School MattersBoon Lay Secondary School vs CHIJ Katong Convent
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Boon Lay Secondary School | CHIJ Katong Convent |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Girls' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | West | East |
| Address | 11 Jurong West Street 65 | 346 Marine Terrace |
| Nearest MRT | Boon Lay | Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Marine Terrace |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 18 |
| DSA listings | 13 | 13 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. Boon Lay Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. CHIJ Katong Convent also lists Badminton (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Chinese Drama (Girls), Chinese Orchestra (Girls) 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. Boon Lay Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. CHIJ Katong Convent also lists Badminton (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Chinese Drama (Girls), Chinese Orchestra (Girls) 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 Boon Lay Secondary School: Boon Lay; for CHIJ Katong Convent: Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Marine Terrace. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Boon Lay Secondary School | CHIJ Katong Convent |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–22 | 2026 · 11–14 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 12–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 22–25 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 26–30 | 2026 · 26–30 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | Not listed | 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
Boon Lay Secondary School
Boon Lay Secondary merged with Pioneer Secondary in 2017. Its heritage garden and gallery retain both histories rather than suggesting that the combined school was newly founded that year. The school describes a replica of the Wisdom Bridge, originally built with students’ involvement in 1978, and Ng Eng Teng’s Unity sculpture, unveiled in 1995. The latter also inspired the school logo. These are tangible connections to the two schools’ past that a visitor can look for near the entrance and General Office.
The handbook effective from 29 June 2026 says pupils’ school experiences are organised around CCA groups, with CCA mentors acting as form teachers and guiding the same group through secondary school. NIE’s September 2023 SingTeach feature explains the CCA-Family and CCE-Level structures: juniors and seniors interact, and different CCAs can be paired, such as Boys’ Brigade and Contemporary Dance. The current directory lists 16 CCAs, some with gender restrictions. A family should therefore understand allocation and mentoring arrangements as well as the activity itself.
- History
- Boon Lay Secondary Student Handbook2026 (effective29June)
- NIE SingTeach: school explanation of CCA-centric model
- CCA Families
CHIJ Katong Convent
Katong Convent began in 1930 as a private English primary school on Martia Road, with 197 pupils. During the war it used Ceylon Road premises and the name Ceylon Road Girls’ School. It later developed a strong tradition of literature, choral speaking and Shakespeare productions. After the primary section merged with Opera Estate Convent in 1990, Katong Convent operated solely as a secondary school at Marine Terrace. The school gained autonomous status in 2003; primary-school experiences belong to the separate CHIJ Katong Primary entry.
The Communicative, Performing and Visual Arts programme uses three levels: experience for everyone, enrichment for an identified group, and extension for pupils ready for further challenge. Upper-secondary pupils offering Art can access the Enhanced Art Programme’s artist workshops and learning journeys. The Drama Elective Programme describes practical and theoretical theatre study, artist-led masterclasses and performance experiences. The selected drama page still uses O-Level terminology; families choosing a future examination cohort should check the applicable subject name and entry requirements instead of assuming every pupil takes drama as an examination subject.
CCAs and programmes
Boon Lay Secondary School
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (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)
- Netball (Girls)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
CHIJ Katong Convent
- Badminton (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Drama (Girls)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Entrepreneurship (Girls)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Heritage (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- Modular CCA (Sports) (Girls)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Boon Lay Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Digital Media (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Theatre (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at CHIJ Katong Convent
- Badminton (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Drama (Girls)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
- Visual Arts (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Boon Lay Secondary School and CHIJ Katong Convent?
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: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 7–22; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 11–14. PG3 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 12–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 22–25; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–24. PG2 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 26–30; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 26–30. PG1 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Katong Convent 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.