School MattersPei Hwa Secondary School vs Riverside Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Pei Hwa Secondary School | Riverside 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 | 21 Fernvale Link | 3 Woodlands Street 81 |
| Nearest MRT | Sengkang, Layar | Woodlands |
| Listed CCAs | 21 | 22 |
| DSA listings | 6 | 7 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 10 CCA listings. Pei Hwa Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Floorball (Girls), Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys), Journalism (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Riverside Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (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. Pei Hwa Secondary School also lists Chinese and Modern Dance (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls), Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys), Taekwondo (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Riverside Secondary School also lists Choir (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys), Leadership and Character (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 Pei Hwa Secondary School: Sengkang, Layar; for Riverside Secondary School: Woodlands. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Pei Hwa Secondary School | Riverside Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7–14 | 2026 · 8–14 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| 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 sit in the North zone with nearly identical COP ceilings, so the real decision comes down to what your child loves. Pei Hwa offers sheer CCA breadth and pulls in a slightly stronger academic cohort at the top end, while Riverside's 38-year track record and four SYF Distinctions signal a school that takes the arts seriously.
Consider Pei Hwa Secondary School if…
- Wider COP range means stronger peers at the top end
- 30 CCAs — more options to find your child's passion
Consider Riverside Secondary School if…
- 4 SYF Distinctions signals exceptional performing arts culture
- 38-year heritage brings stability and a strong alumni network
If performing arts is your child's calling, Riverside is the easy pick — otherwise Pei Hwa's variety gives you more room to explore.
Get to know each school
Pei Hwa Secondary School
Pei Hwa Secondary began in January 2005 and officially opened on 28 July 2007. The Pei Hwa Foundation, formed by alumni of the former Pei Hwa Public School, supplies bursaries and scholarships; this connection does not mean the present secondary school began in the former school’s founding year. The opening launched a Jalan Kayu Heritage Trail. Later developments included the indoor sports hall in 2018 and Full Subject-Based Banding pilot participation in 2020. In 2023, project work was repositioned as the Future Leaders Programme, integrating technology, leadership and community needs.
The Robotics and Programming ALP joins the Community Youth Leadership LLP through the Future Leaders Programme. Secondary 1 projects address the school’s immediate context; Secondary 2 widens the focus to the external community and environment. Streamnovation Week includes a level-wide making challenge plus optional visits, talks and making activities. Maker Monday is an interest group, rather than the whole cohort’s weekly entitlement. The school’s hackathon is for primary-school competitors: participating secondary pupils can train as assistant maker coaches and facilitators. That distinction prevents a primary outreach competition being mislabelled as every secondary pupil’s contest.
- Our Story
- Applied Learning Programme – Robotics and Programming
- Learning for Life Programme – Community Youth Leadership (LLP – CYL)
Riverside Secondary School
Riverside Secondary’s own history says it began in 1987 at Fuchun Secondary’s premises before moving to 3 Woodlands Street 81 that December. It became single-session in 1999 and returned to its upgraded campus in 2004 after a holding-site period. Its history records a 2020 Full Subject-Based Banding pilot and Tamil Language Elective Programme provision. Older heritage material describes an Arts for Life LLP; the present programme page instead identifies Digital Citizenship. Historical programme names should therefore be kept separate from current provision.
The ALP, Global Citizenship Education through Critical Social Inquiry, uses UN Sustainable Development Goals to explore global issues and affected communities. Its page gives a dated 2025 Riverside Model United Nations example focused on technology, sustainability and inclusion, with stakeholder perspectives and proposed resolutions. VIA separately asks pupils to understand community needs, plan, act and reflect. These descriptions show an inquiry-and-service approach; they do not establish that every pupil attends the same forum or takes the same community role.
CCAs and programmes
Pei Hwa Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Football (Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Journalism (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Outdoor Adventure (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Speech and Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Taekwondo (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Riverside Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Indian Dance (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 Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Pei Hwa Secondary School
- Chinese and Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Taekwondo (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Riverside Secondary School
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership and Character (Girls and Boys)
- Media (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Tamil Language (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Pei Hwa Secondary School and Riverside 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: Pei Hwa Secondary School 2026 · 7–14; Riverside Secondary School 2026 · 8–14. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Pei Hwa Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Riverside Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Pei Hwa Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; Riverside 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.