For those with only pre-schoolers, let me share my own experience for a neighbourhood school (should apply to those schools that have HDB flats within 1km radius also)....
What Happens at Primary 1?
You get kids from both extremes of the spectrum.
At one extreme, you have the little 'Einsteins' who'd already gone for 101 courses + 'branded' kindergartens. These kids already know lots on the main subjects - English, MT (Mother Tongue) and Math, on top of Music, Art, Dance, Swimming,...etc.
At the other extreme, you have kids from the poorer families. Some have never attended kindergarten. They don't even know their Alphabets and Numbers, plus English....
Most kids lie between these 2 extremes.
So, what really happens at Primary 1?
A great levelling exercise begins.....
The weaker ones are identified and put on extra remedial classes by the school. At the same time, all the kids starts on a rather slow pace of learning. Your little 'Einsteins' can get bored easily and some may get labelled as 'trouble-makers' (they don't pay attention and may distract others with their antics, as they already know their stuff).
At mid-year (if the school still have exams), your little 'Einstein' would have done very very well (pace and scope is still very relaxed - for the weaker ones to catch up). BUT, the pace picks up from the 2nd half. If you'd been lulled into complacency, this is usually where your little 'Einstein' becomes the Hare and allow the Tortoise to overtake...
For me, I don't believe in sending my kids for extra classes to give them a headstart. If they're weak in any subject and I'm unable to help, then yes, I may consider sending them for tuitions. But, I'd rather teach them to be resourceful and learn how to overcome their own weaknesses by themselves - I can guide and push them where necessary.. But, of course easier said than done...
As for CCAs, I'm only insistent that they learn music at a young age as they'd have the advantage of dexterity if they start from young. But, if they'd tried for a while and they don't like it, they can quit if they want to. For others, they can join any of their own choice when they enter P1. Let them learn how to make and live with their own decisions...
Part II - What Happens at Upper Primary
By now, your kid would have been streamed at P3, ie. Best Class to Worst Class based on results. Some schools don't have a Worst Class - they have a Best Class, Next Best, Normal where those with similar results are spread out over a few classes.
There's also the Foundation stream but I won't confuse all with that.
There's also 1 additional subject (Science) and some may have been offered HMT (Higher Mother Tongue).
So, is your little 'Einstein' now a bigger 'Einstein'?
My observation of the Best Class....
Many are FT kids - predominantly Chinese plus a few from India, SE Asia, Korea,... My take is these kids are hungrier and works harder - our kids are getting soft... Another advantage is their MT - for the Chinese, it's 2nd nature to them and theirs is usually already at a higher standard.
Many are also from wealthier background. Their parents actively sign them up for 'Quality' tuitions and other extras like 'Creative Writing', Advanced Math,...etc. They continue to pour in money to give their kids a competitive advantage...
The rest are the more resourceful kids - but rare to find one from poor family...
So, ya, many of the little 'Einsteins' never caught up with the Tortoise... Many in fact gets over-burdened with yet more tuitions and CCAs but somehow it's not giving them that extra advantage anymore...
IMO, you need to focus. At the Upper Primary, your kid is already over-burdened with lots of school work + school related CCAs. Some have extra supplementary classes to prep them for PSLE (it starts long before P6). So, if your kid is unable to handle, better focus on what's important and necessary....
