KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Can parents share your 2 cents worth of these 2 schools? Which school would you choose for your son if he's going to sec 1 next yr?

skyjuice wrote:Can parents share your 2 cents worth of these 2 schools? Which school would you choose for your son if he's going to sec 1 next yr?

I tot ACS barker only take in students from feeder school and are not participating in the S1 posting exercise? So unless you are from ACS primary otherwise this scenario wouldn't exist.

Maris Stella: Catholic. Only Chinese for MT. Express course only. Higher COP. Affiliated to CJC. Right next to MRT.

ACS Barker: Methodist. Various MT offered. Express & N(A). Lower COP. Affiliated to ACJC. Chinese standard not as high. Nice facilities including swimming pool, tennis courts, hostel, cafe. Strong alumni. They do take in outsiders on appeal, based on talent. My son was among around 10 outsiders in his class. MRT ~10 mins walk away. Traffic congestion in morning due to many schools in area.

poots wrote:Maris Stella: Catholic. Only Chinese for MT. Express course only. Higher COP. Affiliated to CJC. Right next to MRT.

ACS Barker: Methodist. Various MT offered. Express & N(A). Lower COP. Affiliated to ACJC. Chinese standard not as high. Nice facilities including swimming pool, tennis courts, hostel, cafe. Strong alumni. They do take in outsiders on appeal, based on talent. My son was among around 10 outsiders in his class. MRT ~10 mins walk away. Traffic congestion in morning due to many schools in area.

Poots, has your son been able to fit in well with his friends in school? What is his opinion of ACS Barker boys in general. I must say I saw some of them behaving not so well but I hope they are the exception.

skyjuice wrote:Can parents share your 2 cents worth of these 2 schools? Which school would you choose for your son if he's going to sec 1 next yr?

If purely based on PSLE results, the boys taken in by Maris Stella range 227-249 (affiliated cut off 227; non aff slightly higher at 231). ACS Barker affiliated COP 152-245 and Non-affiliated 192-196. Such score stats signify a fairly different profile type of students Of course other factors such as public perceptions of the boys, religion, distance from your house, CCA offered etc etc.

hi skyjuice,

MOE press release -
Maris Stella Secondary ranked under Band 3, ACS Barker Secondary in Band 8.

ACSI in IP programme:-

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/files ... nex-e1.pdf

read:-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum ... 6&p=590905

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum ... 3&start=20

Hello Skyjuice / Uncle Lim,

My boy enjoys school. He doesn't feel left out as there are many non-affiliates in his class, and affiliates are quite friendly. Please note that ACS Barker does not take non-affiliates except through DSA/appeals.

Academic standards: Given that Barker takes in as many affiliates as it can (even some scoring 150+) & has 1-2 N(A) classes per level, it cannot enjoy a high Band position. However, every year there are affiliates who though eligible for ACSI (235 for affiliates), choose Barker instead - some had scored 250+. I even know of ACSI boys who transferred to ACS Barker because they didn't like ACSI. From past performance, the best class is Band 1 standard.

Bad Behaviour: A few bad apples are inevitable in a boy's school, perhaps more so for those with N(A) classes. But even HCI & RI have bad apples - some of their infamous alumni were arrested for paedophilia & embezzlement not long ago. At my other boy's Band 1 sch, swear words are common and public caning happens now & then. My ACS boy does not come in contact with any louts. Maybe those are from N(A) classes ... I don't know.

Reasons why I chose ACS: My boy didn't do well for PSLE. Of all the Express schools he was eligible for, I felt ACS was the best. Despite being Band 8, facilities are great. Boys are generally gentlemanly & tend to speak decent English. He gets membership to a large & proud alumni, useful for future networking. His sons (if any) can go to ACSP. It's affiliated to a JC. It's 10mins away by car & on the way to hubby's office. The Principal is well-liked & respected. A bit irrelevant, but a recent survey of my boy's class revealed that ~3/4 stay in private property.

Good luck to all who are trying to choose a suitable secondary school ... do consider all the factors carefully & wish you all the best!

poots, thank you. That was very informative.

poots wrote:
[Reasons why I chose ACS: The Principal is well-liked & respected.

yes, we like him and hope he will not be there for a short period only.

poots wrote:

Reasons why I chose ACS: ... His sons (if any) can go to ACSP...

Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but i thought a child qualifies for ACPS Phase 2A only if the father studied at ACPS. Studying at ACS (Barker) doesn't give that advantage right?