UNITED WORLD COLLEGE

[Kate11]

Has anyone got any advice or information on United World College.  We are moving in 8 months to Singapore and needing a school for our 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son.  Needing IB and GCSE program and both kids very competitive on the sports field.  Your information, experience and input would be greatly appreciated.

[somersa]

Please check the archives for this endlessly discussed topic.  Wishing you well!  You'll find LOTS of information and opinion.

[Infosite]

Your best source of reliable information is the school’s website. Google it and then click on the site map link at the top of the page.

[School]

UWC does not follow MYP so your 11 year old would be out of the loop for 2 years until G8 when it reverts back to the IB system.

Not sure on the sports front, yes they have school teams but I'm not sure how competitive I would say they are.
Main focus of the school is service - global, local and college. The school environment is quite competitive on the education side.

It's a good school and as with all the international schools here it has it's good points and bad points although I wouldn't say that the bad points are outstanding, just ***les.

The mix of nationalities is ok and should become more diverse now that the admission policy has changed.

Good luck with your research

[UKMOM]

It would be a good idea for you to contact the school directly and ask about their waiting list times for the year groups you need.

It is not always possible to get your child into the school straight away.  I have a friend who was told it would be minimum of 1 year on the list for her 11 year old.  She is slowly moving up the line but has had to take a place in another school while she waits for the spot at UWCSEA.

Good Luck!!

[School]

There are no waitlists at the school, the admission policy was changed a couple of weeks ago. All the info is on the website ..

[Dr. Phil]

It describes itself as a movement which makes education a force to unite people. They say they educate individuals to shape a better world.

Well, that for me is a big turn off. Its sounds more of a political agenda rather than academic.

I would want a school to give my child a traditional education.

Let the young gurus of karma test their untried theories on other children, not mine.

I want my kids to bring home Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, History....... If there are any globally oriented souls let them teach Geography.

Is it a sect? 

[uwcer]

It describes itself as a movement which makes education a force to unite people. They say they educate individuals to shape a better world.

Well, that for me is a big turn off. Its sounds more of a political agenda rather than academic.

I would want a school to give my child a traditional education.

Let the young gurus of karma test their untried theories on other children, not mine.

I want my kids to bring home Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, History....... If there are any globally oriented souls let them teach Geography.

Is it a sect? 

They do teach all these subjects believe it or not!

[tut tut]

I love it when somebody highlights specific words to suit thier needs!!

Uwc is not a cult! Neither is it the best school neither or the worst school that your child may ever attend.

It is simply an international school in Singapore along side many others.

[Dr. Phil]

I love it when somebody highlights specific words to suit thier needs!!

Uwc is not a cult! Neither is it the best school neither or the worst school that your child may ever attend.

It is simply an international school in Singapore along side many others.

I was taught as a schoolboy, read the small print. 
Don't you teach your children the same? 

However this "mission statement" ( ) is not small but large bold print. Its the introduction to their website in fact. The most important first impression one gets from opening the site.

UWC is tasked with educating children. Yes social development is also important but that's the main responsibility of parents and if they fail, the state.

Okay, I'm trying to understand. if its not a sect, is it like that ridiculous "academy" featured in that tv program called "FAME"? Will kids be coming home and doing pirouettes in the living room rather than homework? As a father of two sons.....

Tony Blair introduced academies in UK. Today we have riots. The poor lost souls don't know who they are. 

[put another way...]

It describes itself as a movement which makes education a force to unite people. They say they educate individuals to shape a better world.

[Infosite]

And from the head’s welcome:

“UWCSEA provides a challenging, holistic education with an emphasis on academic achievement, service to others, teamwork and leadership.”

Which in Dr Phil’s fevered brain makes it a cult. Sigh!

[Dr. Phil]

It describes itself as a movement which makes education a force to unite people. They say they educate individuals to shape a better world.

No, education is a tool designed in the first instance to help my boys get a job, a career and support a family.

I do not want my kids distracted, trying to "unite people".

We have a "United" Nations currently killing Serbs because they will not stick to the script and hand their Kosovo over to muslim Albanian immigrants.
We have a "United" Nations overseeing the holocaust of the Palestinian people because they will not hand their country over to Jews.

If you educate children to unite the world you are setting them on collision course with UN, USA, UK, EU........ If you are serious, you are raising tomorrows terrorists. 

[Dr. Phil]

And from the head’s welcome:

“UWCSEA provides a challenging, holistic education with an emphasis on academic achievement, service to others, teamwork and leadership.”

Which in Dr Phil’s fevered brain makes it a cult. Sigh!

Those words again. 
Holistic.....promising everything but unable to be specific....end up with nothing.

Teamwork, leadership..... now there is a contradiction to all but motivation speakers and CEOs with too much cash. 

Talk to me about how many students gained good grades at O and A Level, how many University students gained entry to top Universities........ I don't want to know about little Johnny who graduated with a UWC Diploma and now is gainfully employed in the local pet shop but has a "luvly nature" bless him. 
 

[Infosite]

Dr Phil, Is there a reason why most of your posts are littered with those funny faces? Just asking!

You wrote:

“Talk to me about how many students gained good grades at O and A Level, how many University students gained entry to top Universities........ I don't want to know about little Johnny who graduated with a UWC Diploma and now is gainfully employed in the local pet shop but has a "luvly nature" bless him.  ”

But if you followed the advice I gave the OP and checked out that link you could have read all that information and more and perhaps we would have been spared being exposed to your rather strange world view.

Still it is quite clear that in your case ignorance is indeed bliss.