School MattersCanberra Secondary School vs Whitley 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 | Whitley 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 | South |
| Address | 51 Sembawang Drive | 30 Bishan Street 24 |
| Nearest MRT | Sembawang | Bishan, Marymount |
| Listed CCAs | 16 | 14 |
| DSA listings | 4 | 2 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 5 CCA listings. Canberra Secondary School also lists Boys' Brigade (Boys), Digital Media (Girls and Boys), Girls' Brigade (Girls), Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Whitley Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys), English Drama (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. Whitley Secondary School also lists Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys), Leadership and Character (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 Whitley Secondary School: Bishan, Marymount. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Canberra Secondary School | Whitley Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 17–22 | 2026 · 15–22 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 22–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–29 | 2026 · 26–30 |
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
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.
Whitley Secondary School
Whitley Secondary opened on 4 January 1965 at the junction of Whitley and Dunearn roads. It moved to its Bishan campus in 1992, with an official opening and a move to a single session in 1994. During redevelopment in 2006–2007, it used temporary premises at Toa Payoh Lorong 1. The MOE heritage account records an Active Citizenship for Social Change LLP from 2014, alongside a communication-focused ALP. These dates help place older graduates’ accounts: they may describe different buildings, programme names or examination pathways from those facing a new intake.
The Communicative Arts page gives concrete classroom examples. Secondary 1 pupils work in pairs to curate online information and make a one-minute vlog using their personal learning devices. Secondary 2 pairs research a syllabus-related interest and conduct a two-minute role-play interview. Secondary 3 pairs prepare a three-minute talk show with slides, then answer at least three questions from classmates. This progression moves beyond prepared speech towards responding to an audience. Ask how teachers assess information sources, give individual feedback within paired work, and support pupils who find public speaking difficult.
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)
Whitley Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Golf (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Photography (Girls and Boys)
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 Whitley Secondary School
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership and Character (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Canberra Secondary School and Whitley 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; Whitley Secondary School 2026 · 15–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Canberra Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Whitley Secondary School 2026 · 22–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Canberra Secondary School 2026 · 25–29; Whitley Secondary School 2026 · 26–30.
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.