gce a level preparation course singapore

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SmartLab Education Private School
SmartLab Education Private School started its
operation in 2005 and has transformed into a
leading O Level private school. This Singapore
private school was initially named as SmartLab
Singapore Pte. Ltd. and in 2008, the school was
renamed as SmartLab Education Private School and
is registered with MOE and Casetrust, then
Committee for Private Education (CPE) part of
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). SmartLab Education
Private School is one of the best private schools
in Singapore for GCE O level programme and is
being managed by the same management team that
runs the successful tuition brand SmartLab.
Smartlab Education Private School offers both
full-time and part-time GCE O Level programme.
Today, it has added GCE A Level programme under
its wings, to extend its platform to students
aspiring to do GCE A Level programme as part or
full-time private candidate. It has since become
a popular choice among students who retake GCE O
Level or GCE A Level examinations.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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SmartLab Education Private School is equipped
with a science lab armed with quality laboratory
equipment. The laboratory has sufficient
apparatus that allow the students to conduct
private GCE O and GCE A level pure science
experiments with absolute ease on their own. The
experiments are generally added in the science
curriculum of the students with the motive of
engaging their minds, to offer them a deeper
understanding to every scientific principle and
to gear them up for the private GCE O and GCE A
level practical examination.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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SmartLab Education Private School conducts two
types of academic courses
GCE O Level It is a O level preparatory course
Singapore -Cambridge General Certificate Of
Education (Ordinary Level) Examination GCE A
Level It is an A level preparatory course
Singapore -Cambridge General Certificate Of
Education (Advanced Level) Examination
Both the academic courses, GCE A Level and the
GCE O level are special in their own way and have
their set style of academic calendar, programme,
method of delivery, admission criteria, course of
examinations, assessment styles, academic awards
and fees. Every private candidate for A level or
a private candidate for O level opting and
applying for the course will have to abide by the
set rules and styles diligently.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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Smartlab Private Education School is served by a
dedicated team of full time teachers who are led
by the Principal, Mr Tony Tan, a graduate of
Cambridge University with a First Class Honours
degree as well as a former government scholar.
There are various other special factors that make
it a desired Singapore private school. Among the
highlights are.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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A mandatory admission interview by one of the
management staff. The class size is not more than
18 children. At least one Meet-the-Parent
session. Assessment progress reports are handed
to the parents. Free tutorial classes for
students. Awards of appreciation for good
learning attitude and academic performance.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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History
Founded by 3 returned UK scholars Tony Tan,
Hazel Poa and Vincent Lee in 1999, SmartLab
Education Centre started off as a humble set up
with a rented classroom in a Civil Defence
Shelter in Bishan providing mathematics and
science tutorial classes. It was both a humbling
and challenging experience. We not only had to
clear the bins, clean up the room and take phone
enquiries, we had to develop the notes from
scratch, teach and conduct business planning and
development. Then when we started, the private
education market was crowded with established
players offering tuition programmes to large
class size and respected individuals giving home
tuition.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
We identified that there was a gap in the private
education market. The provision of personalized
quality tutorial classes to small class size of
8-10 students where teachers can provide the
individualized attention to the learners, and at
the same time engage the learners to interact,
compete and learn from each other. There was a
lack of education centres that fully harness the
use of Information Technology for education and
the build up of knowledge capital.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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With the initial vision to make the centre
different, we developed all the notes in house,
were the early adopters of Information Technology
by equipping the classroom with computer, and
were the first to conduct laboratories as part of
activity based learning. We also laboriously
collected and tabulated all the results of our
students for the major examinations, and
commenced formulating and developing our
e-learning software.
After years of experimentation and practice-based
learning on pedagogy, we embedded the Montessori
step-by-step approach of progressive learning and
teaching, the Kumon patient approach of
repetitive doing and experimentation by the
learners, and the Waldorf holistic approach of
listening and teaching the learners based on
their thinking, and interests (feeling), and how
they can be best engaged to make them willing
learners.
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We did not choose the more profitable approach of
enlarging the class size as we believe that the
only way we can seriously make a difference to
the students is by keeping the class size small
to maximize the interactions between teachers and
students, and to allow teachers to understand
learners as well as they can. Teacher must act as
role model leading the learning sessions and
working with students areas where they are weak
at.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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In 2002, we realized the importance of building
the confidence of the students, and found that to
be the key to best help and develop our students.
The most knowledgeable teacher would not be able
to effectively share and make a difference to an
unwilling student. We believe that the most
important factor is to befriend the students,
build their self-confidence, believe in them,
mentally gear and condition them for learning,
and to run with them and cheer them on. In 2003,
we made plans to expand and to commence our
branding efforts. Our focus on curriculum and
branding have paid off allowing us to win the
Spirit of Enterprise Award in 2006 and Singapore
Prestige Brand Award in 2007. From late 2008, we
have been studying on Franchising and Licensing
business model for international expansion.
Currently, SmartLab Education Private School is a
member of the Franchising and Licensing
Association and has applied to join the
Association of Private Schools and Colleges.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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Developing Our Private School
In Dec 2006, under the request of 2 parents, we
started to take in full time students. Students
attend our mix of full time classes and tutorial
classes and sit for Preparatory Course For
Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of
Education (Ordinary Level) Examination in 2007.
The outcome was encouraging as we prove to be
able to make a difference to the students
results. It was like laying the foundation and
acquiring the experience to run full time
Preparatory Course For Singapore-Cambridge
General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level)
Examination classes. We learnt how to manage the
full time students.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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In 2008, with more parental requests, we started
a full time class providing a full suite of
Preparatory Course For Singapore-Cambridge
General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level)
Examination subjects in the newly located Farrer
Park branch. We piloted a class of Sec 4 GCE O
level classes and intend to build the various
components that can enable our core belief and
allow us to value add to our students. In the
same year, we work to professionally associate
ourselves with CASETRUST while working on
developing a quality learning programmes for GCE
O level students that focus on knowledge
acquisition and application, and confidence
building. Reflecting on the experience, it was
about developing the curriculum. But above all,
it was to assemble a management team to incubate
a suitable culture for teachers and students that
best represents our core belief Believe in
Yourself.
lthough our revenue may be lackluster, it must be
understood that we had not marketed our programme
aggressively, as we believe we need time and
greater attention to build the best quality
learning programme before embarking on
international marketing. So 2009 was a year of
Edutrust preparation and a learning journey
towards excellence and quality for SmartLab
Education Private School.
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
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Contact
(Classes and Registrations) BLK 228 Bishan Street
23 B1-71 Singapore 570228 65 6459
2981 (Laboratory) Blk 818 Woodlands Street 82
01-419 Singapore 730818 65 6363 2383 Email
privateschool_at_smartlab.com.sg Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 1pm 7pm (Singapore Time
GMT 8) http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/
http//www.smartlab.com.sg/SPSNew/