School MattersTemasek Secondary School vs Xinmin Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Temasek Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | East | North |
| Address | 600 Upper East Coast Road | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Bedok, Tanah Merah | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 17 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 5 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Temasek Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Girls and Boys), Canoeing (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (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. Temasek Secondary School also lists Leadership (Girls and Boys), Modern Dance (Girls and Boys), which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Concert Band (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 Temasek Secondary School: Bedok, Tanah Merah; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Temasek Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 8–11 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–22 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–26 | 2026 · 25–28 |
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
Temasek Secondary School
Temasek Secondary began in 1980, briefly sharing Bedok South Secondary’s premises before moving to its own Upper Changi Road campus that May. It officially opened in April 1982. Autonomous status and its Higher Malay Language centre followed in 1995; the move to 600 Upper East Coast Road came in 1999. MOE records student leadership as a hallmark from 2001, Cross-Cultural Awareness from 2014 and the Temasek Ignis Programme from 2016. These are the school’s own strands, distinct from Temasek JC’s Integrated Programme.
In S1 Project Culture, pupils work in groups to investigate a nationality living in Singapore, compare cultural practices and give an oral presentation. S2 Camp Culture is non-residential, combining visits and facilitated reflection; the page describes its broader Singapore-history and multicultural focus from 2018. Overseas school exchanges resumed after 2023, with examples in Thailand, Malaysia and other ASEAN countries. The local curriculum and overseas opportunities should be distinguished: families should ask which trips run for the coming cohort, how places are allocated and what participation costs.
Xinmin Secondary School
Xinmin began as Sin Min School on 1 November 1945, initially teaching primary pupils. Its founders rented three bungalows after Yap Fun Hong sold five pigs to help fund education for the Hougang-Serangoon community. Secondary classes began in 1956, and performances helped raise money for facilities in 1958. MOE’s heritage record dates autonomous status to 2001 and the Creative Arts Complex to 2015. Its 80th anniversary was in 2025. These are historical milestones; earlier examination bands or rankings do not establish a current teaching-quality ranking.
MAKERS@Xinmin combines digital and analogue making across a specially designed two-year lower-secondary curriculum. All pupils in those years learn about AI applications and ethics, and design and prototype solutions to real problems. Examples include sustainability models using AI, eco-themed games and environmental-data analysis, with workshops, pop-up sessions and showcases. This is broader than a coding club for selected enthusiasts. Ask what the child will build, how teachers supervise tool use and how a pupil with little coding experience is helped to contribute within a group.
CCAs and programmes
Temasek Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Girls and Boys)
- Canoeing (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Xinmin Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Students' Council (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Temasek Secondary School
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Xinmin Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Temasek Secondary School and Xinmin 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: Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 8–11; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 21–22; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Temasek Secondary School 2026 · 25–26; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28.
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.