Singapore Expats

I am considering sending my daughter to this school to start P1 next year. Does anyone here have any experience both positive and negative with this school? I also would like to hear of any experiences in other local primary schools. We are Australian and my daughter has been going to a local pre school since she was two.

Hi, I have successfully sent at least 2 foreign students to Tanjong Katong Primary. The staff from this school have been very helpful in working with us towards our students' education. These two students have been studying at this school since Primary One. Now, they are currently in Primary Five and Six respectively. Sice your daughter is joining in for Primary One next year, I believe it should not be difficult for her as she had been in a local pre-school and thus she can adapt very quickly.

Hi,

My wife and i took our two children along to Tanjong Katong primary school after arriving from the UK. Our kids are bright and had good test results. However, after leaving them for a couple of hours to sit the entrance exam we returned to find our daughter in tears because she was finding some of the questions so difficult and no-one was prepared to explain the question in a different manner.

I guess it depends where you are comng from and the style in which your kids have been taught previously. We certainly found some of the questions were asked in a very different way and we soon realised that it would be a challenge for our kids to adjust.

We also found that there is much emphasis on academic results and not enough on kids being allowed to have fun. Seven year olds need to have fun. They don't generally respond well to pressure unless they have been used to it from day one.

Another thing, was that some of the questions asked were taken from MENSA!! Since when do schools test the IQ of a child?

Anyway, i would not recommend the school after our experience. Instead we opted for East Coast Primary School. The principal there is very open to new ideas and they put emphasis on the children having fun. They realise that kids learn quicker that way.

Hope the above helps you, and please remember that while my experience with the school was not good there will be many parents that will sing the praises of the school. So at the end of the day you will need to go there and decide for yourself.

Hi Guys,

May I know what's the procedures in getting 7-year old foreign kids into such school? i.e. Tg Katong or East Coast Pri. What are the school fees like. Many thanks for your forthcoming replies!