School MattersCHIJ Katong Convent vs Xinmin Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | CHIJ Katong Convent | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Girls' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | East | North |
| Address | 346 Marine Terrace | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Marine Terrace | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 18 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 13 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. CHIJ Katong Convent also lists Bowling (Girls), Chinese Drama (Girls), Chinese Orchestra (Girls), Choir (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (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. CHIJ Katong Convent also lists Bowling (Girls), Chinese Drama (Girls), Chinese Orchestra (Girls), Choir (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (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 CHIJ Katong Convent: Bedok, Kembangan, Eunos, Paya Lebar, Marine Terrace; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | CHIJ Katong Convent | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–14 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 12–20 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 26–30 | 2026 · 25–28 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 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
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.
- CHIJ Katong Convent
- The Communicative, Performing & Visual Arts
- Enhanced Art Programme
- Drama Elective Programme
Xinmin Secondary School
Xinmin began as Sin Min School on 1 November 1945, initially teaching primary pupils. Its founders rented three bungalows after Yap Fun Hong sold five pigs to help fund education for the Hougang-Serangoon community. Secondary classes began in 1956, and performances helped raise money for facilities in 1958. MOE’s heritage record dates autonomous status to 2001 and the Creative Arts Complex to 2015. Its 80th anniversary was in 2025. These are historical milestones; earlier examination bands or rankings do not establish a current teaching-quality ranking.
MAKERS@Xinmin combines digital and analogue making across a specially designed two-year lower-secondary curriculum. All pupils in those years learn about AI applications and ethics, and design and prototype solutions to real problems. Examples include sustainability models using AI, eco-themed games and environmental-data analysis, with workshops, pop-up sessions and showcases. This is broader than a coding club for selected enthusiasts. Ask what the child will build, how teachers supervise tool use and how a pupil with little coding experience is helped to contribute within a group.
CCAs and programmes
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)
Xinmin Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Students' Council (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (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)
Listed DSA programmes at Xinmin Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between CHIJ Katong Convent and Xinmin 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: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 11–14; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG3 · Affiliated: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 12–20; Xinmin Secondary School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–24; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG2 · Affiliated: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 21–25; Xinmin Secondary School Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 26–30; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28. PG1 · Affiliated: CHIJ Katong Convent 2026 · 25–28; Xinmin Secondary School 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.