VEW v VEV: Child's Education - Local vs. International School & Variation of Consent Orders

In VEW v VEV, before the General Division of the High Court (Family Division) of Singapore, Justice Choo Han Teck dismissed the Wife's appeal against District Judge Koh's decision. The appeal concerned the Wife's application to move their two children from a local primary school to the international school where she works. The court found no compelling reasons to displace the children from their current school, where they are doing well, and emphasized that practical solutions could address the Wife's concerns regarding childcare and holidays. The court also noted that the potential financial savings were not determinative of the children's best interests.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court (Family Division)

1.2 Outcome

Appeal Dismissed

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Appeal regarding moving children from local to international school was dismissed. The court found no compelling reasons to disrupt their current education.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
VEWAppellantIndividualAppeal DismissedLost
VEVRespondentIndividualAppeal DismissedWon

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married in July 2011 and have two children, a daughter aged 9 and a son aged 7.
  2. Interim judgment was granted on 5 March 2019, and ancillary matters orders were made on 8 October 2019.
  3. The parties have joint custody of the children, with sole care and control to the Wife.
  4. The Husband is to pay maintenance to the Wife for her and the two children, and the children’s school fees directly to the school.
  5. The Wife is a teacher at an international school, and the Husband is an English barrister.
  6. Both children are attending the same local primary school, with the daughter attending since Primary One in 2022 and the son since January 2024.
  7. The Wife applied to move the children from the local primary school to the international school where she works, but the application was rejected by DJ Koh.

5. Formal Citations

  1. VEW v VEV, District Court Appeal No 4 of 2024, [2024] SGHCF 19

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Interim judgment granted
Ancillary matters orders made
Daughter enrolled in local primary school
FC/SUM 1151/2021 filed
FC/SUM 318/2023 filed
FC/SUM 3510/2023 filed
Son enrolled in local primary school
Judgment reserved
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Child's Education
    • Outcome: The court held that it was not in the children's best interests to move them from the local primary school to the international school.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Best interests of the child
      • Relocation of child
      • Choice of school
  2. Variation of Consent Orders
    • Outcome: The court declined to vary the existing consent orders regarding the children's education.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Order to move the children from the local primary school to the international school where the Wife works.

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Family Litigation

11. Industries

  • Education

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • International school
  • Local primary school
  • Best interests of the child
  • Consent order
  • Variation
  • Childcare arrangements
  • School fees
  • Corporal punishment
  • Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)

15.2 Keywords

  • Family Law
  • Child
  • Education
  • International School
  • Local School
  • Consent Orders
  • Variation

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Child Custody70
Maintenance60

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Education
  • Child Custody