School MattersWoodlands 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 | Woodlands Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 11 Marsiling Road | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Marsiling, Woodlands | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 15 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 6 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Woodlands Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys), Football (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), Chinese Dance (Girls), Cross Country (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. Woodlands Secondary School also lists Basketball (Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Football (Girls and Boys), Malay Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), 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.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Woodlands Secondary School: Marsiling, Woodlands; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Woodlands Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 15–22 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 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
Woodlands Secondary School
Woodlands Secondary opened in 1982 with 205 pupils and 13 staff, initially using Si Ling Secondary’s premises. It moved to its own Admiralty Road campus in 1984, with the official opening on 20 September. A later change in the entrance gave the same site its present address, 11 Marsiling Road. The history also records the move to a single session in 1999 and later facilities development. This distinguishes an established campus from a recent relocation, and gives context to its present food-science and community-leadership programmes.
The Food Science and Technology ALP gives all Secondary 1 and 2 pupils its first two tiers. Molecular gastronomy introduces spherification, foams and gels; an annual drinks-making competition asks pupils to create a healthier, visually appealing drink. Computational-thinking work includes basic and advanced microcontroller programming and coding for drone flight. A third tier offers deeper enrichment and competitions for pupils with strong interest, with polytechnic and STEM partners among the examples. These are opportunities beyond common exposure, so ask how pupils are selected and whether workshop or industry-visit arrangements change each year.
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
Woodlands Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Sepaktakraw (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 Woodlands Secondary School
- Basketball (Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Sepaktakraw (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 Woodlands 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: Woodlands Secondary School 2026 · 15–22; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Woodlands Secondary School 2026 · 21–25; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Woodlands Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; 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.