School Matters

Getting things ready

Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) vs St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

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

At a glance

ComparePaya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
School typeGirls' SchoolGirls' School
LevelSecondary (S1-S4)Secondary (S1-S4)
School tagsAutonomousAutonomous
ZoneEastEast
Address296 Lor Ah Soo1600 Bedok North Avenue 4
Nearest MRTKovan, SerangoonBedok, Bedok Reservoir
Listed CCAs2122
DSA listings1013

Differences to explore

CCA
The records share 8 CCA listings. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) also lists Chinese Drama (Girls), English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls), Girls' Brigade (Girls), Guzheng Ensemble (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School also lists Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls), Audio Visual Aid (Girls), Debating and Public Speaking (Girls), Film (Girls) 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. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) also lists Guzheng Ensemble (Girls), Harp Ensemble (Girls), Leadership (Girls), Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School also lists Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Girls), Choir (Girls), English Drama (Girls), Floorball (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 Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary): Kovan, Serangoon; for St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School: Bedok, Bedok Reservoir. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.

Recorded entry ranges

ComparePaya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
PG3 · Non-affiliated2026 · 7–102026 · 12–15
PG3 · Affiliated2026 · 7–202026 · 14–22
PG2 · Non-affiliated2026 · 21–232026 · 21–24
PG2 · Affiliated2026 · 21–252026 · 22–25
PG1 · Non-affiliated2026 · 25–302026 · 25–30
PG1 · Affiliated2026 · 26–272026 · 26–29

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

Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

Land purchased in 1916 preceded the opening of Paya Lebar English School in 1917. Its early pupils were boys; girls were admitted the following year. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School became separate primary and secondary units when it moved to Lorong Ah Soo in 1986, with the new premises officially opened in August 1987. The secondary school gained autonomous status in 2001. During PRIME upgrading it moved temporarily to Serangoon North in December 2004, returning in January 2007. This entry covers secondary provision; shared history does not make the two stages’ programmes identical.

PL21 2.0 is a cohort-wide Secondary 1 programme using technology to address real-world problems. Tier 1 includes evaluating digital information, research and note-taking, coding through Code for Fun, and investigating improvements around school, home and community. Higher-ability pupils may access ACE (STEM) or the Global Scholar Programme. ACE combines 3D-printing workshops, learning journeys and a research project; GSP focuses on sustainability and exchanges with overseas peers online. These extensions run for 1.5 years, from Secondary 1’s second semester to the end of Secondary 2, on Wednesdays 2.45pm–5pm, with possible off-campus sessions and independent research.

St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary traces its roots to St Anna’s School, founded on Middle Road in 1879 for six children of poor parishioners. The Canossian sisters took over the girls’ school in 1894. The primary and secondary schools moved to adjoining Bedok North Avenue 4 premises in 1995; the secondary school gained autonomous status in 2002. These are shared historical roots, rather than evidence that the two schools offer the same programmes. The performing arts became part of the formal curriculum in 1998, and the school launched its arts niche and biennial Arts Alive! festival in 2004.

The current arts page says all lower-secondary students study Music and Drama, with eight performing arts CCAs providing further opportunities. Project work includes reflection on the creative process, while service learning connects performance with community activities. The school reports a LASALLE College of the Arts partnership since 2025, including contact with industry professionals and exposure to higher arts education. It also describes visits and workshops involving arts institutions. These are learning opportunities; the page does not establish guaranteed arts-school admission or the same external programme for every pupil.

CCAs and programmes

Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

  • Badminton (Girls)
  • Chinese Drama (Girls)
  • Choir (Girls)
  • Concert Band (Girls)
  • English Drama (Girls)
  • English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls)
  • Girls' Brigade (Girls)
  • Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
  • Guzheng Ensemble (Girls)
  • Handbell Ensemble (Girls)
  • Harp Ensemble (Girls)
  • Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls)
  • Modern Dance (Girls)
  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls)
  • Netball (Girls)
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
  • St John Brigade (Girls)
  • Swimming (Girls)
  • Table Tennis (Girls)
  • Track and Field (Girls)
  • Volleyball (Girls)

St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

  • Angklung/kulintang Ensemble (Girls)
  • Audio Visual Aid (Girls)
  • Badminton (Girls)
  • Choir (Girls)
  • Concert Band (Girls)
  • Debating and Public Speaking (Girls)
  • English Drama (Girls)
  • Film (Girls)
  • Floorball (Girls)
  • Girl Guides (Girls)
  • Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
  • Handball (Girls)
  • Home Economics (Girls)
  • Indian Dance (Girls)
  • Media Resource Library (Girls)
  • Modern Dance (Girls)
  • National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls)
  • Netball (Girls)
  • Percussion Ensemble (Girls)
  • Taekwondo (Girls)
  • Tennis (Girls)
  • Track and Field (Girls)

Listed DSA programmes at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

  • Badminton (Girls)
  • Concert Band (Girls)
  • Guzheng Ensemble (Girls)
  • Harp Ensemble (Girls)
  • Leadership (Girls)
  • Netball (Girls)
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics (Girls)
  • Swimming (Girls)
  • Table Tennis (Girls)
  • Volleyball (Girls)

Listed DSA programmes at St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

  • Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Girls)
  • Badminton (Girls)
  • Choir (Girls)
  • Concert Band (Girls)
  • English Drama (Girls)
  • Floorball (Girls)
  • Guitar Ensemble (Girls)
  • Indian Dance (Girls)
  • Modern Dance (Girls)
  • Netball (Girls)
  • Percussion Ensemble (Girls)
  • Taekwondo (Girls)
  • Track and Field (Girls)

Questions about these schools

How should I choose between Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) and St. Anthony's Canossian 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: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 7–10; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 12–15. PG3 · Affiliated: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 7–20; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 14–22. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–23; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG2 · Affiliated: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 21–25; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 22–25. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 25–30; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 25–30. PG1 · Affiliated: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) 2026 · 26–27; St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School 2026 · 26–29.

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.