Ministry of Education, 23 April 2008 – Seventeen primary schools have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in 2008. The 37 schools which received the award between 2005 and 2007 had their awards renewed this year (refer to annex).

In addition, nine secondary schools have been awarded Niche Programme status in 2008. The 20 schools which received the award between 2005 and 2007 also had their awards renewed this year (refer to annex).

Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education, announced the recipients for both awards on 23 April 2008, at a visit to Chua Chu Kang Primary School, a 2008 Programme for School-Based Excellence recipient.

Programme for School-Based Excellence for Primary Schools 2008

The following are the 17 primary schools that have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in 2008. Their niches are indicated as follows:

School	Niche
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)	Bowling
Chua Chu Kang Primary School	Robotics
Henry Park Primary School	Gymnastics
Hong Kah Primary School	Volleyball
Hong Wen School	Rope Skipping
MacPherson Primary School	Choral and Instrumental Ensemble, Softball
Mayflower Primary School	Dance
North View Primary School	Guzheng
Northland Primary School	Chess
Pasir Ris Primary School	Floorball
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)	Handbell
Peixin Primary School	Band
Raffles Girls’ Primary School	Choir
St Stephen’s School	Band
Tanjong Katong Primary School	Netball
Tao Nan School	Badminton
West View Primary School	Brass Band

Niche Programme Schools for 2008

The following 9 secondary schools have been awarded Niche Programme status in 2008. Their niches are as follows:

School	Niche
Ang Mo Kio Secondary School	Symphonic Band
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)	Drama, Water Polo
Bowen Secondary School	Band
Manjusri Secondary School	Wushu
Pasir Ris Secondary School	Chinese Orchestra
Riverside Secondary School	Dance
Springfield Secondary School	Rock Climbing
Woodlands Ring Secondary School	Robotics
Zhenghua Secondary School	Uniformed Groups

School Visit to Chua Chu Kang Primary School

Chua Chu Kang Primary School is well-established in the area of Robotics. The school has consistently achieved top 3 positions in various awards in the National Junior Robotics Competition since 2003, and has represented Singapore in the World Robotics Olympiad in 2004, 2006 and 2007. The school is developing a curriculum which infuses Robotics into its Science and Art lessons, to encourage discovery through experimentation, as well as to teach resilience, perseverance, creativity and the value of teamwork, aligned with the school’s core values.

Background

To develop more peaks of excellence in our school landscape, MOE launched the Programme for School-Based Excellence and Niche Programme Schools in 2005 to encourage greater diversity in our primary and secondary schools respectively.

Programme for School-Based Excellence

The Programme for School-Based Excellence helps to develop strong primary schools with distinctive character to give more opportunities for our students to develop different areas of excellence. Successful applicant schools would receive MOE funding so as to further raise the quality and outreach of their school-based programmes and initiatives.

Applications for the award were evaluated based on the strength of niche, sustainability, strength of the educational value of the programme, how pervasive the reach of the programme is in the school, and, involvement of stakeholders in the programme.

Niche Programme Schools

The Niche Programme better supports mainstream secondary schools with good talent development programmes and proven track records of achievements in their declared niches. These schools receive MOE funding, and can admit up to 5% of their Secondary One intake on a discretionary basis through the Direct School Admission exercise, so that a more diverse range of student achievements and talents can be recognised.

Applications for the award were evaluated based on the strength of niche, sustainability, and the educational value and pervasiveness of the programme.

Annex

Primary Schools which had their Programme for School-Based Excellence Status Renewed this year:

1. Admiralty Primary School
2. Ai Tong School
3. Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
4. Bukit View Primary School
5. CHIJ (Kellock)
6. CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)
7. CHIJ St Nicholas School (Primary)
8. Chongfu Primary School
9. Evergreen Primary School
10. Fuhua Primary School
11. Gongshang Primary School
12. Greenridge Primary School
13. Haig Girls’ School
14. Hougang Primary School
15. Kong Hwa School
16. Kranji Primary School
17. Maha Bodhi School
18. Maris Stella High School (Primary)
19. Montfort Junior School
20. Nan Chiau Primary School
21. Nanyang Primary School
22. Ngee Ann Primary School
23. Park View Primary School
24. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
25. Pei Chun Public School
26. Punggol Primary School
27. Rosyth School
28. Rulang Primary School
29. Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School
30. St Hilda’s Primary School
31. St Andrew’s Junior School
32. St Margaret’s Primary School
33. St Stephen’s School
34. Tao Nan School
35. Telok Kurau Primary School
36. Yio Chu Kang Primary School
37. Zhenghua Primary School

Secondary Schools which had their Niche Programme Status Renewed this year:

1. Admiralty Secondary School
2. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
3. CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent
4. Clementi Town Secondary School
5. Deyi Secondary School
6. Fuhua Secondary School
7. Gan Eng Seng School
8. Jurong Secondary School
9. Jurong West Secondary School
10. Montfort Secondary School
11. Northland Secondary School
12. Outram Secondary School
13. Presbyterian High School
14. St Andrew’s Secondary School
15. St Hilda’s Secondary School
16. St Margaret’s Secondary School
17. St Patrick’s School
18. Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
19. Yishun Town Secondary School
20. Yuhua Secondary School