Singapore Expats

Hello all,


I'm in the UK, looking to move to Singapore after christmas. So far I'm not having much luck in my research of schools. Can anyone give me some good websites for internationls schools? My kids are 7 and 4.

Also, any advice, tips, past experience is welcomed. Not sure where we will be staying, but what are rentals prices in the marina bay area like?


thanks

Hi Apple,

You can try the following website
www.ofs.edu.sg(Overseas Family School)
www.iss.edu.sg(International School Singapore)
www.etonhouse.com.sg(EtonHouse Internation and Preschool)
www.tts.edu.sg(Tanglin Trust School)

There is no residential development in Marina Bay. The closest will be the Tanjong Rhu Area. Development like Pebble Bay, Sanctuary Green, Water Place(Brand New), Waterside, Casuarina Cove and etc are quite popular with expatriates.

thanks Dragonboat,

Thats right, it wasn't marina bay, I meant to ask about marine parade! (well that area anyway)

the websites are great, I've just been going in circles following links. As I've said, any tips are very welcomed for a very anxious new expat!

Hi Apple

My kids are 5 and 7 and are at Eton House - we live in the Marine Parade area. EH is the nearest International School to this area and alot of kids who attend, live around here - it is also one of the cheaper options if you end up paying for the schooling yourselves. Mine are very happy there and are coming along nicely with their education.

From what I know of the International Schools, they all seem to be good schools - the main thing will be to go and visit them and see what you think. The downside of that is that some of them have long waiting lists, so you could end up with your kids off school for a while when you arrive, while they wait for a place (however, they will have time to get used to Singapore before they start school, which could be beneficial).

As for the Marine Parade area - rentals vary greatly. Places like Pebble Bay can be $4,000 per month to as much as $8,000 per month (it is very posh!!), or there are much, much cheaper places which could set you back about $1,500 per month. You will really have to shop around. Get yourselves a good agent (or get a few agents, so they are in competition!), and negotiate well (it is a renter's market). There is a brand new condo which is nearing completion, right next to Parkway Parade (big shopping mall) - it might be worth a look when you arrive.

Good luck with your move.

... with 2 boys aged 14 and 9. they are going to very academic schools in London and I cant decide whether Tanglin Trust or UWC would be more appropriate. TTS can offer them a place immediately- would it be worth holding out for UWC. Any opinions on both schools?

We would want our older one to return to the UK for university in 4 years.

[quote="NK

Hi NK

Mine both went to UWC in Dover Road. Fantastic. Very varied curriculum and many nationalities to broaden their lives. Great standard of teaching. Both kids went onto Uni here, top grade unis, by the way, no problem with the IB being accepted as entry to uni in UK.

Many of the kids from UWC go onto Oxbridge etc. So don't worry about standards.

Two problems.....waiting list, I think, but check, and expense. Very much so, but we were lucky as company paid. Most definitely is something to budget for if this is not the case.

As juniors they went to Tanglin. Also very good. Does Tanglin now do senior education then? It didn't when we were there. My advice, send them to UWC. A proper education.

Thanks Bubbles, your comments were very useful. I think the UWC waiting list will be the biggest hurdle. Fingers crossed.

Thanks Loops. I was also thinking of Etonhouse, mainly because is we are thinking of living in the marina parade area. But how long are the waiting list? are we talking a week? months?? That does worry me. Any other tips would be a great help.

Loops wrote:Hi Apple

You will really have to shop around. Get yourselves a good agent (or get a few agents, so they are in competition!), and negotiate well (it is a renter's market). There is a brand new condo which is nearing completion, right next to Parkway Parade (big shopping mall) - it might be worth a look when you arrive.

Good luck with your move.

Go through many agents? Many problems will arise

1. You will see the same place, same flat.

2. End up meeting same people. landlords, - embarassing moments

3. All the agents will assess your needs differently, because you were out with so many not one.

4. End up wasting more time in search of something which should have taken a shorter time to find.

5. And that one agent that you finally sealed a deal with was not up to your expectations.

That's what happened to me when I first found my house, disaster.

I'd rather find a reputable one, or even better one that has an excellent word of mouth from friends.

My 2 cents worth.

May I know which International School in Singapore has a higher population of Asian or Chinese?

Thanks!

May I know which International School in Singapore has a higher population of Asian or Chinese?

Thanks!

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