7 Points To Consider When Choosing A Secondary School For Your Child
Here's what to consider when picking the next place where your child will spend their teenage years
Now that the PSLE results are out, it's time to pick a secondary school for your child — a place where they'll spend the next four years or more.
Choosing a school for your child is never easy. There are so many factors to consider when having this discussion, and you want to ensure that the secondary school has the right environment to educate and equip your child with knowledge and life lessons. To make things less stressful, we've rounded up seven points you should consider when picking a secondary school in Singapore together with your child.
Opt for schools with an environment, ethos and culture that resonate and best suit your kid's personality and learning style. Schools also have distinctive programmes, or niche programmes, that nurture a child's strengths and interests — or even improve an area of weakness. These don't have to be a specific interest like tennis or chess either, since many schools have niche programmes in other areas like student leadership.
Not sure what their niche programme is? It's usually on the school's website, or you can ask about it at their open house.
There are 27 secondary schools affiliated to primary schools in Singapore. This allows your kid to enrol there even if they have a lower cut-off score. However, if your kid wants to continue in the affiliated secondary school, she must indicate that school as her first choice. There may also be other requirements that your child needs to meet.
It's also important to consider the culture of that secondary school — even though they may be affiliated, the culture might be quite different from that of your child's primary school.
While we all aspire to have our kids study at a "good school", forcing them to study in a school that isn't a good academic fit will stress out your child.
Experts generally suggest that you choose a school that fits your kid's academic ability, so he or she won't struggle under the pressure. It's fine to stretch them a little, but keep your expectations realistic.
The good news is that there's now subject-based banding. Under the new secondary school streaming changes that started in 2020, several schools now offer full subject-based banding, students can take subjects at a higher or lower-level, depending on their abilities. Check to see if your preferred secondary school offers this, especially if your child excels in or struggles in a particular subject.
Although your child can probably take public transport to and from school on their own now, it's good to consider how long the commute is. Secondary school demands longer hours, often ending at 5pm or 6pm thanks to remedial classes and CCAs. There may also be night study sessions when it comes to the O levels, which usually end around 9pm. Choosing a school closer to home would reduce travel time and fatigue, plus let your child get more sleep in the morning.
Some kids are more suited to the more structured framework of the O levels, while those who are self-directed in learning might prefer the Integrated Programme that skips the O levels and leads directly to the A levels or other diplomas.
Specialised schools like the School of the Arts, the Singapore Sports School or the School of Science and Technology serve students who believe they have the talent and potential to grow in their mastery of a field such as aesthetics, sports, mathematics or science. These schools are designed to provide students with maximum opportunities to excel in those fields. If your child shows an aptitude for football or painting, it might just be the place for them to nurture their talents.
Pupils in mainstream schools with mild special educational needs, such as dyslexia or Autism Spectrum Disorder, may want to check if the secondary schools have the experience and resources to support students with similar types and levels of need.
Most schools will have Allied Educators (Learning and Behaviour Support) and counsellors to provide extra support, though the number may vary. To find out more, contact the school and ask about how the kind of support they offer — this may range from extra after-school classes to one-on-one support.
Not sure where to begin? Use the SchoolFinder portal to shortlist potential secondary schools.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Additional input from Associate Professor Jason Tan and Associate Professor Kenneth Poon from the National Institute of Education. Updated by The Singapore Women's Weekly on 22 November 2023.