School MattersAhmad Ibrahim Secondary School vs Swiss Cottage 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 | Swiss Cottage 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 | West |
| Address | 751 Yishun Avenue 7 | 3 Bukit Batok Street 34 |
| Nearest MRT | Canberra, Yishun | Bukit Gombak |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 17 |
| DSA listings | 6 | 11 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 4 CCA listings. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Swiss Cottage Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (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 0 DSA programme listings. Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Critical Social Inquiry and Media Literacy (Girls and Boys), Music (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Swiss Cottage Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys) and more, 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 Swiss Cottage Secondary School: Bukit Gombak. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Swiss Cottage Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–18 | 2026 · 8–11 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–26 |
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.
Swiss Cottage Secondary School
Swiss Cottage began in 1962 with about 200 pupils at Raffles Institution’s Bras Basah premises. It moved to Dunearn Road in July 1963 and officially opened that November, with English- and Malay-medium pupils. Its history describes sport as a means of national integration, followed by a growing emphasis on character, reading and the performing arts. It later relocated to Bukit Batok, where it remains. The MOE history’s narrative and milestone table give different relocation years, so a precise year should not be asserted without reconciliation. PRIME upgrading was completed in 2005; the 50th-anniversary celebration took place in 2013.
Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development follows Awareness, Action and Advocacy. The table identifies common programmes in Sec 1—sustainability-infused Science and interdisciplinary work such as EARTH—and Sec 2, including STEM projects such as Project Dream Maker. It lists no core ALP programme for Sec 3 and above, although leadership opportunities continue. Science Ambassadors facilitate workshops; Maker Education Leaders manage iCreate @ Swiss. Overseas learning journeys are for selected ambassadors or maker leaders, not every pupil. The programme’s broad promise of access should be read alongside these stage and selection limits, rather than becoming a guarantee of travel or competition entry.
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)
Swiss Cottage Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (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 Swiss Cottage Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Military Band (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Science for Sustainable Development (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School and Swiss Cottage 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; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 8–11. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 25–26.
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.