DSA for IP Schools 2023: Open House Dates and More
Submitted by KiasuEditor
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Looking for alternative entry routes to Singapore’s top secondary schools?
The Direct School Admission for secondary schools exercise (also known as DSA or DSA-Sec) allows students to apply to schools before taking the Primary School Leaving Examination.
For parents new to this, there is an official DSA website that you should check regularly for updates and application instructions. Applications typically start in May, and students apply based on their talent in co-curricular activities or academic areas such as STEM.
If your child is admitted to a secondary school through the DSA-Sec exercise:
- They won’t be able to submit school choices during the Secondary 1 posting process at year end, after the PSLE results are released.
- They can’t request a transfer to another school, and must commit to their DSA school.
Based on previous figures, about 12,000 Primary 6 students apply for the DSA annually, with roughly a one in three chance of success. Of the applicants that are successful, about 30% will be admitted to Integrated Programme or IP schools. Some parents are keen on having their children try out for IP schools, simply because they are harder to get into via grades alone.
Why Try for An IP School During the DSA?
According to the Ministry of Education, IP schools admit 30% to 35% of their intake through the DSA.
IP schools are popular because they offer six-year courses, allowing students to skip the GCE O-Levels in Year 4 and take either the GCE A-levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in Year 6. The programme was created for academically strong students to give them a broader learning experience, and students may carry out more interesting project work, or spend more time developing skills such as critical thinking and communication.
As with anything that is only offered to better-performing students, there is definitely some prestige attached to the IP. But not all students are suited to IP life, and it can take a toll on those who fail to make the grade as the years go along — this is something to consider if your child may not be able to keep up academically.
You should also be aware that there are three schools offering six-year programmes that only accept students through the DSA process. These are:
- NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
- School of Science and Technology
- School of the Arts (SOTA)
If your child wishes to pursue his or her studies in the above schools, then it is a must to apply for the DSA. However, for SOTA, students are not required to apply via the Ministry of Education’s DSA portal. Instead, they should apply through SOTA’s Talent Academy.
For children interested in the Singapore Sports School, please note that you should apply directly with the school as well. (Get details here.)
Ultimately, we hope parents don’t lose sight of the fact that the DSA is for nurturing a child’s talent in a suitable school. Talk to your child’s CCA teachers and coaches to get an honest assessment of your child’s level of talent, and where they might thrive. You can also look at competition results, such as the National School Games, to see how schools are faring in your child’s area of interest. If your child has been honing a talent in the primary school years, you will already be aware of the cost and time commitment required, as well as the potential disappointment in highly competitive schools, where not everyone on the school team will necessarily get to represent the school.
With this in mind, do ask your child if they still wish to continue with their talent area in the secondary school years, or if they are ready for change.
What Else Should We Consider When Choosing a DSA School?
When it comes to assessing a school, the factors are the same, whether or not you are participating in the DSA exercise or shortlisting schools during the Secondary 1 posting exercise at year end. These factors all have to do with a school’s culture or climate, which will determine how comfortable and accepted your child will feel in the school:
- Safety: The school should have a strong anti-bullying stance to ensure not just physical safety within the school, but emotional security as well. Teachers should also respect the emotional well-being of their students.
- Support: The academic environment must be conducive for all students to learn and grow.
- Connection: There should be a steady flow of positive interactions between students, teachers, and other relevant groups such as parent support groups.
- Belonging: Students should have a sense of pride about their school.
Co-Ed or Single Sex?
Some parents prefer single-sex schools, so that their children won’t be distracted by mingling with the opposite sex. Others prefer a co-ed setting, as it reflects the mixed gender environments that children will face later in life. There are different arguments for and against each setting — read this useful summary and weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
Here’s what a local school counsellor has told us:
“What I’ve observed is that when girls come into co-ed environments from single-sex schools, they can be very articulate and outspoken, as they have been brought up in a culture that encourages them to speak up. I’ve come across boys who are surprised that their female classmates are so vocal, and this can cause some classroom friction.”
However, she adds that compared to earlier generations, today’s children are quite accustomed to mixed-gender playdates and settings, and this has helped to bridge the gender divide. If children feel extremely uncomfortable interacting with the opposite sex in school, they will be referred to a school counsellor for support.
How Much Do IP Schools Cost?
To easily check the monthly school fees for your IP schools of interest, use the MOE school fees checker.
You can also read up on the Edusave Scholarship for Independent Schools or ESIS, which is typically awarded to the top one-third of students admitted to independent schools by PSLE score. DSA students who meet the ESIS cut-off score will also be offered the ESIS.
Do also use the MOE’s financial assistance checker to see if there are scholarships and bursaries that your family can apply for. Middle-income families can qualify for fee offsets too — read more about this in our financial assistance guide.
DSA Open House for IP Schools
Not all IP schools have announced their Open House dates. However, schools tend to align their Open House events to take place during the same time period, so we’re likely to see more IP schools announcing April or May dates soon — instead of waiting, simply call your schools of interest to enquire.
Below, we’ve put together some links and details for IP schools participating in the DSA exercise. Do check out as many as you can, and we wish your child all the best in the DSA selections!
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A correction was made on 21 May 2023: An earlier version of this article misstated the success rate of DSA applicants entering Integrated Programme schools as 30%. The actual success rate is about 10%.
