School MattersRaffles Institution vs Victoria School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Raffles Institution | Victoria School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Boys' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | IP | IP · Autonomous |
| Zone | South | East |
| Address | 1 Raffles Institution Lane | 2 Siglap Link |
| Nearest MRT | Bishan, Marymount | Siglap, Bedok, Paya Lebar |
| Listed CCAs | 39 | 27 |
| DSA listings | 25 | 32 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 23 CCA listings. Raffles Institution also lists Basketball (Boys), Community Service (Rotary-Sponsored) (Boys), Environmental Science (Boys), Fencing (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Victoria School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Boys), National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys), Volleyball (Boys), Wushu (Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- DSA programme
- The records share 10 DSA programme listings. Raffles Institution also lists Basketball (Boys) - IP, Communication (Boys) - IP, Cricket (Boys) - IP, Cross Country (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Victoria School also lists Art Elective Programme (Boys), Art Elective Programme (Boys) - IP, Badminton (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (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 Raffles Institution: Bishan, Marymount; for Victoria School: Siglap, Bedok, Paya Lebar. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Raffles Institution | Victoria School |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 4–6 | 2026 · 5–8 |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 6–9 |
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
Raffles Institution
RI was founded as Singapore Institution in 1823. Its move from Bras Basah to Grange Road came in 1972, followed by Bishan and independent status in 1990. Raffles Junior College was established in 1982 to take over pre-university enrolment and reintegrated with RI in 2009. MOE’s history dates the six-year Raffles Programme, leading to A Levels, to 2004. Families researching Year 1 should distinguish Years 1–4 provision from Years 5–6 activities and accounts; both now appear under the RI name.
The Years 1–4 history page describes historical inquiry, projects, learning journeys and engagement with experts and the wider community, alongside learning how historians construct arguments. Character and Leadership Education uses lessons and assemblies to develop values and social-emotional skills, with cohort and class community projects. These describe approaches and platforms rather than a fixed list of trips for every pupil. Families can ask what inquiry assignments require, how independent work is scaffolded and how community projects fit the ordinary academic timetable.
Victoria School
Victoria School began in 1876 as an English class for twelve boys in Kampong Glam Malay School. It became Victoria Bridge School after moving near the bridge in 1900, and adopted Victoria School at Tyrwhitt Road in 1933. It received autonomous status in 1993 and moved to Siglap Link in 2003. Its house system dates from 1929; the Victoria Challenge began in 1987. These long-running traditions explain part of the school’s identity, without proving that every present pupil has the same experience.
The website presents a national-examination route, still labelled the O-Level Programme, alongside the Victoria-Cedar Alliance IP. Its published subject list spans sciences, humanities, languages and options such as Art, Music and Physical Education; families should verify the next intake’s qualification labels, availability and prerequisites. IP pupils spend four years at their secondary school before two years at VJC. The IP framework includes research, electives and the Helmsman leadership programme, progressing from personal and team leadership to organisational leadership. It expects students to take ownership of learning; it is not simply an exam-free version of the other route.
CCAs and programmes
Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Community Service (Rotary-Sponsored) (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Environmental Science (Boys)
- Fencing (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Heritage (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- Judo (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Photography (Boys)
- Physical Science (Boys)
- Publication (Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Squash (Boys)
- String Ensemble (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
Victoria School
- Audio Visual Aid (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Photography (Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
- Wushu (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Raffles Institution
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP
- Choir (Boys) - IP
- Communication (Boys) - IP
- Concert Band (Boys) - IP
- Cricket (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Hockey (Boys) - IP
- Leadership and Character (Boys) - IP
- Malay Language (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Music (Boys) - IP
- Rugby (Boys) - IP
- Sailing (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Shooting (Boys) - IP
- Softball (Boys) - IP
- String Ensemble (Boys) - IP
- Swimming (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Visual Arts (Boys) - IP
- Water Polo (Boys) - IP
Listed DSA programmes at Victoria School
- Art Elective Programme (Boys)
- Art Elective Programme (Boys) - IP
- Badminton (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys) - IP
- Choir (Boys)
- Choir (Boys) - IP
- Community Youth Leadership (Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Boys) - IP
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys) - IP
- Floorball (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys) - IP
- Football (Boys)
- Football (Boys) - IP
- Hockey (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys)
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Volleyball (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys) - IP
- Wushu (Boys)
- Wushu (Boys) - IP
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Raffles Institution and Victoria 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?
IP · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution 2026 · 4–6; Victoria School 2026 · 5–8. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Raffles Institution Not listed; Victoria School 2026 · 6–9.
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.