School MattersAnglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) vs Zhonghua Secondary 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) | Zhonghua Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Boys' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | South | South |
| Address | 60 Barker Road | 13 Serangoon Avenue 3 |
| Nearest MRT | Newton, Stevens | Serangoon |
| Listed CCAs | 23 | 20 |
| DSA listings | 17 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 2 CCA listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Zhonghua Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Chinese Culture and Language (Girls and 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. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Zhonghua Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls and 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 Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road): Newton, Stevens; for Zhonghua Secondary School: Serangoon. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | Zhonghua Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–9 | 2026 · 8–12 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 8–21 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| 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.
Zhonghua Secondary School
Zhonghua traces its roots to the 1911 Chung Hwa Girls’ School. MOE records separation of the primary and secondary sections in 1951, English-medium intake in 1980 and the transition to a co-educational government school in 1984. It took the Zhonghua Secondary name in 1987, gained autonomous status in 1996 and moved to Serangoon Avenue 3 in 2000. AEP began in 2010. These dates distinguish the earlier girls’ school and previous campuses from today’s setting. The heritage and art emphasis are substantial parts of the school’s story, but do not establish a particular pupil’s current subject access or classroom experience.
The Signature Programmes Framework sets out STEAM, Sustainability, Character and Glocal education, supported by digital literacy, eco stewardship, cross-cultural learning, leadership and talent development. The talent strand explicitly concerns identified individuals, so it should not be treated as identical access for every pupil. A framework describes the school’s intended connections rather than a weekly timetable. To judge it, ask what an incoming pupil actually does in each year, which activities sit in regular lessons or CCAs, how teachers assess the work and what opportunities require selection or additional time.
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)
Zhonghua Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Volleyball (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 Zhonghua Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership and Character (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Zhonghua 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: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 6–9; Zhonghua Secondary School 2026 · 8–12. PG3 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 8–21; Zhonghua Secondary School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21; Zhonghua Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG2 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21–25; Zhonghua Secondary School Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–26; Zhonghua Secondary School 2026 · 25–27. PG1 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–28; Zhonghua Secondary 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.