School Matters

Getting things ready

Gan Eng Seng School vs St. Patrick's School

Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.

At a glance

CompareGan Eng Seng SchoolSt. Patrick's School
School typeCo-Ed SchoolBoys' School
LevelSecondary (S1-S4)Secondary (S1-S4)
School tagsNot listedNot listed
ZoneSouthEast
Address1 Henderson Road490 East Coast Road
Nearest MRTRedhill, Tiong BahruMarine Terrace
Listed CCAs118
DSA listings917

Differences to explore

CCA
The records share 1 CCA listing. St. Patrick's School also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Concert Band (Boys), Cricket (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 2 DSA programme listings. Gan Eng Seng School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Marching Band (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Patrick's School also lists Badminton (Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Boys), Computational Thinking Skills (Boys), Concert Band (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 Gan Eng Seng School: Redhill, Tiong Bahru; for St. Patrick's School: Marine Terrace. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.

Recorded entry ranges

CompareGan Eng Seng SchoolSt. Patrick's School
PG3 · Non-affiliated2026 · 9–152026 · 11
PG3 · AffiliatedNot listed2026 · 13–20
PG2 · Non-affiliated2026 · 21–242026 · 21–22
PG2 · AffiliatedNot listed2026 · 21–25
PG1 · Non-affiliated2026 · 25–272026 · 25–27
PG1 · AffiliatedNot listed2026 · 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

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.

St. Patrick's School

St Patrick’s began in 1933 as a branch of St Joseph’s Institution before becoming a school in its own right. Its building was used as a hospital and then a Japanese administrative facility during the war, returning to the La Salle Brothers in 1946. The primary section separated to become St Stephen’s School in 1957. A co-educational pre-university period ended with a return to an all-boys school in 1978. Its 90th anniversary was celebrated in 2023. The Catholic ethos includes prayers, reflections, Masses and Catholic societies; families should clarify how these experiences apply to pupils of different faiths.

The Music and Music Technology LLP introduces all lower-secondary pupils to instrumental skills, performance and digital music creation. The page describes ukulele group work, a keyboard module involving melody and chords with both hands, and software for arrangements or expressive music cues. Sec 1 orientation includes performances and instrument stations led by Military Band and Guitar Ensemble students. A separate Rock Band Interest Group has weekly guided jamming for interested pupils. Talent shows and lunchtime showcases offer performance platforms, but linked 2021 submissions are historical examples rather than evidence of this year’s event schedule.

CCAs and programmes

Gan Eng Seng School

  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)

St. Patrick's School

  • Badminton (Boys)
  • Basketball (Boys)
  • Concert Band (Boys)
  • Cricket (Boys)
  • English Drama (Boys)
  • Floorball (Boys)
  • Football (Boys)
  • Golf (Boys)
  • Guitar Ensemble (Boys)
  • Media Resource Library (Boys)
  • Modern Dance (Boys)
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Boys)
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
  • Scouts (Boys)
  • Singapore Youth Flying Club (Boys)
  • Tennis (Boys)
  • Track and Field (Boys)

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 St. Patrick's School

  • Badminton (Boys)
  • Basketball (Boys)
  • Community Youth Leadership (Boys)
  • Computational Thinking Skills (Boys)
  • Concert Band (Boys)
  • Cricket (Boys)
  • English Drama (Boys)
  • Floorball (Boys)
  • Football (Boys)
  • Golf (Boys)
  • Guitar Ensemble (Boys)
  • Media/Journalism (Boys)
  • Modern Dance (Boys)
  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
  • Scouts (Boys)
  • Tennis (Boys)
  • Track and Field (Boys)

Questions about these schools

How should I choose between Gan Eng Seng School and St. Patrick's 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: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 9–15; St. Patrick's School 2026 · 11. PG3 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; St. Patrick's School 2026 · 13–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 21–24; St. Patrick's School 2026 · 21–22. PG2 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; St. Patrick's School 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 25–27; St. Patrick's School 2026 · 25–27. PG1 · Affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School Not listed; St. Patrick's 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.