SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION Shaping the Next Phase of Your Child’s Learning Journey 01 SINGAPore’S EDUCATION SysTEM : AN OVERVIEW 03 LEARNING TAILORED TO DIFFERENT ABILITIES 04 EXPANDING YOUR CHILd’S DEVELOPMENT 05 MAXIMISING YOUR CHILd’S POTENTIAL 08 CATERING TO INTERESTS AND ALL-ROUNDEDNEss 18 SCHOLARSHIPS, EDUSAVE AWARDS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES 20 CHOOSING A SECONDARY SCHOOL 21 SECONDARY 1 POSTING 23 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SCHOOL : PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE The Ministry of Education (MOE) directs the formulation and implementation of education policies. It has control of the development and administration of the Government and Government-aided primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges, and a centralised institute. It also registers private schools. 01 Singapore’s Education System : An Overview SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION 02 Our system offers many choices for the next phase of learning for your Primary 6 Singapore’s Education System : An Overview child. Its diverse education pathways aim to develop each child to his full potential. 03 Learning Tailored Three core courses are offered at the secondary school level. Depending on your child’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results, he will be placed in the Express Course (including to Different the Integrated Programme in some schools), the Normal Abilities (Academic) Course or the Normal (Technical) Course. While your child may initially be placed in a particular course, based on his ability to cope with the learning pace and style, there are opportunities for him to make a lateral transfer mid- stream to a more appropriate course – one that is better able to bring out the best in him. CAREERS University Degree Polytechnic Diploma GCE A-Level Examination/ International Baccalaureate Diploma/ National University of Singapore High School Diploma Junior College Integrated Programme Polytechnic Institute of Technical Education GCE O-Level Examination (Year 5 and 6) Foundation Programme Higher Nitec/ Nitec Enhanced Secondary 5N(A) ITE Direct NITEC Foundation Entry Scheme Programme GCE N-Level Examination GCE N-Level Examination Secondary 4 Express Secondary 4N(A) Secondary 4N(T) Secondary 3 Express Secondary 3N(A) Secondary 3N(T) Secondary 2 Express Secondary 2N(A) Secondary 2N(T) Secondary 1 Express Secondary 1N(A) Secondary 1N(T) Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) *Refer to the overview of Singapore’s Education System on the previous pages to see the diverse education pathways offered beyond secondary schools. SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION 04 Expanding Your Child’s Development Your child will develop a good sense of self-awareness, a sound moral compass, and the necessary skills and knowledge to take on challenges of the future. He will become responsible to his family, community and nation. He will also appreciate the beauty of the world around him, possess a healthy mind and body, and have a zest for life. Your child will be nurtured through our secondary school education to become: A CONFIDENT A SELF-DIRECTED PERSON who has LEARNER who a strong sense of takes responsibility right and wrong, is for his own learning, adaptable and resilient, questions, reflects knows himself, is and perseveres discerning in judgment, in the pursuit of ls Civic thinks independently Skil Lit learning. n er and critically, and tio ac a y, rm G communicates fo lo n b I a effectively. d l n A a w n a io r t e a n r e o s b s a a ll n o d C C , r n o o i s t s - a C c i u n t l u u r m a l m S o k C i l l s A CONCERNED An AcTIVE CITIZEN who is CONTRIBUTOR rooted to Singapore, C who is able to work ritic ing has a strong sense of al ink effectively in teams, and Inventive Th civic consciousness, is exercises initiative, informed, and takes takes calculated an active role in risks, is innovative bettering the lives of and strives for others around him. excellence. CO-CURRICULAR AcTIVITIES Participation in CCAs fosters social Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) are integration and deepens your child’s sense an integral part of your child’s holistic of belonging, commitment and sense of education. Through CCAs, your child will responsibility to school, community and discover his interests and talents while nation. developing values and competencies that will prepare him to meet the challenges Your child can choose from an exciting of a rapidly changing world. CCAs also range of CCAs from uniformed groups promote friendships among students from to sports and the arts. diverse backgrounds as they learn, play and grow together. 05 Maximising Your Child’s Potential There are many different secondary schools to choose from. While some have unique programmes and others may offer different educational paths, they all seek to maximise the potential of every child. Varied courses to develop the abilities of the students are offered in schools. We believe in providing a range of options so that each child has the opportunity to realise his talent and develop a core and holistic set of skills. All schools will take into account your concerns and those of your child. Our schools aim to offer a conducive environment for progressive development and challenging education programmes for more advanced students. When choosing a school, we encourage you to consider the strengths of each school and place your child in an environment that can best motivate him and broaden his horizons. TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AUTONOMOUS SCHOOLS SCHOOLS WITH DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMMES • These schools provide a wider range • By 2017, all schools including those currently offering at least of innovative courses and enrichment one distinctive programme will offer two such programmes – programmes that enhance your child’s Applied Learning and Learning for Life. learning experience and develop his talents. • These distinctive programmes develop students’ specific skills and build character. Those with relevant talents and interests • They may charge an additional fee of will be offered opportunities to deepen their learning. Every between $3 and $18 a month to cover student will be provided with authentic contexts to apply the costs of enhanced educational their learning, develop 21st century competencies and programmes (as compared to other connect with the community. Government or Government-aided Schools). • There will be a geographical spread of schools with varied distinctive programmes. INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS • Where relevant, the schools may offer direct admission for students with outstanding talents related to their distinctive • These schools enjoy greater programmes. autonomy in curricular innovations, implementation of school programmes, administration, SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PLAN (SAP) SCHOOLS student admissions and the setting of fee structures. • SAP Schools offer enriched programmes and a learning environment that nurtures students to be biliterate and • Scholarships, both from the MOE bicultural in English and Chinese. and the schools, are available to students who have done well and • These schools offer flagship programmes to help students wish to join the Independent Schools. develop stronger understanding of Chinese values and culture. SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION 06 SPECIALISED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SPECIALISED SCHOOLS If your child has an aptitude for Specialised Schools such as NorthLight School and Assumption mathematics and scientific inquiry, an Pathway School offer customised programmes for students who inclination for applied learning and are inclined towards hands-on and practical learning. creativity, excels in sports or has a creative flair for the arts, you may wish Two Specialised Schools catering to Normal (Technical) course to enrol him in one of the Specialised students are Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary Independent Schools. These schools School. Crest began admitting students from January 2013 and offer courses that are specially designed Spectra began in January 2014. to help your child reach his potential in these areas. Both adopt a whole-school approach in providing a customised learning environment to develop its students. They also work The Specialised Independent Schools are: closely with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and industry partners to develop vocational programmes and provide a. National University of Singapore High attachment opportunities for its students. School of Mathematics and Science b. School of Science and Technology All these schools work within national educational policies and c. School of the Arts guidelines set by the MOE. d. Singapore Sports School Please visit the schools' website for more information. 07 DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION- educational needs. Some secondary SECONDARY (DSA-SEC) schools are resourced with Allied This programme enables students to be Educators (Learning and Behavioural admitted to secondary schools based Support), who work with teachers to on a diverse range of achievements integrate these students into the school’s and talents. learning environment and support their learning. The DSA-Sec Exercise allows participating schools to select some Primary 6 students For students with physical disabilities, based on their achievements and talents they can enrol in secondary schools that for admission to Secondary 1 before the are equipped with full facilities for the PSLE results are released. handicapped. Some secondary schools have dedicated resources to support students who are hearing and/or visually STUDENTS WITH MILD SPECIAL impaired. These schools with special EDUCATIONAL NEEDS provisions can be found in different