School MattersCHIJ St. Joseph's Convent vs St. Margaret's School (Secondary)
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent | St. Margaret's School (Secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Girls' School | Girls' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | South |
| Address | 62 Sengkang East Way | 111 Farrer Road |
| Nearest MRT | Sengkang | Farrer Road |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 21 |
| DSA listings | 7 | 16 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 8 CCA listings. CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent also lists Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls), Community Service (Girls), Food and Consumer Education (Girls), Guitar Ensemble (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Margaret's School (Secondary) also lists Art and Crafts (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls) 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 3 DSA programme listings. CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent also lists Debate and Theatre (Girls), Leadership (Girls), Table Tennis (Girls), Volleyball (Girls), which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Margaret's School (Secondary) also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Bowling (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls) 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 St. Joseph's Convent: Sengkang; for St. Margaret's School (Secondary): Farrer Road. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent | St. Margaret's School (Secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 8–14 | 2026 · 8–11 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 11–20 | 2026 · 10–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–26 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–28 |
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 St. Joseph's Convent
The school began at Flower Road in 1938 with 21 pupils, one nun and two teachers. Its primary section was later phased out, and it moved to Sengkang in 2000; the new school was officially opened in 2003. MOE’s history and the school’s own chronology disagree on the precise year of the earlier Hillside move and completion of the primary phase-out. Those disputed years are omitted here, rather than combined into a misleadingly precise timeline.
The four-year Applied Learning Programme, The Art of Communication Through Theatre and Debates, runs across the school. It connects speech and drama with English, Literature and Mother Tongue work: published examples include analysing stories, storyboarding, vlogs, speeches and discussions. Students also encounter performances, workshops and competitions. These are different kinds of participation; a class task does not imply a place in an external competition. Families interested in public speaking can ask how the classroom sequence leads to those additional opportunities.
St. Margaret's School (Secondary)
St Margaret’s traces its roots to Maria Dyer’s 1842 home and school for homeless girls in North Bridge Road. The school moved to Sophia Road in 1861 and adopted the St Margaret’s name after the Second World War. A separate secondary campus was completed at Farrer Road in 1960 and officially opened in 1963. Redevelopment began in 1998, with a temporary move to Commonwealth Avenue before returning in December 2000; the rebuilt campus was officially opened in 2002. From January 2023, the primary and secondary schools adopted the St Margaret’s School names to reflect their shared heritage. The primary school’s recent Sophia Road return is a separate campus story.
The Arts Education Programme targets all students through assembly performances and post-examination workshops, with examples including gamelan, creative movement, manga art and storytelling. Enhanced Music is a separate two-year upper-secondary course for students with musical potential and interest. Sec 2 applicants are directed to their Music teacher in Term 3; selection includes aural tests and recordings of two contrasting pieces. The page also describes a written test and audition, so confirm the current procedure. It still names the O-Level examination: incoming cohorts should check their applicable examination and subject requirements. Choir, String Ensemble and Concert Band support Music opportunities but do not guarantee EMP admission.
CCAs and programmes
CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent
- Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Community Service (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Food and Consumer Education (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
- Handbell Ensemble (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- Modular CCA (Sports) (Girls)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Shooting (Girls)
- Speech and Drama (Girls)
- St John Brigade (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
St. Margaret's School (Secondary)
- Art and Crafts (Girls)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Fencing (Girls)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Malay Dance (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls)
- String Ensemble (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Debate and Theatre (Girls)
- Leadership (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at St. Margaret's School (Secondary)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Bowling (Girls)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- Fencing (Girls)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls)
- Malay Dance (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- String Ensemble (Girls)
- Tennis (Girls)
- Visual Arts (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent and St. Margaret's School (Secondary)?
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 St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 8–14; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 8–11. PG3 · Affiliated: CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 11–20; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 10–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 21–23; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–23. PG2 · Affiliated: CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 21–25; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 25–28; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 25–26. PG1 · Affiliated: CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent 2026 · 25–28; St. Margaret's School (Secondary) 2026 · 25–28.
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.