School MattersDunman Secondary School 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 | Dunman Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | East | North |
| Address | 21 Tampines Street 45 | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Tampines East | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 17 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 9 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 4 CCA listings. Dunman Secondary School also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), 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 2 DSA programme listings. Dunman Secondary School also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls), Leadership (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Cross Country (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 Dunman Secondary School: Tampines East; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Dunman Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–14 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 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
Dunman Secondary School
Dunman Secondary began at Haig Road in 1963 as Dunman Integrated Secondary School, initially with three language streams. It moved to Tampines Street 45 in 1990 and gained autonomous status in 2000. MOE records its Life Sciences Training and Research Centre and East Zone science-innovation role from 2001. The original language streams and former pre-university classes are history. Families should distinguish this Tampines secondary school from Dunman High’s SAP and six-year IP arrangements; the similar English names do not imply the same curriculum.
STEMviaDT describes applying design thinking to real-world challenges, with previous projects including a karaoke app and an essential-services app for seniors. The talent-development page separately records ELIXiR+ examples such as upcycling jeans into bags, hydroponics, a load-bearing-chair challenge and competition training. Its primary-school outreach and old 2022 DSA criteria should not be mistaken for an enrolled secondary pupil’s entitlement. The examples illustrate possible work; the pages do not establish that every pupil does every specialist activity or follows one fixed project timetable.
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
Dunman Secondary School
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
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 Dunman Secondary School
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
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 Dunman Secondary School 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: Dunman Secondary School 2026 · 6–14; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Dunman Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Dunman Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; Xinmin Secondary School 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.