School MattersMarsiling Secondary School vs Northbrooks Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Marsiling Secondary School | Northbrooks 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 | North |
| Address | 12 Marsiling Road | 585 Yishun Ring Road |
| Nearest MRT | Marsiling | Yishun, Khatib |
| Listed CCAs | 15 | 20 |
| DSA listings | 10 | 9 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 8 CCA listings. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), Malay Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Northbrooks Secondary School also lists Aero-Modelling (Girls and Boys), Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Bowling (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 4 DSA programme listings. Marsiling Secondary School also lists Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Northbrooks Secondary School also lists Aerospace (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys), Guzheng Ensemble (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 Marsiling Secondary School: Marsiling; for Northbrooks Secondary School: Yishun, Khatib. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Marsiling Secondary School | Northbrooks Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 14–22 | 2026 · 15–22 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 22–25 |
| 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.
How to choose between them
Both schools share the same North zone address and COP ceiling, so the real differentiator is what your child wants to do. Marsiling punches above its weight in arts and DSA depth; Northbrooks wins on sheer CCA variety.
Consider Marsiling Secondary School if…
- 3 SYF Distinctions signal a genuinely strong arts culture
- 10 DSA areas offer focused talent development pathways
Consider Northbrooks Secondary School if…
- 30 CCAs means more room to explore and pivot interests
- Broader CCA ecosystem suits students still finding their passion
If your child has a clear talent to nurture, lean Marsiling; if they're still exploring, Northbrooks gives them more doors to open.
Get to know each school
Marsiling Secondary School
Marsiling Secondary began in 2000 at Woodgrove Secondary’s premises, moved to Marsiling Road in 2002 and officially opened its campus in 2003. It merged with Si Ling Secondary in 2017. MOE’s history explains that the merged school’s Chinese name, 士林中学, combines elements from the two predecessors. Its environmental-learning centre opened in 2007, and the school received the President’s Award for the Environment in 2012. Older accounts need to be read with those campus and merger changes in mind.
Eco-Sustainability through Inquiry-Based Learning uses STEM to work on environmental problems. Secondary 1 pupils use Arduino and sensors for ideas such as a smart bin or waste sorter. Secondary 2 combines Arduino or micro:bit with an energy-conservation prototype, then pitches it to peers and teachers. The school also describes vertical farming, rainwater collection and solar panels as learning resources. Environment Councillors take additional ambassador roles; that leadership opportunity is separate from the level programme.
Northbrooks Secondary School
Northbrooks Secondary opened on 2 January 2000. MOE explains its name through the proverb 饮水思源: remembering the people who have helped you. Aerospace applied learning and outdoor education were recognised as its ALP and LLP in 2015; a water-sustainability programme followed in 2017. Its heritage account also records stained-glass work, although the image caption and narrative give different starting years. That date is therefore left unresolved here. The current curriculum pages provide a more useful account of what pupils do today.
The aerospace ALP connects STEM learning with aviation careers, with partners including CAAS, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and ST Aerospace. Its first tier includes lower-secondary STEM lessons and broader learning journeys, enrichment and career education. Advanced and elective modules, Youth Flying Club activities and other projects sit in the second tier. The CCA page shows NCC Air members building a glider and Flying Club members using a simulator. Those examples describe particular members’ activities; they do not establish flying training for every pupil or preferential admission to a post-secondary course.
CCAs and programmes
Marsiling Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Sepaktakraw (Boys)
- Strategy Games (Girls and Boys)
Northbrooks Secondary School
- Aero-Modelling (Girls and Boys)
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bowling (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (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)
- Outdoor Adventure (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Sp-Cca (Athletics) (Girls and Boys)
- Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Marsiling Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Sepaktakraw (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Northbrooks Secondary School
- Aerospace (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Outdoor Adventure (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Marsiling Secondary School and Northbrooks 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: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 14–22; Northbrooks Secondary School 2026 · 15–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Northbrooks Secondary School 2026 · 22–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Marsiling Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; Northbrooks 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.