School MattersGan Eng Seng School vs Yusof Ishak Secondary School
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 | Yusof Ishak Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | South | East |
| Address | 1 Henderson Road | 8 Sumang Walk |
| Nearest MRT | Redhill, Tiong Bahru | Punggol |
| Listed CCAs | 1 | 19 |
| 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. Yusof Ishak Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Boys' Brigade (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 3 DSA programme listings. Gan Eng Seng School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yusof Ishak Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Fencing (Girls and Boys), Robotics (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 Gan Eng Seng School: Redhill, Tiong Bahru; for Yusof Ishak Secondary School: Punggol. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Gan Eng Seng School | Yusof Ishak Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 9–15 | 2026 · 7–15 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 2026 · 25–27 |
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.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
Yusof Ishak began in 1965 as Jubilee Integrated Secondary School, with English and Malay streams, and took its current name in 1966. Lee Kuan Yew officiated at its Jubilee Road opening on 29 July that year. MOE records its later Bukit Batok campus and the 2015 Heritage Gallery, which documents the first President and the school’s history. Subsequent CNA reporting places the school in Punggol. Older Jubilee Road or Bukit Batok accounts therefore need their campus context. Historical rankings and the presidential name do not establish the current experience of an individual pupil.
The Applied Learning Programme describes interdisciplinary work on sustainability and climate change, with school-wide exposure through urban farming, coding and aeronautics. Pupils interested in deeper work can pursue STEM Club or Robotics Club. The page’s 2024 examples include development of the AgriSphere Lab and garden learning spaces, hydrogen-car and drone challenges, and sustainability activities. These dated examples show past provision; they do not guarantee the same competition, expert or award to every pupil. Families can ask which practical projects are common to the incoming cohort and how club-based extensions are selected.
CCAs and programmes
Gan Eng Seng School
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and 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 Yusof Ishak Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Gan Eng Seng School and Yusof Ishak 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: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 9–15; Yusof Ishak Secondary School 2026 · 7–15. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 21–24; Yusof Ishak Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Gan Eng Seng School 2026 · 25–27; Yusof Ishak Secondary School 2026 · 25–27.
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.