Overseas Family School-Overcrowded, easy, lax school?

[xoxopipedreamer]

Dear members,
I am new to this forum, and decided to join since I will be moving with my family to Singapore in a month.

My daughter is already a Junior, and doing the IB diploma in an expensive prestigious school in Thailand. However, we have been transferred to Singapore, and the IB schools that we have been recommended to visit were UWC and OFS.

It seems like there is no chance of getting into UWC since the waiting list is like 2 years long!

So, we went to see OFS today. The requirements of getting in are pretty easy, as they accept practically everyone with the dough and average grades.

I've scoured the internet and their website to no avail. Do you know if there are many caucasians, westerners there, or is it a mainly Asian population?

There are so many people and the facilities are a bit old. We heard from our friends that many local singaporeans go there since they cannot handle the government schooling. However, I question that since locals are not allowed to go to international schools as I have been told.

I know there has been much discussion on OFS, as I have looked at everyone of them. But, what I really need is an honest answer if it really is the best choice for my daughter. She is in a critical moment, and we don't know if we should move her, or let her live with a host family in Thailand. She personally wants to move with the family, and is excited to go to OFS.

What are the good and bad things of OFS? Is it an easy and not rigorous school? Teachers...are they qualified, or good teachers? I see that they use macs in their classrooms, but still, on this forum, many people say its old. In what ways?

Please give me your opinions.

Thanks!
pipedreamer

[don't know]

The Canadian International School does the IB - have you talked with them?

[xoxopipedreamer]

Yes I have looked at that.
Its not in a convenient location, and I think OFS is better in terms of experience with the IB.

[ofs mom]

ofs is over crowded, but it isn't lax.

[Try This]

Tanglin will be offering the IB from September 2009. Give them a call. Lots of info on website too

[Ozzie]

Isn't the Australian School now an IB school as well?

I think Tanglin have big waiting lists as well, btw...

[or here]

Chatsworth do the IB too and they're walking distance from OFS so if location is a priority you could try them.

[ofs mom]

why don't you visit the schools that have vacancies and arrange for your daughter to spend a morning or a day there - get a proper feel for the places.  this is an important decision - so don't rush into anything simply on the opinions of others.  take some time to to check schools out in person.

[xoxopipedreamer]

ofs mom: we do hope that we can check it out, but she's going to school and it just isn't possible. so i will be going to look at the schools.

and yes, we will be looking at chatsworth and ofs only. Firstly, to save time, and secondly, its within the company's budget.

[Former OFS Teacher.]

Yes, OFS is old and over crowded. But the teachers have been great there, most will go that extra mile in helping your child. The children are welcoming to newcomers.  For some unexplained reason, the children like the place.  I wouldn't call it lax at all.  I worked in the junior school for over 2 years and my children were there for longer.  We had wanted them to go to UWC, but they didn't want to change when it came there time.

[bestisyet2B]

ACS International also has IB.

[koka]

ACS is expensive. Most of their students come from rich families.

[goodness me]

Yes, OFS is old and over crowded. But the teachers have been great there, most will go that extra mile in helping your child. The children are welcoming to newcomers.  For some unexplained reason, the children like the place.  I wouldn't call it lax at all.  I worked in the junior school for over 2 years and my children were there for longer.  We had wanted them to go to UWC, but they didn't want to change when it came there time.

Well if that last sentence of yours is anything to go by, as a 'former OFS teacher' I can only hope that you were asked to leave, as you cannot spell.  Otherwise, I would be very concerned about the standard of teachers.  The there/their error, is obviously a spelling mistake rather than a typo.  Worrying.

[another ofs mom]

This is our fifth year at OFS and my kids don't want to hear a word about moving to some other school.

We arrived in 2004 - there was plenty of space in all the schools in Singapore. We chose OFS because it offered IB program, the best foreign language program (four times a week), accelerated math program (advanced classes for kids who do well) and a great location. Perhaps the best of all is a diversified student body, with kids literally from all over the world.
We didn't see the point of living halfway across the world just to send the children to the American school, but that's our point of view.
The school meanwhile has become more crowded and the facilities are older. Apparently there is a deal with the government that lets the school keep its great location, and in return keeps the door open for the children of the "foreign talent."
But the teachers are great and the kids are happy. They get a chance to be creative, to learn and have fun. Comparing the homework with friends who have kids at, say, UWC, the conclusion is that OFS kids are academically ahead, in a grade per grade comparison.
The school has an open door policy (hence the word "family") and you can come in anytime.

My only gripe: not a good reputation in Singapore, probably due to the fact that OFS always seems to have place for new students. So the image is somewhat of a second-tier waiting place... But then again, the class size is never compromised (22 and 21 in my kids' clases.)
In short, we've had plenty of opportunity to move the kids, but decided against it.

[Int'l schools]

We heard from our friends that many local singaporeans go there since they cannot handle the government schooling. However, I question that since locals are not allowed to go to international schools as I have been told.

Some Singaporeans are allowed to send their kids to international schools if they have lived outside of Singapore and are moving back home. They have to get a special dispensation from the MOE. I guess the parents believe it is a bit easier on the kids to integrate into the international school system.

Anyway, just some detail to add to your thought.