School MattersAhmad Ibrahim Secondary School vs Bowen Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Bowen Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 751 Yishun Avenue 7 | 2 Lorong Napiri |
| Nearest MRT | Canberra, Yishun | Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 6 | 5 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bowen Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- DSA programme
- The records share 1 DSA programme listing. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls), Critical Social Inquiry and Media Literacy (Girls and Boys), Music (Girls and Boys), Shooting (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bowen Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Marching Band (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School: Canberra, Yishun; for Bowen Secondary School: Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Bowen Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–18 | 2026 · 12–16 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–28 |
Each range belongs to the intake year and programme shown. Affiliated and non-affiliated ranges are separate. D, M and P are Higher Mother Tongue requirements. Past ranges do not guarantee admission.
Get to know each school
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary began in 1963 in Upper Thomson and moved to Yishun in 1985. Named after Singapore’s former Health and Labour Minister, it originally brought English- and Chinese-stream students together. Its history also records a distinctive responsibility: in 1967 it became the first pilot school for the Open Education Programme for blind students, integrating them into mainstream classes. This is a useful part of its identity, beyond an admission score or a list of awards.
The school says students with visual impairment continue to participate in school life alongside sighted peers. An August 2026 Straits Times profile features its resource teacher Penny Chong. For a family needing this provision, the next conversation should be specific: how lesson materials are adapted, who coordinates support, and how the child participates in practical lessons and CCAs. The school’s long involvement is relevant evidence of experience; an individual support arrangement still needs to be discussed with staff.
Bowen Secondary School
Bowen Secondary started in Ang Mo Kio in 1982 and moved to 2 Lorong Napiri in December 1999. The following January it began single-session operation with 1,374 pupils. The school marked its 40th anniversary in 2022. These dates distinguish the founding school from its present campus. The history page also shows changes to the school emblem, including a temporary anniversary version, providing a useful introduction to the school’s identity before looking at today’s programmes.
Secondary 1 students spend two terms using design thinking to investigate school issues, such as classroom cleanliness or canteen queues, and pitch prototypes. Secondary 2 has a five-week service-learning programme with weekly visits to partners such as MINDS, AWWA or Bright Vision Hospital, alongside design workshops and reflection. Upper-secondary pupils choose a social cause and share their work at Bowen Congress. A smaller ALP Interest Group offers deeper design work. The distinction between cohort experiences and the additional group matters when comparing opportunities.
CCAs and programmes
Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Bowen Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Taekwondo (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Critical Social Inquiry and Media Literacy (Girls and Boys)
- Music (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Bowen Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School and Bowen Secondary School?
Start with programmes, the CCAs your child wants and the actual journey from home. Visit both schools to assess the daily environment. Counts and past results alone do not establish which school fits your child.
How do their recorded PSLE entry ranges compare?
PG3 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 11–18; Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 12–16. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 25–28.
Do past admission records guarantee a place?
No. Ranges belong to the intake year and programme shown and can change. Keep affiliated and non-affiliated ranges separate and retain any D, M or P Higher Mother Tongue suffix.