School MattersAssumption English School vs Commonwealth Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Assumption English School | Commonwealth Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | West | West |
| Address | 622 Upper Bukit Timah Road | 698 West Coast Road |
| Nearest MRT | Cashew | Jurong East, Clementi |
| Listed CCAs | 13 | 20 |
| DSA listings | 7 | 13 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 7 CCA listings. Assumption English School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys), Judo (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Commonwealth Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Broadcasting (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (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 Basketball (Girls and Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Commonwealth Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), Coding (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 Assumption English School: Cashew; for Commonwealth Secondary School: Jurong East, Clementi. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Assumption English School | Commonwealth Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 10–22 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 22–25 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 26–29 | 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
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.
Commonwealth Secondary School
Commonwealth Secondary began in 1964 as Tanglin Integrated Vocational Secondary School. It became Tanglin Secondary in 1969 and Commonwealth Secondary in 1972, commemorating the previous year's Commonwealth heads-of-government meeting in Singapore. It moved through two Jurong East campuses before reaching West Coast Road in 2006. Autonomous status dates to 1995, followed by recognised environmental-education and design-and-innovation centres in 2008 and 2016. This history helps explain its current mix of practical making, environmental learning and performing arts.
The eco-stewardship curriculum describes Geography water-quality investigations in the stream and wetland, Science farm-to-table work, and hydroponic design in Craft and Technology. Campus spaces include a rainforest, marine aquarium, plant nursery and indoor and outdoor farms. These are concrete learning settings; the pages do not give a fixed fieldwork allocation for every cohort. CCA projects also link sustainability with community partners and causes such as responsible consumption or animal welfare. Parents can ask how often students use these spaces within ordinary lessons.
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)
Commonwealth Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Broadcasting (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Dragon Boat (Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Percussion Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (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 Commonwealth Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Coding (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Tamil Language (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Assumption English School and Commonwealth 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; Commonwealth Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Assumption English School 2026 · 22–25; Commonwealth Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Assumption English School 2026 · 26–29; Commonwealth 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.