As parents, we want the best for our children. We want to make sure that our kids get a head start in life, especially when it comes to school and education. Primary school education is crucial, as in many ways, it lays the foundation for a child’s academic path. In fact, a lot of our readers often ask us about the top primary school ranking in Singapore.
While the following lists will be ranking the top primary schools based on the MOE awards they have received, do remember that this should not be your only consideration when picking a school for your child. Although it would help to know the MOE awards a school has to be better informed about a school’s performance.
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Primary School Ranking: Important Things To Take Note Of
Before discussing the primary school ranking process in Singapore, here are some important things to remember:
- There is no “official” list of top primary schools in Singapore. The Ministry of Education (MOE) does not rank primary schools publicly.
- Also, MOE has stopped naming top students in PSLE exams to reduce the over-emphasis on academic results. There is also no official reveal of top PSLE score in each school as well.
So it is not really possible to create a list of the top primary school ranking in Singapore based on their PSLE scores for the year.
- However, one important barometer to measure a school’s performance is the annual MOE Awards. It is given as part of the MOE Recognition System and can be used to gauge whether a school could be listed on the top primary school ranking in Singapore.
To get some understanding of the MOE awards, here is the MOE Masterplan Of Awards chart:
The MOE’s Awards have given another way to gauge whether a schools is one of the top primary schools in Singapore.
This Masterplan is from 2008, though. Various changes were implemented in 2014, and many awards were removed, like the Sustained Achievement Award (SAA), and the Gold, Silver, Bronze Academic Value-Added Awards. So it can not completely determine the top primary school ranking in Singapore.
As you can see, the highest and most prestigious award is the School Excellence Award, followed by the School Distinction Award.
If you go to MOE’s School information Services (SIS), and choose a primary school, you will be able to view the awards it has received, in the “School Outcomes” tab.
Primary School Ranking And MOE Awards
Let’s check out the top primary school ranking in Singapore, based on the awards they received in 2016.
Primary School Ranking: School Excellence Award (SEA)
The SEA is the highest and most prestigious award in the Masterplan of Awards framework. It serves as a mark of distinction for schools that have achieved overall systemic excellence in both academic and non-academic outcomes.
Primary schools which received the SEA in 2016:
- Catholic High School
- Nanyang Primary School
- Raffles Girls’ Primary School
- Rulang Primary School
- Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School
Primary School Ranking: School Distinction Award (SDA)
The SDA gives recognition to schools that have exemplary processes and practices. It recognises a key milestone in a school’s journey towards excellence.
Primary schools which received the SDA:
- Nanyang Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Catholic High School (Boys’)
- Tao Nan School (Co-Ed)
- Nan Hua Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Raffles Girls’ Primary School (Girls’)
- Henry Park Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Ai Tong School (Co-Ed)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Primary-Girls’)
- CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Girls’)
- Methodist Girls’ School (Primary-Girls’)
Primary School Ranking: Best Practice Award (BPA)
The BPA gives recognition to schools with effective practices and systems that lead to desirable educational outcomes. It is part of the continuing roadmap to motivate schools to manage for excellence.
Primary schools which received the BPA:
- Rulang Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Keming Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Nan Hua Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Tao Nan School (Co-Ed)
- Nanyang Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Henry Park Primary School (Co-Ed)
- CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary-Girls’)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Co-Ed)
- Methodist Girls’ School (Primary-Girls’)
- Raffles Girls’ Primary School (Primary-Girls’)
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Primary School Ranking: Outstanding Development Award (ODA)
The ODA gives recognition to schools which have put in innovative, effective, and sustainable systems and processes that provide for holistic education for students under character development and national education.
Primary schools which received the ODA:
- St. Joseph’s Institution Junior (Boys’)
- Tao Nan School (Co-Ed)
- Nanyang Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Catholic High School (Boys’)
- Nan Hua Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Primary-Co-Ed)
- Raffles Girls’ Primary School (Girls’)
- Henry Park Primary School (Co-Ed)
- Methodist Girls’ School (Primary-Girls’)
- CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Girls’)
No Need For “Top Primary School Ranking In Singapore”: Every School Is A Good School
Ultimately though, these are just some criteria for evaluating a school. We shouldn’t only look at the primary school ranking when choosing where to enrol your child.
When choosing a primary school for your child, it is also important to consider other factors like the travelling time to school, CCAs offered, school culture etc.
Here is what the MOE has to say about what truly makes a good school:
- A good school cares for its students, studying and knowing the needs, interests and strengths of her students and motivates them to learn and grow.
- A good school ensures all students acquire strong fundamentals of literacy and numeracy and develops them holistically, in character, knowledge and critical competencies.
- A school which creates a positive school experience for each student, making him a confident and lifelong learner.
- A good school has caring and competent teachers who are steadfast in their mission to impact lives.
- A good school has the support of parents and the community, working together to bring out the best in our children, and
- A school which cares for and provides opportunities to all students, regardless of family circumstances.
Mums and dads, we hope this article on the list of top primary school ranking in Singapore has helped you make better decisions for your child!
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