Choosing Suitable Primary School

Another 4 months, the 2008 P1 Registration Exercise would be carried out. I have been through the P1 registration exercise before, and I would like to share my personal experience. You may use the following criteria in choosing the suitable primary school for your child:-

Short-list a few schools and visit them

Make appointments to visit those short-listed schools. You may "interview" pupils there and observed the conducts of the pupils as well. Remember to bring along your child to experience how the primary school looks like:-)

Distance between Home and Choice of School

Distance is very important when come to choosing primary school. Going to nearby school means lower transportation cost (or zero transport cost - for school within walking distance). In addition, the child does not have to wake up early to travel a long distance. Also, it's very convenient for parents to attend any special events like PTCs. And don't forget, you have to pay extra transport fee to pick up your child after CCAs.

Affiliated Schools

It means that your child may automatically be promoted to its secondary school regardless of its PSLE result. It gives the child a more enjoyable primary school life and in fact, lesser pressures for both parents and child.

Statistics of Past PSLE Pass % and No. of Pupils promoted to Special/Express/Normal (Academic)/Normal (Technical) Stream

You may call up the short-listed schools to find out how each school performs for the past PSLEs.

SAP or GEP

If you think your child is gifted and bright, it's good to enrol him/her into GEP school, which is usually very competitive. If you think your child's Chinese Language foundation is good, go ahead and put he/she in SAP school, whereby the child would have more exposure into Chinese Language and Culture, ie. have to take Higher Chinese Language subject.

Your child's strengths and interests

As parents, we know best our child's strengths and weaknesses. So assess his/her potential and interests and fit he/she into a school that will mould him/her and develop his/her potential to the fullest.

Hope the above information provided is useful. You may visit the following websites for further information.

MOE Primary Education
MOE School Information Service
MOE P1 Registration Information
Phases of P1 Registration Exercise
2007 P1 Registration Exercise - Phase 2B Balloting
2007 P1 Registration Exercise - Phase 2C Balloting
Distance betwen Home and Choice of School - FREE svc
Distance between Home and Choice of School - Pay svc