Help needed! How to transfer to another school and which one?

[selinasun]

Hi,
My son didn’t meet up prompt criteria to sec 4, i think he need to retake sec 3 (guess coz teacher hasn’t called yet).

I’d like to seek suggestion:
1) how to transfer to another school? We just apply to the new school and inform old school?
I think he will feel stressed if still in this old school.

2) any suggestions on an O level school whose teachers r encouraging near central area?

Txs so much for ur kind help!

- from a stressed mum

[phtthp]

In this situation,
can consider apply Transfer to those O-level Secondary schools that are affliated to JCs, see which school reply you back, like

- Kuo Chuan Presbyterian, Presbyterian High, St Andrew Sec, affliated to St Andrew JC or

- a Catholic mission Secondary school that is affliated to Catholic Junior College or

- a Methodist mission Secondary school that is affliated to Anglo Chinese Junior College or

- Chung Cheng (Yishun) Non-SAP Secondary, that is affliated to Nanyang Junior College

It is all right to re-take Sec 3,
so that he has more time on hand to prepare for O-level.
Identify which subjects are pulling him down.
E.g.
Is it Sec 3 E Maths or A Maths or Chemistry or Physics or
Social studies or History or Geography or Economics or POA (Principles of Accounts) or languages (English / Chinese) that he is weak in, pulling him all the way down, unable to get promoted to Sec 4 ?

Or is it because
he is addicted to gaming, lost track of time management or addicted to heavy hand-phone usage & other distractions, or are there any family problems that caused him to be psychologically affected, hence did not do well in Sec 3 exam ?

Book a parents-meet-Tr consultation session with all his subject Tr, see what they have to say about your son,since exam already over, & year-end school holiday coming soon

[mummy so kiasu]

Does your son mention that he wants to transfer school or you prefer him to be transferred out? Do bear in mind that his CCA & subject combination will be affected. I think it is better to talk to your son & his form teacher before making such decision. By transferring to another might not solve the problem. He still have to study hard inorder to do better next year.

[slmkhoo]

Do you know why he did not do well enough to be promoted? Is there going to be any change in the next year that will help him do better?

Transferring to another school requires that the new school agrees, and most principals will want to know the reason for his poor performance, and whether he is going to be able to do better in their school. They won't want to accept him without a good reason, and strong assurances that the issues are going to be dealt with.

[zac's mum]

Even if he transfers to another school, he may still need to re-take Sec 3. I can’t imagine they will allow him to take O levels next year.

Unless there’s something really bothering him about the current school’s teachers, you may wish to consider that re-taking Sec 3 in the current school is actually not so bad? The new class will all be “new” to each other anyway since all Sec 3s have been reshuffled due to subject combis.

Ask the teacher about his options when she calls. Maybe she will suggest an easier sec 3 combi next year? Or remedials during Nov hols etc.

[floppy]

Hi,
My son didn’t meet up prompt criteria to sec 4, i think he need to retake sec 3 (guess coz teacher hasn’t called yet).

I’d like to seek suggestion:
1) how to transfer to another school? We just apply to the new school and inform old school?
I think he will feel stressed if still in this old school.

2) any suggestions on an O level school whose teachers r encouraging near central area?

Txs so much for ur kind help!

- from a stressed mum

An important piece of info is missing. You didn’t share which stream your son is in.

Assuming your son is in Express:
In a school with Normal / Express streams, your son may be promoted and transferred to Sec 4 NA. It’s not a sure thing to repeat Sec 3 (AFAIK, schools rarely suggest retaining if NA option is available).

In an Express-only school, he will probably have to either (a) be retained or (b) transfer to a school with Sec 4 Normal Acad. A lot will depend on the school’s evaluation - his conduct, tests, exams results etc.

If he’s already in Normal stream, the only course of action is to repeat Sec 3 N provided he’s not overaged.

Transfer isn’t going to be so straightforward. I can almost guarantee that any schools willing to accept him are unlikely to have a better environment than the one he is in. You have to be realistic about your options. The accepting school is also unlikely to promote him to sec 4 of the same stream.

[selinasun]

Hi,
My son didn’t meet up prompt criteria to sec 4, i think he need to retake sec 3 (guess coz teacher hasn’t called yet).

I’d like to seek suggestion:
1) how to transfer to another school? We just apply to the new school and inform old school?
I think he will feel stressed if still in this old school.

2) any suggestions on an O level school whose teachers r encouraging near central area?

Txs so much for ur kind help!

- from a stressed mum

An important piece of info is missing. You didn’t share which stream your son is in.

Assuming your son is in Express:
In a school with Normal / Express streams, your son may be promoted and transferred to Sec 4 NA. It’s not a sure thing to repeat Sec 3 (AFAIK, schools rarely suggest retaining if NA option is available).

In an Express-only school, he will probably have to either (a) be retained or (b) transfer to a school with Sec 4 Normal Acad. A lot will depend on the school’s evaluation - his conduct, tests, exams results etc.

If he’s already in Normal stream, the only course of action is to repeat Sec 3 N provided he’s not overaged.

Transfer isn’t going to be so straightforward. I can almost guarantee that any schools willing to accept him are unlikely to have a better environment than the one he is in. You have to be realistic about your options. The accepting school is also unlikely to promote him to sec 4 of the same stream.

Txs so much for ur advice! Really appreciate it. He is in Express-only school. I m very stressed

[selinasun]

In this situation,
can consider apply Transfer to those O-level Secondary schools that are affliated to JCs, see which school reply you back, like

- Kuo Chuan Presbyterian, Presbyterian High, St Andrew Sec, affliated to St Andrew JC or

- a Catholic mission Secondary school that is affliated to Catholic Junior College or

- a Methodist mission Secondary school that is affliated to Anglo Chinese Junior College or

- Chung Cheng (Yishun) Non-SAP Secondary, that is affliated to Nanyang Junior College

It is all right to re-take Sec 3,
so that he has more time on hand to prepare for O-level.
Identify which subjects are pulling him down.
E.g.
Is it Sec 3 E Maths or A Maths or Chemistry or Physics or
Social studies or History or Geography or Economics or POA (Principles of Accounts) or languages (English / Chinese) that he is weak in, pulling him all the way down, unable to get promoted to Sec 4 ?

Or is it because
he is addicted to gaming, lost track of time management or addicted to heavy hand-phone usage & other distractions, or are there any family problems that caused him to be psychologically affected, hence did not do well in Sec 3 exam ?

Book a parents-meet-Tr consultation session with all his subject Tr, see what they have to say about your son,since exam already over, & year-end school holiday coming soon

Txs a lot for ur kind help! He is not good at math and chem and humanity, not addicted to game, no family problem. He also goes to tuition, but still couldn’t catch up... he himself also frustrated.

Will follow ur advice, Txs again!

[selinasun]

Does your son mention that he wants to transfer school or you prefer him to be transferred out? Do bear in mind that his CCA & subject combination will be affected. I think it is better to talk to your son & his form teacher before making such decision. By transferring to another might not solve the problem. He still have to study hard inorder to do better next year.

He wants to transfer, I prefer stay... yes he still need to study hard whatever school he is in..
Txs for ur help!

[selinasun]

Do you know why he did not do well enough to be promoted? Is there going to be any change in the next year that will help him do better?

Transferring to another school requires that the new school agrees, and most principals will want to know the reason for his poor performance, and whether he is going to be able to do better in their school. They won't want to accept him without a good reason, and strong assurances that the issues are going to be dealt with.

He also goes to tuition, but still couldn’t catch up. He doesn’t like his current school much coz being laughed by classmates. Txs for ur advice!