Any good local school wih ex-pat population?

[tiggerpooh]

Hi everyone

We are looking for a primary school for our son. 

Please could someone advise a local school (vs. international school) which has a good mix of ex-pat kids?

Regards

[why?]

if you can afford it, why wouldn't you send your children to an international school?

[Not that easy]

Think you need to do a bit more research - it is not just as simple as picking a local school and enrolling.

[Research]

Do a bit of reasearch on the old posts in this site and it has been covered extensively. Horses for courses. 

Meanwhile, you should know that the better international schools have long waiting lists (2 to 3 years) and the better local schools are very hard to get into for a foreigner as they give priority to locals (and within it to locals where parents are alumni or volunteers).

Having said that, I recall from the previous discussions that expats didn't think the best Singaporean local schools are the ebst for them anyway as there is too much structure too early.  Some schools which were more relaxed and easier to get into were mentioned.

The advantages of local schools are that they cost a hell of a lot less and the kids are pushed academically, particularly in subjects like maths (in most international schools you are majorly ripped off and kids spend their time on touchy feely bull$h1t subjects rather than the 3R's).  The disadvantages are the emphasis on rote learning, the cr@p singlish accent that your kids might pick up and the fact that the curriculum may not help your kid when you back to your own home country.

[$Pripps]

My son went to local secondary school for two years and while the
subjects he learned may not have exactly fitted the curriculum from back
home he did pickup some good habits here like taking his studies
more seriously. Also since he was the only westerner student
in the school he was forced to mingle with other cultures, I think
he learned a lot from that as well.

[Used to be]

Tanjong Katong Primary used to have quite a few expat kids, many kids left our international school to go there as our school put the prices up so often.  I'm not sure what the list to get in there is like but you could give it a try and see (assuming you live nearby of course......not much point going there if you live in Jurong!)

[Not much chance]

The law was changed recently reducing the opportunities for expatriates who are not PRs to obtain placement in the better local schools.

[phase 3]

I don't know whether it is correct to say one school is "better" than another, but some schools are definitely "more popular" than the others.

If I understand correctly, the law has also changed that PR has less chance (statistically) to get in the more popular school compared to citizen.  Also, there is cap of admitting foreign student for each school i.e the fact that there is vacancy does not mean that the foreign student will be accepted.

If you look at this year primary 1 admission this year, you will find that at phase 3, it is common for the "unpopular school" (in the local sense) to have over 100 place, out of say a 200 cohort.

So: there is always places for the kid somewhere in the local system, even though it may not be where you want your kids to be in.  If your kid is due for P1 next year, I will just look at the p1 admission list, pick a school close to your house, queue up in the front of it tomorrow morning.

[Popular->better]

phase 3:  I think that 'more popular' leads into 'better' because it also attracts more applications for open teaching positions and thus the school is able to choose the best teachers.

[going local]

We are starting our queuing tomorrow morning at 6am.  We've had our children in the local kindergarten system for years & we haven't got our child in our first choice but are going with our next choice - we've learned to be flexible.  We've also been researching the local school system for years so we know what we're in for.  A lot of the more popular schools are quite elitist & that's not what we're after.  Our kids already speak Singlish with their classmates in kindy & then swap over to their "normal" accents when they're back home playing with their friends in the condo.  We have four kids and we're also looking forward to a drop in the kindy fees when our eldest starts at local school.  We've also met the principal & some of the staff at the school we're applying to (& the school we missed out on) and we are really pleasantly surprised at how welcoming they are and forthcoming with information ie over phone when I would ring at the end of each registration phase asking how many places were left etc.

[consider this]

do check out st joseph's international...
it might fit your bill...

[Not]

Would avoid st josephs.....like a local school with into school prices....many people have moved their kids out after attending

[behaviour issues?]

to PP- haha haha - that is just so untrue it's laughable. Sour Grapes on your part?

[sji for us]

I have heard of some issues with the senior school at SJI, however the elementary school has a good rep and I got a very good 'feel' from the place when I visited. Not scientific I know but I have only heard positive comments from parents with children at the lower grades and we are enrolled to start there next year. I guess we shall find out...

[local dweller]

OP, did you say where you stay? It is advisable to get a school nearby. Morning rides could be a hassle considering ther are morning traffic aorund Singapore.