School MattersHougang Secondary School vs New Town Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Hougang Secondary School | New Town Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Not listed |
| Zone | North | West |
| Address | 2 Hougang Street 93 | 1020 Dover Road |
| Nearest MRT | Hougang, Buangkok | Dover, Clementi |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 15 |
| DSA listings | 11 | 6 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 8 CCA listings. Hougang Secondary School also lists Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. New Town Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Fencing (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 1 DSA programme listing. Hougang Secondary School also lists Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Girls and Boys), Debating (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. New Town Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Fencing (Girls and Boys), Guzheng 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 Hougang Secondary School: Hougang, Buangkok; for New Town Secondary School: Dover, Clementi. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Hougang Secondary School | New Town Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 14–20 | 2026 · 14–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–25 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 2026 · 26–30 |
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
Hougang Secondary School
Hougang Secondary began at Lowland Road in 2001, moved to Hougang Street 93 that December and was officially opened in 2003. Its history page still describes an earlier communication-focused ALP, including broadcasting and debate. The current programme page instead sets out the STEM ALP, HS Innovates, For Life! Likewise, the current LLP and 2026 handbook use the GREAT values framework. The older history account is useful for origins, but should not be treated as a complete description of today’s programmes.
All Secondary 1 pupils have Code for Fun and a design-thinking cohort programme. Secondary 2 adds AI for Fun and Internet of Things devices, while Computing is an upper-secondary subject option. STEM Leaders have additional activities, including sustainable growing from 2025. The page separately records a seven-month 2024 project involving 50 selected Secondary 2–3 pupils from several leadership groups, working with DesignSingapore Council and Bold@Work on neighbourhood health-related needs. That selected project is distinct from the core lessons and is not a universal annual entitlement.
- School History
- STEM Applied Learning Programme (ALP)
- Learning For Life Programme (LLP)
- Hougang Secondary School Student Handbook 2026 — 15 May version
New Town Secondary School
New Town Secondary began on 2 January 1965 to serve Queenstown families, initially drawing pupils from several existing schools and language streams. It officially opened in September 1966. Technical education followed in 1969, when Baharuddin Vocational School merged with it. The school became single-session in 1992 and made its symbolic move to Dover Road in November 1998, with the new campus officially opened in 2000. Its current digital-communication and leadership programmes should be read as present provision, rather than assuming all earlier niches or pre-university classes still operate.
The current ALP, Digital Communicators, Change Makers, gives Sec 1 smartphone-photography workshops during curriculum time, including composition and camera basics. Sec 2 adds stop-motion animation, storytelling and storyboarding. Interest-based work through Infocomm and Art and Crafts CCAs includes photography, video and advertising, with media-literacy workshops or learning journeys for selected pupils. Digital work is linked to art and humanities and can involve community partners. This gives a specific sequence of learning without treating every pupil as enrolled in the same advanced media programme.
CCAs and programmes
Hougang Secondary School
- Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Judo (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Speech and Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
New Town Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Softball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Hougang Secondary School
- Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Debating (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Judo (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls)
- Netball (Girls)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at New Town Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Visual Arts (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Hougang Secondary School and New Town 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: Hougang Secondary School 2026 · 14–20; New Town Secondary School 2026 · 14–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Hougang Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; New Town Secondary School 2026 · 21–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Hougang Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; New Town Secondary School 2026 · 26–30.
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.