School MattersCHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) vs Swiss Cottage Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) | Swiss Cottage Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Girls' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Not listed |
| Zone | South | West |
| Address | 626 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh | 3 Bukit Batok Street 34 |
| Nearest MRT | Toa Payoh | Bukit Gombak |
| Listed CCAs | 21 | 17 |
| DSA listings | 10 | 11 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Art and Crafts (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Chinese Culture and Language (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Swiss Cottage Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese 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.
- DSA programme
- The records share 1 DSA programme listing. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) also lists Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Choir (Girls), Concert Band (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Swiss Cottage Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), 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.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh): Toa Payoh; for Swiss Cottage Secondary School: Bukit Gombak. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) | Swiss Cottage Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–10 | 2026 · 8–11 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 8–20 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–22 | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–26 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 26–29 | 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 Secondary (Toa Payoh)
CHIJ’s Victoria Street convent school began in 1854; its history records separate primary and secondary administration from 1964. The move out of Victoria Street took place in December 1983, with Toa Payoh classes beginning in 1984. The secondary school became autonomous in 1994. From 1 January 2027 it will be named Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Secondary), according to the May2026 announcement. Parents comparing the two Toa Payoh schools should keep their admissions and programmes separate.
The English page describes food reviews, letters about current issues and lower-secondary heritage walks used for descriptive writing. Literature tasks include filming scenes or writing from a character’s perspective. Secondary 3 has a level-wide interclass debate after examinations. IJ FLAIR brings language, art and music together for a week, including storytelling, choral reading and mini TED-style talks. CAP@IJ is a separate creative-writing programme: students are selected for demonstrated interest and potential, with workshops and competition opportunities.
Swiss Cottage Secondary School
Swiss Cottage began in 1962 with about 200 pupils at Raffles Institution’s Bras Basah premises. It moved to Dunearn Road in July 1963 and officially opened that November, with English- and Malay-medium pupils. Its history describes sport as a means of national integration, followed by a growing emphasis on character, reading and the performing arts. It later relocated to Bukit Batok, where it remains. The MOE history’s narrative and milestone table give different relocation years, so a precise year should not be asserted without reconciliation. PRIME upgrading was completed in 2005; the 50th-anniversary celebration took place in 2013.
Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development follows Awareness, Action and Advocacy. The table identifies common programmes in Sec 1—sustainability-infused Science and interdisciplinary work such as EARTH—and Sec 2, including STEM projects such as Project Dream Maker. It lists no core ALP programme for Sec 3 and above, although leadership opportunities continue. Science Ambassadors facilitate workshops; Maker Education Leaders manage iCreate @ Swiss. Overseas learning journeys are for selected ambassadors or maker leaders, not every pupil. The programme’s broad promise of access should be read alongside these stage and selection limits, rather than becoming a guarantee of travel or competition entry.
CCAs and programmes
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Art and Crafts (Girls)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Community Service (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Swiss Cottage Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Marching Band (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)
- Scouts (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debating (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Swiss Cottage Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Military Band (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Science for Sustainable Development (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) and Swiss Cottage 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 Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 6–10; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 8–11. PG3 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 8–20; Swiss Cottage Secondary School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–22; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG2 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 21–25; Swiss Cottage Secondary School Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 25–28; Swiss Cottage Secondary School 2026 · 25–26. PG1 · Affiliated: CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) 2026 · 26–29; Swiss Cottage 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.