School MattersNorth Vista Secondary School vs Tampines Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | North Vista Secondary School | Tampines 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 | East |
| Address | 11 Rivervale Link | 252 Tampines St 12 |
| Nearest MRT | Sengkang, Buangkok, Ranggung | Tampines |
| Listed CCAs | 18 | 16 |
| DSA listings | 10 | 9 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 5 CCA listings. North Vista Secondary School also lists Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls), Community Service (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Tampines Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), BADMINTON, Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys), Choir (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 2 DSA programme listings. North Vista Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls), Football (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Tampines Secondary School also lists Chinese and Modern Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys), English Drama (Girls and Boys), Football (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 North Vista Secondary School: Sengkang, Buangkok, Ranggung; for Tampines Secondary School: Tampines. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | North Vista Secondary School | Tampines Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 11–18 | 2026 · 13–19 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–24 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 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
North Vista Secondary School
The school began in 1956 as Gan Eng Seng Government Chinese Middle School, was renamed Thomson Government Chinese Middle School in 1958, and later merged with Thomson Vocational School to become Thomson Secondary. It moved to Sengkang on 15 December 2000 and adopted North Vista Secondary as its English name, retaining 德新中学 in Chinese. The current campus officially opened on 8 July 2003. Old Thomson accounts therefore belong to the school’s history, but may describe a different campus and structure from today’s secondary provision.
The ALP names Cities and Urban Landscapes as its 2026 context. All Secondary 1 pupils take high-tech-farming workshops and hands-on hydroponics to grow edibles. Further experiences with outside organisations depend on interest. BioBloom is a separate tier for selected Infocomm Club members: they work on food-waste conditions for worms and harvest compost for the school’s edible gardens. The page’s Secondary 3 examples include moisture sensors and probes. That club project is more specialised than the common Secondary 1 experience, and should not be assigned to the entire cohort.
Tampines Secondary School
Tampines Secondary opened to its first 458 pupils on 2 January 1986, with 12 teachers and founding principal Koh Sei Hian. Its official opening followed on 8 August 1988. The school later underwent PRIME upgrading in 2008 and developed creative engineering and visual and performing arts as distinctive areas. Its founding motto, Betterment of Self for Society, remains part of the school’s stated identity. The history gives context for the current programmes; it does not establish how every pupil experiences the school or its present exam performance.
Creative Engineering: Tinker, Design, Innovate offers all Sec 1 pupils upcycling and drone activities, then group challenges related to water or technology. Sec 2 includes building a solar toy car, Microbit coding and challenges about energy or ageing. These Tier 1 sessions use a Maker Hub with fabrication and electronics equipment. Tier 2 gives interested pupils opportunities for student-led projects; the more advanced Maker Faire CCA track involves identified, especially enthusiastic pupils. The page still contains a pandemic-era statement about overseas trips being on hold, so it cannot confirm the present travel programme or availability.
CCAs and programmes
North Vista Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Community Service (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Golf (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)
- Outdoor Adventure (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- String Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Tampines Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- BADMINTON
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Girls and Boys)
- Digital Media (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- FOOTBALL
- GIRL GUIDES
- MALAY DANCE
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- NETBALL
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
Listed DSA programmes at North Vista Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Golf (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- String Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Tampines Secondary School
- Chinese and Modern Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Stem - Creative Engineering and Modelling (Girls and Boys)
- Visual Arts (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between North Vista Secondary School and Tampines 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: North Vista Secondary School 2026 · 11–18; Tampines Secondary School 2026 · 13–19. PG2 · Non-affiliated: North Vista Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Tampines Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: North Vista Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Tampines 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.