculum is the same as it was at the last international school that we were at (the international curriculum seems to me a mix of both the British and the American systems) and the elementary kids get 45 mins. a day of foreign language---your choice of Spanish, Mandarin, French, and perhaps one more language.  If you've any other relocation questions, feel free to ask.  Best wishes for a good move.

[This message has been edited by Mo3 (edited 27-02-2001).]

[Boston Family Sing. bound]

Dear Dogface,
Are you wondering about the MRT stops for yourself to get to the schools or for the kids to get there???
My kids attend SAS and my understanding is that the bus service(provided by a separate company and at additional cost)goes to all parts of Singapore.  
For yourself I would recommend a taxi to get up the school.  When my husband and I came we MRT'ed it up and because we weren't acclimatised - by the time we got to the school even though it's only a 10 minute walk we were streaming sweat.  Taxi from Orchard Road area will only run around $S15-18 if you catch it on the street or at your hotel (just don't book it ahead or call it- extra charge) If you have any questions re SAS in particular be glad to try and help.

[dogface]

Thanks everybody ! I am going to visit myself...so I guess I'll go by taxi. I would be living near NUS, so maybe I'll enroll the kids in OFS or the Canadian School. Thanks for all the help !

[expatwife]

If you are going to be living near NUS then the closest International school is United World College, it's just on the other side of the Ayer Rajah Expressway from NUS. Also another school next door to UWC is Dover Court. Overseas Family School is right in town, across the street from Wheelock Place (where Borders bookstore is located.) UWC has far better facilities in my opinion - it even has a recording studio! And the school trips are fantastic...  

[nikki m]

I too am an American and have my son at OFS.  I have been so pleased with everything at school, from the languages offered to the focus on character development as well as academic skills.  True the campus lacks the luster of either UWC or SAS but it is a wonderful place that we will so miss when we go home.

[henry]

United World College is close to Clementi and a great school, but the waiting list to get in is two years long.  It also costs more than SD16k/yr.  Dover Court or Dover Prep is very close to Clementi and an American friend of mine sends his 5yo boy there - they are happy with the school.  I have a daughter at Chatsworth, which follows the British system, and I am happy with it.
All of the schools will run a school bus to your house if you want (about SD400/quarter).

[expatbrit]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the "2 year waiting list" at UWC. (I would imagine that this would be for the entry to kindergarten). It all depends on the grade you are trying to get your child into and it is amazing how rapidly these lists change. The turnover of expats is so frequent that it is not uncommon for expats to get just a few week's notice that they are being moved out of Singapore, so your child may rapidly get to the top of the list. I also know that quite a few people send their child to other schools until their child can be admitted to the school of their choice - and they negotiate with their employer's that they will cover the registration fees in this event.