Choosing a Primary School–Most important criterion
It’s time for Primary School registration in Singapore.
This highly stressful period is part of the coming-of-age ritual that all parents go through. Having been part of the education system as a student and as an educator, I fully fully empathise with all the high strung emotions and worry. After all, the decision which school to go to lies solely on the parents’ shoulders for these first 6 years of formal education. (Our meritocratic society is such that every school thereafter is based on the child’s abilities)
I must state first that I’m no big expert. But I have a P2 girl and with all the experience I have the past 1.5 years as a parent of a primary school kid, I have concluded the MOST important criterion in choosing a primary school. I’ve spoken to my in laws (who are both retired school principals), educators, other parents & even domestic helpers. And I do have a common consensus.
I understand that there are many hot debates on this, and I do not want to downplay all the other criterions. Let me say my piece and you decide if you find this just as important. The most important criterion to consider is D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E.
Yes, distance from your home to the school. I believe the distance should be no more than half an hour by public transport, either way, to and fro.
I have the luxury of staying 5 bus stops from Nicole’s primary school. It is fantastic. I’m not just referring to the traveling time saved daily. Think of the extra classes on a Saturday, or additional enrichments after school. The distance is short enough for us to send her to school and go home, instead of waiting at the school canteen for 2 hours. Some parents say they end up reading Saturday’s papers in the canteen while waiting because it’s not practical to go home and come back out again to pick the child.
Staying so near also meant that Nicole can have lunch at a decent hour. Consider this: School ends at 1.30 p.m. for most schools. With the 5-bus stop distance, Nicole reaches home at 2.15 p.m. (waiting for the bus & walking takes time). So her lunch is at 2.15 p.m. This year, her school was moved to a holding school which is another 15 bus stops away. But for this year, she reaches home only at 2.45 p.m. And that’s when she eats her lunch!!! Thank God that’s temporary.
I have experienced what it’s like to live further away from school, and I really don’t like it. Nicole is home tired and hungry. She leaves the house much earlier, and comes home later. I really cannot imagine if she has to do this for the remaining years in primary school.
Understandably, there are many other criterions for choosing a school. Things like Brand names, Alumni, Enrichment offered, Niche non-curricular activities etc. They are important. But for now, if you are considering which school to send your child to, please seriously consider the distance. Really.
Is Distance important to you when selecting a school for your child?
Great advice and that’s what I intend to do too by sending Sophie to the primary school that is just a stone’s throw away from my place.
agree! my kids take a 5-10 min walk to school. Its helped so much in terms of picking and fetching especially in the early years. As they grow up they're able to travel to and fro by themselves too. Dependance on school bus just doesn't work if you factor in extra classes and CCA
I agree too! Although I send my kids to a more established primary school within my town about 10 minutes away versus a newer school 3 minutes away! :p They say entering a new school has it's challenges (school's desire to perform well for ranking, dis-organisation etc for the first few years) so we decided not to put our kids through this thus our decision.
My recent post Tips On Making Perfect Cupcakes
Agree! That was the most important factor when we looked for childcare centre last time, and will also be the most important factor when we register our elder daughter for P1 (oh, our turn to register next year!)
My recent post Pei Pei is 5 Years Old!
Yup! Distance was my first consideration too 😉
Distance does play a role in our school choice.
[…] Mum’s the Word: Choosing a Primary School–Most important criterion – The J Babies: Our Kids Made Us Stronger […]
I wouldn't say it's the MOST important for me, but it definitely has weight, lots of weight.
Personally I would choose curriculum over distance, but having a school close is a factor.
My recent post Child-Friendly Breaks in Bodrum
We thought a lot about that when choosing a preschool – several other factors were higher on our list, but distance was definitely in the top 5. Thankfully, for preschool, we had a lot of nearby options. For primary, we are looking at the possibility of a school that would be a much longer drive. Thankfully, we have another year before we have to make that decision.
My recent post {Fitness Friday} Moms Run This Town – Fitness, Friends and Fun
I just wrote a post about choosing the right preschool and I think I totally forgot to mention distance! Uggh! Poor kid…she doesn't eat lunch at school?
My recent post Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
test grades and improvement is the most important thing for me, that said we live 6 blocks from my daughter's elementary school.
My recent post Delivery Man – official movie trailer!
My husband and I originally chose schools that were right for each child, so we had every child at a different school, in different parts of the city. I spent all day driving to and from each school. After several months of that, we decided that having the children in one school was far more important to us. We were lucky enough to get special waivers so that all of our children could attend the public school we desired. It's worked wonderfully and the school is amazing. Our oldest is in a special high school/college program but we finds his own way to and from school.
My recent post Safe Driving for Teens and a Giveaway #teendriving #giveaway
We're really lucky in that one of the absolute best schools in our school district is right around the corner! We didn't even know how great the school was when we first bought the house so we lucked out big time.
My recent post Staying Cool & Hydrated with an Indoor Picnic Featuring SnapTea from Snapple
Distance is huge! It is much easier for them to get together with school friends if they are close too.
Distance is definitely a priority when selecting a school. When searching for a house we chose one with great schools so we wouldn't have to worry about our doctor receiving a quality education when it was time for them to start.
I definitely feel that distance is important.
I agree that it is important. We just moved 5 minutes from a very good elementary school for that exact reason.
As a homeschooling mom I guess I never thought about it. But that makes sense.
My recent post Pete’s Coffee, Do You Give a Cup?
Distance is definitely important. However, where I live we only have one school.
My recent post Back to School Crafts: Pipe Cleaner Pencil Toppers
For the education of the children people choose many type of schools but getting a good quality is very important. Every parents want to give a better education to their children so they want to give the admission in a good reputed school, in the primary stage its too difficult to get. its very important that when a child make the study carrier first know about all things details so admit in a better school that will be better.