askST: How to pick the right secondary school

A parent asked if she made a wrong choice in picking a top school for her child and about the 'big fish in little pond effect'. Senior Education Correspondent Sandra Davie responds to her.

A study showed that students in high-achievement schools had relatively lower expectations because of social comparison. PHOTO: ST FILE
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Q Both my husband and I were overjoyed when our youngest son, who emerged as the top pupil in a neighbourhood primary school, made it to a top Integrated Programme school.

But in the last three months, our boy has gone from being a confident, smiling and chatty person to being stressed out, worried and anxious.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 23, 2020, with the headline askST: How to pick the right secondary school. Subscribe