What Parents Want to Know About Choosing a Secondary School, and What Schools They Are Searching For!
Submitted by KiasuEditor
Is there a secondary school ranking? What is the best secondary school in Singapore? What is the worst secondary school in Singapore?
These are the most common questions that we see local parents asking, as they await the release of the PSLE results.
But first, this is what you really need to know:
Did your child participate in the Direct School Admission for Secondary Schools exercise, also known as DSA-Sec? The school allocation results will be released together with the PSLE results. Do refer to the Ministry of Education website for clear directions on what to expect, and what to do next.
If your child did not participate in the DSA-Sec exercise — or was unsuccessful in the applications — he or she will select a secondary school through the Secondary 1 Posting Process, which you can read about here.
You will have a week to choose six secondary schools for your child, listed in order of preference. Some schools will hold their open house events after the release of the PSLE results, but you can also call up schools of interest to make enquiries or schedule a private visit, if possible.
However, do refrain from calling schools to ask what your child’s chances of admission are, as they will not be able to give you any guarantees. Instead, go to the MOE’s SchoolFinder website to check the 2021 entry scores for your preferred schools. Note that this year’s entry scores may differ, depending on how many students choose your preferred schools, in what order they have listed these schools, and how they’ve performed.
Is There a Secondary Schools Rankings List?
If you google “secondary school ranking,” you will easily find lists of schools, arranged by their most recent cut-off entry scores. But here at KSP, we hope to move away from depending on such lists, because this is a narrow and limiting way of assessing our local secondary schools.
Instead, we hope to encourage parents to change their mindsets — it’s a myth that the ‘best’ secondary school in Singapore is the one that is the hardest to get into, while the ‘worst’ schools are those with a low entry barrier. In fact, it’s less about choosing a secondary school that everyone thinks is ‘good,’ and more about choosing a school that will be good for your child. There is a big difference, once you shift your perception!
Based on your child’s preliminary exam results (i.e. the total Achievement Levels score for the four subjects), you can shortlist about 10 schools of interest, before you further whittle down this list to your final 6:
- Of these, 1–2 schools could have an entry score that is slightly out of reach for your child. Ask yourself how your child will benefit from attending either of these schools, and whether it is worth the gamble of listing one as a top choice.
- Next, look at 6–7 schools that you think your child can comfortably qualify for. Which are your favourites in this list, and why? Should one of these schools be your top-choice school instead?
- Finally, you should have 1–2 schools that are pure ‘safety net’ schools, which take in just about anyone. This gives you a sense of control, knowing that at worst, your child will get his or her last-choice school, which you have both decided is an acceptable option.
What factors should you look at when shortlisting schools? Here is what the MOE recommends:
- School Culture: This refers to the values and relationships that influence how a school operates. (Read more here.) Talking to different stakeholders — staff, students, and parents — might give you an idea of what the school culture is like. For instance, a parent might say that the overarching value of School X is “inclusivity,” where every child is accepted, quirks and all, as well as given opportunities to shine.
- Courses Offered: What are your thoughts on Full Subject-Based Banding? Would you prefer a secondary school that offers this? By 2023, about 90 schools (or more than 2 out of 3 secondary schools) would have pivoted to Full Subject-Based Banding, instead of segregating students into the Express, Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical) streams. By 2024, all secondary schools will offer Full Subject-Based Banding. Find out which secondary schools have already made the switch here.
- Subjects, Learning Programmes, CCAs: Does the school offer programmes suited to your child’s talents or interests?
- Location: What’s the travel time required to get to the school? Will it be a strain on your child?
- Special Needs: Is your child a special-needs learner? Do choose a school with specialised facilities and resources that can support him or her.
For more information, read the MOE’s guide to shortlisting and selecting schools. To filter schools by criteria such as PSLE score, subjects, CCAs, and location, use the SchoolFinder tool.
What Secondary Schools are Singapore Parents Searching For?
Curious about the most-searched-for secondary schools during this period? Based on current search data, below are 50+ secondary schools that Singapore parents have been googling lately, listed in order of search volume (highest to lowest).
Please note that we can’t tell what the search intent is, but it doesn’t hurt to check out these schools, especially if they are conveniently located for you. Where available, we have also provided open house information, but to avoid a wasted trip, please check directly with the schools for the most accurate and updated details.
We wish you and your child all the best in selecting a suitable secondary school — it’s an exciting journey ahead!
