School MattersBowen Secondary School vs Yishun Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Bowen Secondary School | Yishun Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 2 Lorong Napiri | 4 Yishun Street 71 |
| Nearest MRT | Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang | Yishun, Khatib |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 5 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 12 CCA listings. Bowen Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Guzheng Ensemble (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. Bowen Secondary School also lists Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Entrepreneurship (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Marching Band (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Indian Dance (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 Bowen Secondary School: Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang; for Yishun Secondary School: Yishun, Khatib. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Bowen Secondary School | Yishun Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 12–16 | 2026 · 12–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–27 |
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.
Yishun Secondary School
MOE records establishment in January 1986 at 4 Yishun Street 71 and the official opening on 19 August 1988. Single-session schooling began in 1999, with PRIME upgrading in 2002 and a Heritage Walk launched for the 25th anniversary in 2011. Sonic Arts ALP recognition followed in 2014, and Community and Youth Leadership LLP in 2015. This is Yishun Secondary, not Yishun Town Secondary: the similar names do not make their histories, reviews or programmes interchangeable. Families should check the full school name when following community links or reading older accounts.
The current distinctive programme brings music arrangement and technology together with community outreach. Tier 1 introduces all pupils through music lessons: Secondary 1 builds foundations and Secondary 2 explores music technology with industry professionals. Tier 2 offers deeper masterclasses and recording-studio work for pupils with stronger interest, plus Vocalistic and Arts Extravaganza showcase platforms. Tier 3 is for selected pupils representing the school in competitions and community performances. This is a clearer picture than simply calling the school musical: everyday learning and advanced representation carry different participation requirements.
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)
Yishun Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (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)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (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 Yishun Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Music (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Bowen Secondary School and Yishun 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: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 12–16; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 12–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Bowen Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 25–27.
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.