School MattersCanberra Secondary School vs Sembawang Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Canberra Secondary School | Sembawang 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 | 51 Sembawang Drive | 30 Sembawang Crescent |
| Nearest MRT | Sembawang | Sembawang |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 16 |
| DSA listings | 4 | 1 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Canberra Secondary School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), Digital Media (Girls and Boys), Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys), Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Sembawang Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), Football (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. Canberra Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Media Arts / Film / Photography (Girls and Boys), Robotics (Girls and Boys), Volleyball (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Sembawang Secondary School also lists Leadership (Girls and Boys), 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 Canberra Secondary School: Sembawang; for Sembawang Secondary School: Sembawang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Canberra Secondary School | Sembawang Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 17–22 | 2026 · 18–22 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–29 | 2026 · 25–29 |
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.
How to choose between them
Both are solid North zone neighbourhood schools with similar COP ceilings. Canberra gives your child more pathways in through DSA and a wider CCA menu, while Sembawang's smaller size and SYF Distinction signal a school that punches above its weight in the arts.
Consider Canberra Secondary School if…
- 4 DSA areas means more alternative admission routes
- 22 CCAs offers broader co-curricular exploration
Consider Sembawang Secondary School if…
- SYF Distinction shows genuine arts programme strength
- Smaller school often means tighter student-teacher bonds
If your child knows what they love, Sembawang rewards that focus — if they're still exploring, Canberra's breadth gives them room to find it.
Get to know each school
Canberra Secondary School
Canberra Secondary was established in 2000, first operating at what is now Sembawang Secondary before moving to 51 Sembawang Drive. MOE’s history records digital-media niche status in 2012 and the introduction of its digital-media ALP and community-leadership LLP in 2015. Teachers were designated Character Coaches in 2018. These milestones provide context for the current programmes; they are not a comparison of the school’s results or pastoral effectiveness with other schools.
The current Visual Arts, Design and Media ALP moves from finding a community need to planning, making and communicating through photos and video. Cohort 1 focuses on photography, editing and photo journals; Cohort 2 covers storyboarding, videography and video editing. Projects explore themes such as sustainability, food and health, and a diverse society. The school distinguishes Tier 1 knowledge-building from Tier 2 personal projects through the Digital Media in Visual Arts CCA, so the CCA extension should not be assumed for everyone.
Sembawang Secondary School
MOE’s history records Sembawang Secondary’s establishment in 1999 and official opening in 2001. It describes a student-leadership structure introduced in 2006, a House system in 2008, and the PEARL one-to-one computing initiative in 2017. The narrative also contains older anniversary and “current year” wording, so those passages should not be treated as present-day statistics. What remains useful is the documented development of leadership and technology in the school’s educational approach, alongside its location at Sembawang Crescent.
The media-literacy ALP page remains under an “Outdated Pages” path, even though its update label says 2026. It describes analysing sources and creating media products, but it needs confirmation before being treated as current provision. Current ICT information instead names PDLP–PEARL, Code for Fun with IMDA, SLS digital-literacy modules and e-reflection. The science department distinguishes broad Science Fortnight exposure from deeper inquiry and competition opportunities for interested students. The English page includes public-speaking practice through “That’s My View”. These are published learning opportunities, not measured outcomes for all pupils.
CCAs and programmes
Canberra Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Digital Media (Girls and Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Taekwondo (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Sembawang Secondary School
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
- Student Leadership (House) (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Canberra Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Media Arts / Film / Photography (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Sembawang Secondary School
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Canberra Secondary School and Sembawang 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: Canberra Secondary School 2026 · 17–22; Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 18–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Canberra Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Canberra Secondary School 2026 · 25–29; Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 25–29.
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.