School MattersBowen 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 | Bowen 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 | North | East |
| Address | 2 Lorong Napiri | 346 Marine Terrace |
| Nearest MRT | Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang | Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Marine Terrace |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 18 |
| DSA listings | 5 | 13 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 2 CCA listings. Bowen Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (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 0 DSA programme listings. Bowen Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Football (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 Bowen Secondary School: Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang; 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 | Bowen Secondary School | CHIJ Katong Convent |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 12–16 | 2026 · 11–14 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 12–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 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
Bowen Secondary School
Bowen Secondary started in Ang Mo Kio in 1982 and moved to 2 Lorong Napiri in December 1999. The following January it began single-session operation with 1,374 pupils. The school marked its 40th anniversary in 2022. These dates distinguish the founding school from its present campus. The history page also shows changes to the school emblem, including a temporary anniversary version, providing a useful introduction to the school’s identity before looking at today’s programmes.
Secondary 1 students spend two terms using design thinking to investigate school issues, such as classroom cleanliness or canteen queues, and pitch prototypes. Secondary 2 has a five-week service-learning programme with weekly visits to partners such as MINDS, AWWA or Bright Vision Hospital, alongside design workshops and reflection. Upper-secondary pupils choose a social cause and share their work at Bowen Congress. A smaller ALP Interest Group offers deeper design work. The distinction between cohort experiences and the additional group matters when comparing opportunities.
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
Bowen Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (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) (Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Taekwondo (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 Bowen Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Marching Band (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 Bowen 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: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 12–16; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 11–14. PG3 · Affiliated: Bowen Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 12–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–24. PG2 · Affiliated: Bowen Secondary School Not listed; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 26–30. PG1 · Affiliated: Bowen 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.