School Matters

Getting things ready

Assumption English School vs Bukit Merah Secondary School

Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.

At a glance

CompareAssumption English SchoolBukit Merah Secondary School
School typeCo-Ed SchoolCo-Ed School
LevelSecondary (S1-S4)Secondary (S1-S4)
School tagsNot listedNot listed
ZoneWestSouth
Address622 Upper Bukit Timah Road10 Lengkok Bahru
Nearest MRTCashewRedhill
Listed CCAs1313
DSA listings74

Differences to explore

CCA
The records share 3 CCA listings. Assumption English School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys), Football (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bukit Merah Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Floorball (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 1 DSA programme listing. Assumption English School also lists Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys), Football (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Bukit Merah Secondary School also lists Floorball (Girls and Boys), Stem (Girls and Boys), Tchoukball (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 Assumption English School: Cashew; for Bukit Merah Secondary School: Redhill. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.

Recorded entry ranges

CompareAssumption English SchoolBukit Merah Secondary School
PG3 · Non-affiliated2026 · 10–222026 · 8–22
PG2 · Non-affiliated2026 · 22–252026 · 22–25
PG1 · Non-affiliated2026 · 26–292026 · 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

Assumption English School

The school began in 1953 as Boys’ Town English School, founded by Brother Vincent. MOE’s Heritage Centre records that the secondary section of CHIJ Bukit Timah merged with it in 1973, when it became co-educational and took the Assumption English name. Its primary section closed in December 1992, with pupils absorbed by St Anthony’s Primary. The current building followed another rebuilding from 2013 to 2015 and was officially opened in July 2017. The present secondary school should be distinguished from neighbouring institutions and its former primary section.

The school describes SPEAK as its Applied Learning Programme, using a progression of speaking skills and projects at each level. Students showing a flair for speaking can move into debate, oratory and emceeing opportunities. The English talent page gives dated examples: teams entered debates, book trailers and poetry slam at the 2025 National Schools Literature Festival, while the 2025 Poetry Showdown used the theme of food and eating. Students may also contribute to the student-run AES Manna magazine. These examples show the kinds of writing and performance involved.

Bukit Merah Secondary School

Bukit Merah Secondary was established in 1968 at 10 Lengkok Bahru with English- and Chinese-medium classes. It became English-medium in 1984. MOE’s heritage history records mergers with Saint Thomas in 2001, Delta in 2004 and Henderson in 2017, and a temporary stay at Raeburn Park before returning in March 2003. The school marked its 50th anniversary in 2018. Its history therefore includes several former communities, alongside the floorball and robotics programmes now described on the school’s own pages.

Creative Robotics and Engineering is a two-year ALP for Secondary 1 and 2. The first year introduces AI and machine learning through Micro:bit coding tasks involving visual and vocal recognition. The second uses group design and prototypes to address simulated real-life problems. A separate tier, anchored by the Engineering and Innovation Club, serves pupils with greater interest or aptitude and offers competition opportunities. The common programme and that additional CCA tier are different commitments, even though both use coding and engineering.

CCAs and programmes

Assumption English School

  • Basketball (Girls and Boys)
  • Choir (Girls and Boys)
  • Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
  • English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
  • Floorball (Boys)
  • Football (Boys)
  • Girl Guides (Girls)
  • Judo (Girls and Boys)
  • Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
  • Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
  • Softball (Girls)

Bukit Merah Secondary School

  • Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
  • Basketball (Girls and Boys)
  • Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
  • English Drama (Girls and Boys)
  • Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys)
  • Floorball (Girls and Boys)
  • Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
  • Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
  • Robotics (Girls and Boys)
  • Scouts (Girls and Boys)
  • St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
  • Tchoukball (Girls and Boys)

Listed DSA programmes at Assumption English School

  • Basketball (Girls and Boys)
  • Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
  • Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
  • Floorball (Boys)
  • Football (Boys)
  • Judo (Girls and Boys)
  • Softball (Girls)

Listed DSA programmes at Bukit Merah Secondary School

  • Basketball (Girls and Boys)
  • Floorball (Girls and Boys)
  • Stem (Girls and Boys)
  • Tchoukball (Girls and Boys)

Questions about these schools

How should I choose between Assumption English School and Bukit Merah 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: Assumption English School 2026 · 10–22; Bukit Merah Secondary School 2026 · 8–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Assumption English School 2026 · 22–25; Bukit Merah Secondary School 2026 · 22–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Assumption English School 2026 · 26–29; Bukit Merah 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.