School MattersGan Eng Seng School vs Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Gan Eng Seng School | Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Girls' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | South | East |
| Address | 1 Henderson Road | 296 Lor Ah Soo |
| Nearest MRT | Redhill, Tiong Bahru | Kovan, Serangoon |
| Listed CCAs | 1 | 21 |
| DSA listings | 9 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 0 CCA listings. Gan Eng Seng School also lists National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) also lists Badminton (Girls), Chinese Drama (Girls), Choir (Girls), Concert Band (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 1 DSA programme listing. Gan Eng Seng School also lists Basketball (Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) also lists Badminton (Girls), Concert Band (Girls), Guzheng Ensemble (Girls), Harp Ensemble (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 Gan Eng Seng School: Redhill, Tiong Bahru; for Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary): Kovan, Serangoon. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Gan Eng Seng School | Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 9–15 | 2026 · 7–10 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 7–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG2 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 2026 · 25–30 |
| PG1 · Affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 26–27 |
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
Gan Eng Seng School
Gan Eng Seng founded the Anglo-Chinese Free School in Tanjong Pagar shophouses in 1885 for children from poor families. It became a government school in 1938, reopened after the war in 1946, and eventually moved to its present Henderson Road campus in 2001. Its history also records participation in the Full Subject-Based Banding pilot in 2020. The present secondary school is distinct from Gan Eng Seng Primary: the shared founder's name does not make their programmes or parent experiences interchangeable.
Probes, the STEM Applied Learning Programme, combines sustainability with digitalisation and coding. Published examples include designing water-purification processes and tending edible gardens. Secondary 1 pupils undertake Code for Fun with Micro:bits and exposure to artificial intelligence, then design a solution to a given problem. Design thinking is also used in projects and alternative assessments. Pupils showing particular interest and potential may be selected for Tier 2 competitions. Those additional opportunities are separate from the general programme; participation alone does not establish independent proficiency in coding.
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
Land purchased in 1916 preceded the opening of Paya Lebar English School in 1917. Its early pupils were boys; girls were admitted the following year. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School became separate primary and secondary units when it moved to Lorong Ah Soo in 1986, with the new premises officially opened in August 1987. The secondary school gained autonomous status in 2001. During PRIME upgrading it moved temporarily to Serangoon North in December 2004, returning in January 2007. This entry covers secondary provision; shared history does not make the two stages’ programmes identical.
PL21 2.0 is a cohort-wide Secondary 1 programme using technology to address real-world problems. Tier 1 includes evaluating digital information, research and note-taking, coding through Code for Fun, and investigating improvements around school, home and community. Higher-ability pupils may access ACE (STEM) or the Global Scholar Programme. ACE combines 3D-printing workshops, learning journeys and a research project; GSP focuses on sustainability and exchanges with overseas peers online. These extensions run for 1.5 years, from Secondary 1’s second semester to the end of Secondary 2, on Wednesdays 2.45pm–5pm, with possible off-campus sessions and independent research.
CCAs and programmes
Gan Eng Seng School
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Chinese Drama (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls)
- Handbell Ensemble (Girls)
- Harp Ensemble (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- St John Brigade (Girls)
- Swimming (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Track and Field (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Gan Eng Seng School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Marching Band (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls)
- Harp Ensemble (Girls)
- Leadership (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
- Swimming (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Gan Eng Seng School and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' 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: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 9–15; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 7–10. PG3 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 7–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 21–24; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–23. PG2 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 25–27; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 25–30. PG1 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 26–27.
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.