Primary School Ranking [2022]: Who is Singapore's Best? (2023)

Singapore is famous for a lot of things like cleanliness, street food, and ease of doing business. Another thing that Singapore is famous for is the quality of education provided in the country. Singapore's education system is considered amongst the best in the world. It offers a lot of different programs for students and prepares them for their professional lives from a very young age.

Like everywhere else in the world, the first step in the education ladder in Singapore is your "Primary School." There are over 180 schools in Singapore, and they all have their own strengths. The school you choose will lay the foundation for your child's education. So parents are very serious about selecting the right school for their kids.

To help parents make a decision, here is a list of schools that that is the most popular in 2022.

2022RankingBy Popularity

Reference:https://sgschooling.com/blog/2021-phase-2a-1-hottest-schools

School Rankings in Singapore

The Ministry of Education in Singapore doesn't release an official ranking for the schools. So it is up to the parents to think and choose which school would be the best for their kids. They look at factors like the academic performance, infrastructure, and teaching methodology of different schools in order to select the right one for their child.

Some parents also tend to go for popularity as they believe the more popular the school, the better it is for their kids. However, the elementary school tutor and writer for PapersOwl argues that many popular schools do not provide children with the necessary level of knowledge, and as a result, most student get personal tutors or go to additional classes. Schools usually get their popularity because of high academic results, so it seems like an excellent option to go for the more popular schools in the city-state. However, this isn't always true. Parents should always look at different factors and then see which school resonates with their child's personality and interests and then choose that school.

Factors That May Affect Parent's Decision in Choosing the Right School for Their Child

There are many different factors that parents consider when it comes to choosing the right school for their child. Let's take a look at some of those factors.

The Popularity of the School

Parents all over the world can relate to this. When you put your kid in a popular school, then you expect good results from them. Therefore, the popularity of the school is a significant deciding factor. The problem with going to the more popular school is that it often tends to be very crowded, and teachers may not be able to emphasize individual growth.

The Facilities of the School

Another factor that parents consider is the facilities provided by the school. This includes things like their computer labs, their library, quality food, etc. The facilities available at the school affect your child's learning experience and outside growth as well.

Does the School Offer Gifted Education Program (GEP) ​

One thing that's very important for gifted kids is to encourage their special skills. So schools with GEP programs are more popular among parents. This is because the schools give extra attention to students with a high level of intelligence and help them develop it further. In addition, these schools usually have smaller class sizes, so the student gets more individual attention from the teachers.

Considering if you should enroll your child in GEP, we have some advice for you in this article.

Does the School Offer Special Assistance Plan (SAP) or Not?

A special assistance plan helps children who are not doing well in academics and need more help than the average student. Many schools offer these plans to their students for free or at a discounted price. So if you want your child to receive this kind of special care, then choose a school that offers these kinds of plans to its students.

Is The Respective School Represented In The Singapore National School Games?

This is another important factor that parents should know about. Every year, National School Games take place in Singapore, and many schools participate in it. Students from different levels (primary and secondary) take part in it and show their talent at such a young age. This is an important opportunity for these kids to get noticed by the people who matter, so it is better to choose a school which regularly takes part in the event.

Does The School Have Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs)?

Another important factor that parents tend to care about is the availability of co-curricular activities in the school. Co-curricular activity refers to extracurricular activities for students. These are things like sports, dance, music, etc. The more CCA options the school provides, the better it is for your child. Likewise, the more active learning methods they use, the better it is for your kid.

The School's Achievement in Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation

If your kid is interested in arts and crafts, then this is the factor to look for. Every year different schools participate in the Youth Festival Arts Presentation. If your kid wants to have a career in arts, then you can choose a school that performs exceptionally well at this event. This is an important opportunity for parents as they can judge how a certain school will help in the growth and development of your child's skills.

How to Choose the Best School for Your Kids in Singapore

Choosing the best school for your kids in Singapore will not depend on only one factor but a collection of different aspects. We are going to go through some of the important factors that will help you choose the right school for your kids.

Co-Ed Or Single Sex School: Which One Is Better?

When you talk about the best school in Singapore, it is very important to consider one of the most important factors parents usually care about. This factor does not depend upon your child's learning qualities but also on their social skills.

So should parents send their kids to a single-sex school, or should they go to a co-ed school?

Many people believe that it is better for parents to choose a co-ed school for their kids as it can help with their social development and give a boost to their confidence levels. But there are also some parents who believe that single-sex schools will help kids in their future learning and professional development. It usually depends on the culture and traditions in the family.

We have an article on this, read it here.

The Distance from the House to the School

The distance of the school from your home should also be considered by parents when they are looking for a good school for their child. The more you will have to travel every day, the less time you will spend with your friends and family after school hours. So this is yet another important factor that parents should consider when choosing a school for their kids.

The School's Culture: Is It The Right Fit For Your Child?

Every school has its own culture and tradition. Parents should choose a culture that will fit their kid's personality. For example, if you want your child to be an introvert, you should definitely avoid schools with extrovert cultures, as this can cause trouble for them at such a young age. It is very important for parents to choose a school culture that will help their kids' personalities grow.

It Is Better To Choose A Primary School That Is Affiliated With A Secondary School

The affiliation of a primary school with a secondary school is very important because not only does this mean that your child will get quality education from primary school to secondary school, but affiliated schools will help your child in getting admission in the secondary school once they are done with primary school. The admission process can be very difficult for some of the schools. However, if your child's primary school is affiliated with a secondary school, then it would be easy for them to get admission.

Special Education Needs Schools in Singapore

You need to teach your child how to cope with their disabilities. So if you have a kid who needs special education help, then you should definitely find the best school in Singapore which provides them with special care. If you fail to give special care to kids with learning disabilities, it can negatively affect their self-esteem and confidence levels. This is why parents need to pick schools that offer special education services according to the disability level of their children. There are many private schools that provide this kind of service, but they also cost more than regular schools.

Different Types of Primary Schools in Singapore

The primary school in Singapore can be divided into four different categories, which are as follows;

1. Government Schools
2. Government Aided Schools
3. Independent Schools
4. Specialized Independent School

No matter the primary school, your child will always have to take the PSLE to move on to the secondary school

Government Schools:

Government schools have a standardized fee structure and provide quality education to children. Singapore's public schools are famous for their quality education. These schools follow a national syllabus.

Government Aided Schools:

Different communities and organizations set up these schools with the help of the government. One common example is the government-aided schools that started in partnership with the Christian community, like the Catholics Primary School. So there are many different government-aided schools in Singapore.

Independent Schools: (Private Schools)

These schools are set up by private communities or individuals and not by the government. They have a good fee structure that is usually expensive compared to government schools or aided schools. They also have the liberty to set up their own syllabus and programs. The quality of education in Government schools is so good that many people tend to prefer government schools over independent or private schools.

Specialized Independent School:

These schools are especially for children with different kinds of special education needs. These kids require more individualized attention from their teachers, and this is why they require specialized educational institutions where they can learn according to their abilities and disabilities. This is why the specialized independent schools have a good quality of teaching, highly trained teachers, and a unique curriculum to suit their needs.

School Fees Is Also a Deciding Factor

The fee of the primary school is an important deciding factor. However, even if the school offers high standard education, it does not matter much if you cannot afford to pay their fees. So before selecting a school for your child, make sure that they are affordable for you so that your child gets a quality education without having to worry too much about the expenses.

Primary School Fees in Singapore

The fee you are going to pay for school in Singapore is going to depend on the school you choose. Another significant factor that will determine your school fees is going to be your residential status in the city-state. Government schools are usually less expensive than independent schools, and they have a fixed fee set by the government. However, independent schools are allowed to set up their own fee structure, which is why they are usually more expensive.

If you are a Singapore citizen, then you will pay the least amount of money; the school fees are going to be higher for permanent residents and even higher for international students. The difference in fees for the citizens and international students is remarkable, and this happens across the board with all types of schools in Singapore. For example; A Singapore citizen may pay anywhere from $23 to $43 per month in school fees, while a permanent resident may pay $400 to $418 per month while an international student may have to pay a staggeringly large fee of $800 to $1488.

Can You Get Financial Support for Education in Singapore

Yes, you can get financial support from the government for education in Singapore. It can also depend on your school itself, your residence status, and the type of education you want. There are different financial assistance programs along with merit-based scholarships for children who wish to have a quality education but don't have the means to afford it.

Read more about the edusave scholarship award here.

Conclusion

The quality of education in Singapore is remarkably high; however, the tricky part is selecting the right school for your child. With so many different schools in the city-state (and all offering quality education), it can be challenging to identify the right school for your child. However, these factors can help you choose the right school for your child that resonates with their personality and one that can help them grow both personally and academically.