Tanglin or UWC

[SIS]

ok, (deep breath), i realise i risk opening up a can of worms here but need more views on deciding between UWC and Tanglin. i have visited both (and others), read all the literature and posts i can find on this site, but remain confused and bedazzled by my choice as to which wait list to put my childs name on. sorry to bore anyone or open up an uncomfotable or old debate, but can anyone add anything that could enlighten me?

Thank you............

[langkawi]

How old are your kids.

I know teachers from both schools and have relatives that attended both.

Both are really solid schools, but I somehow prefer Tanglin to UWC. A cousin had a really bad experience in UWC. Basically she was over weight and was constantly bullied when she was there.

[SIS]

my son would be going in the first year of either school, as it is the best way to try and get a place, so for tanglin it would be sept 2010 at 3 or uwc 2011 at 4. He is two and a half now then the year after his sister would join him the year below.

Real shame about your cousin, an awful experience.

thank you for your reply. any inside info?

[QRM]

My 3 year old daughter just came back from TTS and pecked me on the cheek and thanked me for such a nice school.

I dont know the actual statistics but just a quick glance around I would say TTS is 80 percent "white" which does seem bother some folks. I know people prefer the more international UWC because TTS is a bit too "British".

[noodlemama]

The biggest difference in addition to the curriculum is that Tanglin is VERY British.

I too, am sorry about what happened to the previous posters friend's child at UWC. My children have gone to UWC for a long time now and I do know that they preach an anti-bullying message.

On the other hand, I have a friend whose child is Eurasian and NOT British and she has bullied at Tanglin. She moved to UWC. You don't say where you are from but I would think that would make a difference in your decision.

[SIS]

I am sure bullying goes on in all schools and that they all have policies to deal with it. Yes, I think UWC has a more eclectic mix. Tanglin is more British as it follows the National Curriculum, presumably an attraction to British families. There is also the debate over the IB PYP programme and National curriculum and which foundation is a better grounding for early years..... For each to make their own mind up. Interesting to note that UWC does not follow the IB programme for middle yrs, but reverts back to IGCSE/GCSE and then back to IB for later yrs. Having made two visits to each school I finally have decided on a number of fronts to go with Tanglin even though I am not English. Thank u for all your help for those that replied - helpful to have personal views and accounts.

[chub]

Glad you have made a decision. Wondering if you can help me with my decision...firstly, which country would you be repatriating to some day? We are British, so eventually would move back to the UK...UWC sounds fantastic to me..but worried that I will have to send my kids to Tanglin just to cover all the bases. What are you thoughts please?

[QRM]

The biggest difference in addition to the curriculum is that Tanglin is VERY British.

I too, am sorry about what happened to the previous posters friend's child at UWC. My children have gone to UWC for a long time now and I do know that they preach an anti-bullying message.

On the other hand, I have a friend whose child is Eurasian and NOT British and she has bullied at Tanglin. She moved to UWC. You don't say where you are from but I would think that would make a difference in your decision.

My kid is Eurasian and loves TTS. She went to Centre Stage Art school and a very large 5 year old kept pushing her around I even saw it during one of my visits, she kept stepping on her feet, my toddler put up a valiant fight. The teacher was informed and the older girl was told to be nice, since then my kid never wants to go back to centre stage. So it’s not really the school its just bad luck if there is a headcase in the same class.

[SIS]

We will eventually go back to America, England or Australia but on what timescale I don't know . These are just my views so I don't want to upset anyone. However, to answer your v important question, I kept having the nagging feeling that I was missing something and almost wanted to be persuaded that UWC was the best and to send my son there. After all if you are paying all that money you might as well get the best, right? So after two visits to each, UWC (both campuses), in the end my gut said Tanglin. UWC, I felt, was like a university campus and I was like a cog in a wheel rather than prospective parent - everything to everyone - very international in a Singaporean kind of fashion - just my opinion. I wanted everything to everyone with a family type feel for my child's first experience in school, and although Tanglin is big, it doesn't have that en masse feel. there were lots of mixed nationalities so the statistic of British-ness that people give out as if it is a negative point, I think is poppycock, (not the statistic, the negativism associated with it). There will be lots of time later in his life to get the wonderful experiences that UWC offers, which isn't exclusive to them; I had an unexplainable niggle particularly when the lady showing me round said " as the children spend so much time on other causes outside the classroom, the time in the classroom is condensed and crammed in to cover all that is needed." presumably this is in later years. i know what she means of course. Anyway, Tanglin too, IF we are still here, offers philanthropic trips/experiences, arts and sports as part of a rounded education in a tried and tested curriculum, consistent throughout all years, with options for IB later also. But if your gut says UWC is an opportunity not to be missed on whatever grounds and research visits you have done, then I wouldn't worry about where you will eventually end up...I just decide for the moment what I felt was right for my child's emotional and academic well being. I am quite sure UWC covers all the bases too. If in doubt, visit again and ask more questions. Ask each of them what they think are the benefits over the other as their main competitor...interesting answers... don't know if any of this helps....anything else I can help with pls post back. And yes QRM there must be head cases everywhere. shame, my son loves centre stage.

[chub]

someone said to me that UWC is a lot more academic than Tanglin...true/false?

[SIS]

i would say tanglin, but am sure every parent will say the school their child is at to bolster their choice and research. this is just my opinion, based on knowledge of pyp and uk national curriculum - both can be viewed on various websites online and you could compare expectations for each age group. it was confirmed to me when i asked questions when i went round each school. however, i really dont think you could go wrong academically with either. you could also compare acadmic results of each....???

[Sirano100]

Our daughters went to UWC, graduated from there with very good GCSE & IB grades, and they are now at good UK uni’s. We remained in Singapore much longer than we might otherwise have done because they were enjoying their schooling so much. I can’t speak too highly about their time there. It is an amazing place which offers so very much, they truly live up to their mission ‘to inculcate a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’ The College has the ability through it’s largeness and wonderful dedicated staff to bring out the very best in each child. Even though one of our girls did suffer with a short episode of bullying it was handled promptly, with compassion and sensitivity by the staff there and ended up being an experience for our daughter, although a little bruised by it, one which she has learned a lot from, she is a caring, and compassionate young adult. One aspect that we didn’t reaIise at the time is the fact that ‘The United World College Of South East Asia”