School MattersDunearn 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 | Dunearn 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 | West | North |
| Address | 21 Bukit Batok West Avenue 2 | 30 Sembawang Crescent |
| Nearest MRT | Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak | Sembawang |
| Listed CCAs | 13 | 16 |
| DSA listings | 1 | 1 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 4 CCA listings. Dunearn Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Media Resource Library (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), Badminton (Girls and 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 0 DSA programme listings. Dunearn Secondary School also lists Community Youth Leadership (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 Dunearn Secondary School: Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak; for Sembawang Secondary School: Sembawang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Dunearn Secondary School | Sembawang Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–22 | 2026 · 18–22 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 22–25 | 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.
Get to know each school
Dunearn Secondary School
Dunearn began as Dunearn Government Chinese Middle School at Hillcrest Avenue in 1962. It merged with Dunearn Vocational School in 1969, bringing Chinese- and English-medium education and academic and technical courses together. The school moved to Bukit Batok West Avenue 2 in 1993. Its former pre-university course was phased out in 1994. PRIME rebuilding involved a temporary Jalan Boon Lay site in 2016 and a return to Bukit Batok in 2018; older campus and pre-university memories need that context.
The current ApLM page says pupils have an opportunity to take an Applied Learning Module in Secondary 3. Its 2025 examples include Singapore Polytechnic food innovation, Python and machine-learning work that recognises food items, and game-character design using Wacom tablets and Photoshop. Food activities involved sensory analysis and recipes such as ice cream and croissants. These are dated examples of different modules, not a promise that one pupil takes all three. Families should ask which modules will be offered and how preferences are allocated for their cohort.
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
Dunearn Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (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 Dunearn Secondary School
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Sembawang Secondary School
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Dunearn 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: Dunearn Secondary School 2026 · 11–22; Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 18–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Dunearn Secondary School 2026 · 22–25; Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Dunearn 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.