Did you know that after the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results are released, parents and students will have only seven days to submit their school choices?
If your child has taken the PSLE this year, results will tentatively be out between 22 and 26 November. We hope you have already started researching secondary schools and discussing the possibilities with your child!
Considering that 2021 is the first year of the PSLE scoring by Achievement Levels (ALs), you might feel uncertain about how this will affect your child’s score and choice of schools. As your child has already completed the exams, try not to focus on what could’ve been improved during the exam preparation process. Instead, look to the possibilities ahead, which can be summed up as:
Disappointing results
Expected results
Better-than-expected results
Do talk about Results Day with your child — it is particularly important that your child is ready to face a disappointing outcome. You can reassure him or her that no matter what happens, there will always be new experiences, new friends, and new opportunities to look forward to.
When choosing schools in late November, please bear in mind the Ministry of Education’s advice, which is to includeat least two or three schools where your child’s PSLE score is better than the school’s cut-off point. You can choose a maximum of six schools, so weigh your options carefully and choose wisely.
Apart from your child’s score, there are other factors to consider when shortlisting secondary schools, and below are some questions that may help you to make a more informed decision:
What are my child’s needs, strengths, and interests? Can the school serve my child’s needs well?
Is the school’s location accessible? What are my child’s transportation options?
Are there financial considerations? (If your child is considering an independent school, you should be aware of the school’s fee structure. For Singapore citizens,financial assistanceis available — do also check directly with schools to find out if they offer their own bursaries.)
Above all, try to keep an open mind as you search for the best school that will recognise your child’s potential, and help him or her to grow as a person.
2021 Secondary School e-Open House Dates
With Covid-19 still firmly in our lives, secondary schools will once again shift their open house events online.
Planning to attend a school webinar with your child? Do spend time discussing possible questions for the school leaders or students. If you are hesitant to raise a question on video, you can always submit questions by email prior to the event, or type your questions into the chatbox. For examples of questions that you can ask, read our post here.
Below are some links to help you in browsing secondary schools. For your convenience, we have also included the dates and registration links for school webinars in the table. If the school that you’re interested in does not have an e-Open House link or webinar listed, please visit the school’s website or contact them for more information.
We wish you all the best in selecting a suitable secondary school for your child!
