School MattersAnglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) vs Gan Eng Seng School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | Gan Eng Seng School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Boys' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | South | South |
| Address | 60 Barker Road | 1 Henderson Road |
| Nearest MRT | Newton, Stevens | Redhill, Tiong Bahru |
| Listed CCAs | 23 | 1 |
| DSA listings | 17 | 9 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), 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 2 DSA programme listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys), Choir (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Gan Eng Seng School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Marching Band (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 Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road): Newton, Stevens; for Gan Eng Seng School: Redhill, Tiong Bahru. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | Gan Eng Seng School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–9 | 2026 · 9–15 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 8–21 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–26 | 2026 · 25–27 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | Not listed |
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
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
The ACS family began with a shophouse school on Amoy Street in 1886, but the Barker Road school itself was established in January 1994 with primary and secondary pupils. MOE’s Heritage Centre records the split into ACS (Primary) and ACS (Barker Road) in 1997, followed by a return to the rebuilt Barker Road campus in January 2003. A shared indoor sports hall was consecrated in 2022 after construction delays. This history helps distinguish the secondary school from the primary school on the same campus.
The Applied Learning Programme uses drama, debate and public speaking. Its published sequence starts with Secondary 1 storytelling workshops, moves to Secondary 2 drama and theatre exposure linked to the literature text, and adds debates, drama workshops and theatre exposure in Secondary 3. A separate talent-development tier offers training for speaking competitions, Model United Nations and emceeing school events. The distinction matters: the basic sequence describes broader provision, while competition preparation involves additional participation.
Gan Eng Seng School
Gan Eng Seng founded the Anglo-Chinese Free School in Tanjong Pagar shophouses in 1885 for children from poor families. It became a government school in 1938, reopened after the war in 1946, and eventually moved to its present Henderson Road campus in 2001. Its history also records participation in the Full Subject-Based Banding pilot in 2020. The present secondary school is distinct from Gan Eng Seng Primary: the shared founder's name does not make their programmes or parent experiences interchangeable.
Probes, the STEM Applied Learning Programme, combines sustainability with digitalisation and coding. Published examples include designing water-purification processes and tending edible gardens. Secondary 1 pupils undertake Code for Fun with Micro:bits and exposure to artificial intelligence, then design a solution to a given problem. Design thinking is also used in projects and alternative assessments. Pupils showing particular interest and potential may be selected for Tier 2 competitions. Those additional opportunities are separate from the general programme; participation alone does not establish independent proficiency in coding.
CCAs and programmes
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
Gan Eng Seng School
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Debating (Boys)
- Digital Media (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Gan Eng Seng School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Gan Eng Seng 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: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 6–9; Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 9–15. PG3 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 8–21; Gan Eng Seng School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21; Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 21–24. PG2 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21–25; Gan Eng Seng School Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–26; Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 25–27. PG1 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–28; Gan Eng Seng School Not listed.
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.