Singapore Expats

Hi..We are a British family living in the UK. I have an 11, 9, and 6 year old (starting year 7, 5, and 2 in Sept 2010). We are potentially moving to Singapore..so just starting my research on schools now.

After reading the forums...Im terrified! Sounds like if we might come back to the UK in the next few years, we should stick with the Tanglin School?? Is this the right assumption? Or is UWC appropriate for us as well?

Both sound like there are impossible waiting lists?

What does one do if there are no vacancies?

And if Tanglin is THE school for us..what area of Singapore should we be looking for housing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you chose Tanglin, I would chose to live in Holland Village which has tons of ex-pats and is about 5-10 minute car ride to Tanglin Trust School. It's a really nice neighborhood with everything you could not need while not living right in the center of Singapore - off Orchard Road etc...

Well, whichever school you go for I would look sharpish about it because the waiting lists are loooong! I have had my 2 on Tanglin's list (for years 7 and 4 currently) since last November... hoping the elder one will get a place for January. Looks like number 2 will get a year 5 place in September 2010 as she will be a sibling. I think both school from what I've seen are much of a muchness we just went with Tanglin because we will return to British system in 4 years. Good luck.

We home school using the curriculum and assessments for the British Key Stage 2 curriculum. There are around 140 home schoolers (in our group) made up of locals and expats so plenty of classes, enrichment and socialisation to be had.
The curriculum with support costs around $100 pm so financially it leaves alot of money (compared to International Schools) for extra tutors, sports, music, arts, travel etc.