School MattersBoon Lay Secondary School vs CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
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 Secondary (Toa Payoh) |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Girls' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | West | South |
| Address | 11 Jurong West Street 65 | 626 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh |
| Nearest MRT | Boon Lay | Toa Payoh |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 21 |
| DSA listings | 13 | 10 |
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 Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Art and Crafts (Girls), Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (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 Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Choir (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 Secondary (Toa Payoh): Toa Payoh. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Boon Lay Secondary School | CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–22 | 2026 · 6–10 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 8–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 22–25 | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 26–30 | 2026 · 25–28 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 26–29 |
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 Secondary (Toa Payoh)
CHIJ’s Victoria Street convent school began in 1854; its history records separate primary and secondary administration from 1964. The move out of Victoria Street took place in December 1983, with Toa Payoh classes beginning in 1984. The secondary school became autonomous in 1994. From 1 January 2027 it will be named Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Secondary), according to the May2026 announcement. Parents comparing the two Toa Payoh schools should keep their admissions and programmes separate.
The English page describes food reviews, letters about current issues and lower-secondary heritage walks used for descriptive writing. Literature tasks include filming scenes or writing from a character’s perspective. Secondary 3 has a level-wide interclass debate after examinations. IJ FLAIR brings language, art and music together for a week, including storytelling, choral reading and mini TED-style talks. CAP@IJ is a separate creative-writing programme: students are selected for demonstrated interest and potential, with workshops and competition opportunities.
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 Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Art and Crafts (Girls)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Community Service (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls)
- Tennis (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 Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Boon Lay Secondary School and CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)?
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 Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 6–10. PG3 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 8–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 22–25; CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–22. PG2 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 26–30; CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 25–28. PG1 · Affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 26–29.
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.