School Matters

Getting things ready

Sembawang 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

CompareSembawang Secondary SchoolTampines Secondary School
School typeCo-Ed SchoolCo-Ed School
LevelSecondary (S1-S4)Secondary (S1-S4)
School tagsNot listedNot listed
ZoneNorthEast
Address30 Sembawang Crescent252 Tampines St 12
Nearest MRTSembawangTampines
Listed CCAs1616
DSA listings19

Differences to explore

CCA
The records share 2 CCA listings. Sembawang Secondary School also lists Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Floorball (Girls and 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, Basketball (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 0 DSA programme listings. Sembawang Secondary School also lists Leadership (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Tampines Secondary School also lists Chinese and Modern Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys), English Drama (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 Sembawang Secondary School: Sembawang; for Tampines Secondary School: Tampines. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.

Recorded entry ranges

CompareSembawang Secondary SchoolTampines Secondary School
PG3 · Non-affiliated2026 · 18–222026 · 13–19
PG2 · Non-affiliated2026 · 21–252026 · 21–24
PG1 · Non-affiliated2026 · 25–292026 · 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

Sembawang Secondary School

MOE’s history records Sembawang Secondary’s establishment in 1999 and official opening in 2001. It describes a student-leadership structure introduced in 2006, a House system in 2008, and the PEARL one-to-one computing initiative in 2017. The narrative also contains older anniversary and “current year” wording, so those passages should not be treated as present-day statistics. What remains useful is the documented development of leadership and technology in the school’s educational approach, alongside its location at Sembawang Crescent.

The media-literacy ALP page remains under an “Outdated Pages” path, even though its update label says 2026. It describes analysing sources and creating media products, but it needs confirmation before being treated as current provision. Current ICT information instead names PDLP–PEARL, Code for Fun with IMDA, SLS digital-literacy modules and e-reflection. The science department distinguishes broad Science Fortnight exposure from deeper inquiry and competition opportunities for interested students. The English page includes public-speaking practice through “That’s My View”. These are published learning opportunities, not measured outcomes for all pupils.

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

Sembawang Secondary School

  • Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
  • Badminton (Girls and Boys)
  • Boys' Brigade (Boys)
  • Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
  • Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
  • Floorball (Girls and Boys)
  • Football (Boys)
  • Girls' Brigade (Girls)
  • Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
  • Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
  • National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
  • Netball (Girls)
  • Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
  • Student Leadership (House) (Girls and Boys)
  • Volleyball (Girls)

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 Sembawang Secondary School

  • Leadership (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 Sembawang 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: Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 18–22; Tampines Secondary School 2026 · 13–19. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Tampines Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Sembawang Secondary School 2026 · 25–29; 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.