Singapore Expats

HI. We plan to send our daughter (who will turn 3 this month) to school as soon as we find a good school for her. Initially, we we considering Etonhouse in Broadrick but we realized after getting all the information that transportation will be a big problem. Hence, we are highly considering sending her to a good local school within our area. I came across CHIJ St Nicholas. We liked it because it's an all girls Catholic school. I do have some questions though:
1. What are the chances of her getting accepted there given that we are foreigners(phils)? Obviously, the school will prioritize citizens, kids of alumni and siblings of current students.
2. Is CHIJ one of the best local schools in Sing? any reco will be appreciated.
3. How's the curriculum? i know that local schools here in Sing tend to focus more on academics and neglect extra curricular activities.

thanks in advance!

Most of the Catholic schools are okay here. My daughter went to CHIJ Toa Payoh. It was considered one of the top school back then. Don't know where it stands today. If I had to do it over again though I would have never let my wife put here in a single gender school though. I think it's a big mistake, but that's personal opinion I guess.

There are more extra curricular activities in local schools than any child can handle. I don't know who you've been talking to. And the facilities in most of the school are top notch. As far as the rating system goes, do be too kiasu, most are good schools and if you put here in one of the best then it's easy for a child to get completely demoralized if they cannot keep up. You do more damage than good.

Mary4U wrote:HI. We plan to send our daughter (who will turn 3 this month) to school as soon as we find a good school for her. Initially, we we considering Etonhouse in Broadrick but we realized after getting all the information that transportation will be a big problem. Hence, we are highly considering sending her to a good local school within our area. I came across CHIJ St Nicholas. We liked it because it's an all girls Catholic school. I do have some questions though:
1. What are the chances of her getting accepted there given that we are foreigners(phils)? Obviously, the school will prioritize citizens, kids of alumni and siblings of current students.
2. Is CHIJ one of the best local schools in Sing? any reco will be appreciated.
3. How's the curriculum? i know that local schools here in Sing tend to focus more on academics and neglect extra curricular activities.

thanks in advance!

Nationally, CHIJ is certainly one of the better schools in Singapore. However, it is still nowhere near the best.

These are the primary schools which are generally considered to be the best in Singapore (at least to locals).

Rosyth School
Tao Nan School
Saint Hilda's Primary School
Raffles Girls' Primary School
Nanyang Primary School
Nan Hua Primary School
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
Henry Park Primary School
Catholic High School (Primary)

If you want to grade schools according to the amount of top PSLE students they produce from yr2000 onwards, CHIJ St Nicholas would rank 19th.

However, CHIJ St Nicholas would be one of the best schools in the Yio Chu Kang region.

Need to be fluent in Chinese for St.Nicholas, lah.

These are the primary schools which are generally considered to be the best in Singapore (at least to locals).

Rosyth School
Tao Nan School
Saint Hilda's Primary School
Raffles Girls' Primary School
Nanyang Primary School
Nan Hua Primary School
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
Henry Park Primary School
Catholic High School (Primary)

If you are looking for a school that has a good balance between academics and extra curricular activities (as OP had asked), I think CHIJ would be a much better choice than some of these schools that you have listed.

i know that St Hilda's has one of the best junior sailing teams here - the school own various types of boats parked at one of the Sailing clubs in Changi. Also choir,various types of dances & Netball are good.

Mary4U wrote:HI. We plan to send our daughter (who will turn 3 this month) to school as soon as we find a good school for her. Initially, we we considering Etonhouse in Broadrick but we realized after getting all the information that transportation will be a big problem. Hence, we are highly considering sending her to a good local school within our area. I came across CHIJ St Nicholas. We liked it because it's an all girls Catholic school. I do have some questions though:
1. What are the chances of her getting accepted there given that we are foreigners(phils)? Obviously, the school will prioritize citizens, kids of alumni and siblings of current students.
2. Is CHIJ one of the best local schools in Sing? any reco will be appreciated.
3. How's the curriculum? i know that local schools here in Sing tend to focus more on academics and neglect extra curricular activities.

thanks in advance!

Dear Mary4U,

You may want to take a look at this site Top 20 Primary School in Singapore

For top primary school in Ang Mo Kio area, you may want to check out this page.

St. Nicholas is definitely one of the top schools in Singapore. But they will be relocated next year for an upgrading project. Not too sure where they are moving to.