School MattersBoon Lay Secondary School vs Raffles Institution
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 | Raffles Institution |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | IP |
| Zone | West | South |
| Address | 11 Jurong West Street 65 | 1 Raffles Institution Lane |
| Nearest MRT | Boon Lay | Bishan, Marymount |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 39 |
| DSA listings | 13 | 25 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 3 CCA listings. Boon Lay Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Raffles Institution also lists Badminton (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys), Choir (Boys), Community Service (Rotary-Sponsored) (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. 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. Raffles Institution also lists Badminton (Boys) - IP, Basketball (Boys) - IP, Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP, Choir (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- Programme tags
- Boon Lay Secondary School: no IP or SAP tag listed; Raffles Institution: IP. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Boon Lay Secondary School: Boon Lay; for Raffles Institution: Bishan, Marymount. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Boon Lay Secondary School | Raffles Institution |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 4–6 |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–22 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 22–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 26–30 | 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
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
Raffles Institution
RI was founded as Singapore Institution in 1823. Its move from Bras Basah to Grange Road came in 1972, followed by Bishan and independent status in 1990. Raffles Junior College was established in 1982 to take over pre-university enrolment and reintegrated with RI in 2009. MOE’s history dates the six-year Raffles Programme, leading to A Levels, to 2004. Families researching Year 1 should distinguish Years 1–4 provision from Years 5–6 activities and accounts; both now appear under the RI name.
The Years 1–4 history page describes historical inquiry, projects, learning journeys and engagement with experts and the wider community, alongside learning how historians construct arguments. Character and Leadership Education uses lessons and assemblies to develop values and social-emotional skills, with cohort and class community projects. These describe approaches and platforms rather than a fixed list of trips for every pupil. Families can ask what inquiry assignments require, how independent work is scaffolded and how community projects fit the ordinary academic timetable.
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)
Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Community Service (Rotary-Sponsored) (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Environmental Science (Boys)
- Fencing (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Heritage (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- Judo (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Photography (Boys)
- Physical Science (Boys)
- Publication (Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Squash (Boys)
- String Ensemble (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
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 Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP
- Choir (Boys) - IP
- Communication (Boys) - IP
- Concert Band (Boys) - IP
- Cricket (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Hockey (Boys) - IP
- Leadership and Character (Boys) - IP
- Malay Language (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Music (Boys) - IP
- Rugby (Boys) - IP
- Sailing (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Shooting (Boys) - IP
- Softball (Boys) - IP
- String Ensemble (Boys) - IP
- Swimming (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Visual Arts (Boys) - IP
- Water Polo (Boys) - IP
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Boon Lay Secondary School and Raffles Institution?
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?
IP · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School Not listed; Raffles Institution 2026 · 4–6. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 7–22; Raffles Institution Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 22–25; Raffles Institution Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Boon Lay Secondary School 2026 · 26–30; Raffles Institution 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.