2. Self Introduction
Ong Kong Hong, Zach Education
BA, MA – University of Cambridge,
Principal
UK
Teck Whye Secondary School Master of Education – University of
Melbourne, Australia
Previous work experience
Teacher, Victoria Junior College
Assistant Director, MICA & MOE
Vice Principal, Bedok Green
Secondary School

3. Secondary
School Education
 Social-emotional
development
 Develop a broad range of
skills for life
 Provide greater choice and
flexibility to meet different
abilities and interests
 Prepare students for various
pathways at the post-
secondary level

4. Secondary Education Landscape
GCE A-Level Examination
GCE O-Level Examination
International Baccalaureate
GCE N-Level Examination
Government/ Specialised Independent
Gov’t-Aided Schools Schools
-Mainstream e.g. Sports School, SOTA,
-Autonomous SST, NUS High
-Niche Programme Privately-Funded Schools
-Independent / Integrated Prog e.g. ACS (International)
http://www.moe.gov.sg
Direct School S1 Direct School /education/admissions/
Admission Posting Admission dsa-sec/
PSLE at P6

5. Post-secondary Education
Landscape
University Degree
Junior College (2 yrs) or Polytechnic Institute of Technical
Centralised Institute (3 yrs) Education (1 - 2 yrs)
(3 yrs) GCE A-Levels Diploma Nitec/Higher Nitec
(DSA) (DPA)
Direct Entry
GCE O-Level Examination to Higher
Nitec (4NA)
Poly Foundation
Sec 5N
Prog (4NA)
GCE N-Level Examination
Special/Express Course Normal (Academic) / Normal (Technical)
(Sec 1 – 4) Course (Sec 1 – 4)

6. The Secondary
School Curriculum
N(A) course
Express course N(T) course

7. Sec 1 Express &
Normal (Academic)
 Examinable subjects
English Language Mathematics History
Chinese/Malay/ Tamil Science Geography
Language
Art Design & Home
English Literature Technology Economics
 Non-examinable subjects
 Pastoral Care / Civics and Moral Education, Physical Education, Project
Work, Music

8. Normal (Technical)
 Examinable subjects
English Language Mathematics Art
Basic Chinese/Malay/ Science
Tamil Language
Design & Technology Home Computer
Economics Applications
 Non-examinable subjects
 Pastoral Care / Civics and Moral Education, Physical Education, Project
Work, Social Studies, Music

9. Flexibility and Choice
Opportunities since 2006
 Recognising student talents and strengths
 N(A) students strong in certain subjects may offer up to 2 O-
level subjects at Sec 4 (e.g. MTL, Maths)
 N(T) students may offer 1 – 2 N(A) subjects in which they show
a strength or talent
 Recognising differences in learning styles
 Introduction of Elective Modules and Advanced Elective
Modules
 Revised N(T) curriculum with focus on practice-oriented
learning
 New pathways
 Top 4N(A) students may progress to Secondary 5 N(A) directly
without taking the ‘N’ Level examinations
 Top N(T) students may be laterally transfered to N(A) course

10. Choosing a Secondary School
 Academic considerations
 Previous year’s Sec 1 posting aggregate ranges of the
schools
 Academic performance of your child
 School considerations
 Programmes offered including subjects, CCAs
 Fits child’s talents , e.g. niche and strengths of school
 Fits child’s learning style
 Accessibility: distance, bus/MRT services
 Single-sex vs co-ed schools
 Choose 6 schools of slightly different entry points
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/secondary-one-posting/

11. Quite a few studies done
overseas show that
children may actually
perform better in a less
popular, or what
researchers term a “less
selective” school… The
research suggests that
parents should instead
focus on getting their
child into a school that
will boost his confidence
in his academic ability,
… Children are likely to
accomplish more, be
more persistent and
have higher aspirations
if they feel competent in
what they do, are
confident and feel
positively about
themselves.

12. The TWSS Experience

13. Our Approach

14. Our Approach
Our Mission:
Empowering Lives,
Transforming our Future
We empower Teck Whyeans to
create opportunities for themselves
and others in the future by
equipping them with the 21st
century values, skills and
knowledge.
We help them discover their
passion and purpose in life and
develop strength of character to
succeed despite challenges.

16. Our Approach
Our Vision:
A Community of Future-ready Learners
Who Lead, Serve and Achieve
Through a culture of
collaboration, a mindset
of excellence and a spirit
of lifelong learning, we
aspire to be a
community of Teck
Whyeans ready for the
future, as we lead with
conviction, serve with
compassion and achieve
with confidence.

17. The New Paper, July 21, 2011

18. ST1: Staff the Key
Caring and Dynamic Staff at TWSS

19. Teachers who
Lead, Care & Inspire Mdm Grace Tan
Winner of the Inspiring Chinese
Language Teacher Award 2012
(全国模范 华文教师奖 )
Mrs Shirley Teo
Winner of the
Inspiring Teacher of
English Award 2011
Winners of the
2012 Caring
Teacher Awards
(school level)

20. Fostering lifelong habits
TODAY (Feb 10)
featuring our
morning reading
programme
English & Mother Tongue Weeks

21. Signature Programmes
English Language Multiliteracies Programme
Integrates technology (video cameras,
iMacs) and story-telling (writing
narratives, constructing story-boards)
to enhance the learning of English
language
Develops students’ capacity to
produce, read, and interpret
spoken language, print, online
and multimedia texts

22. Signature Programmes
Presentation at SP Design
Thinking Summit on
Railway Corridor Art & Our students’ winning designs at the Many
Design Project Ways of Seeing III programme organised by the
Design Design Singapore Council held at Republic Poly
Art & Design Mentoring Programme
Working with professional designers + Art & Design Alumni sharing

23. Design Thinking
in Action
Showcase @ ExCEL
Fest 2012
Innergy Award
(Bronze) 2012

24. Participation and
Achievement at the
Singapore Garden Festival
(Singapore Orchid Show)

25. Talent & Interest
Development Our students at the iChef
Cooking Competition
Sec 3 Science Enrichment
Art &
Design
Mentoring
Programme

26. Talent & Interest
Development NT programme:
Amazing Race @ Sentosa
ICT in learning:
i-Pad Music
programme
featured in The
New Paper

27. Value-added
Results since 2010
2010: Achievement Award
(Academic Value-added) for 1st time: Band 5 of
2009 4 Exp Results School Achievement Table
for Normal Course!
2011: Achievement Award 2011: Achievement Award
(Academic Value-added) for (Academic Value-added) for
2010 4 Exp Results 2010 5 N(A) Results
2012: Achievement Award 2012: Achievement Award
(Academic Value-added) for (Academic Value-added) for
2011 4 Exp Results 2011 5 N(A) Results
From Bronze to Silver and in Band 4

28. Co-Curricular Activities
 CCAs are an integral part of our students’ holistic,
well-rounded education. They help nurture qualities
such as resilience, tenacity, confidence and
perseverance, which prepare them to adapt and
thrive in a rapidly changing world
 Every secondary school student must participate in
at least one CCA from the following options:
 Sports and Games
 Uniformed Groups
 Performing Arts Groups
 Clubs and Societies
 CCA grade (based on LEAPS scoring system) may be
considered for JC/CI/poly admission
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2003/pr20030111a.htm

29. Co-Curricular Activities
Uniformed Group
Organisations
Boys Brigade, Girl Guides,
NCC, NPCC, St John’s
Ambulance Brigade
Sports & Games
Archery, Badminton, Basketball,
Floorball, Hockey, Taekwondo

30. CCA Achievements: Sports
Hockey
National Inter-School Hockey
Tournament 2011
‘B’ Div Girls - Champion
‘B’ Div Boys - 1st Runner Up
‘C’ Div Girls - 1st Runner Up
National Inter-School Hockey
Tournament 2012
‘B’ Div Girls - Champion
‘C’ Div Girls – 2nd Runner Up Floorball
National Inter-School Floorball
Tournament 2011
‘B’ Div Girls - Champion
‘C’ Div Girls - 3rd Runner Up
National Inter-School Floorball
Tournament 2012
‘B’ Div Girls - 1st Runner Up
‘C’ Div Girls - Champion

31. CCA Achievements: Sports
Archery
Inter-School Archery
Competition 2011 & 2012
‘B’ Div Girls - Champion
‘C’ Div Girls - Champion
‘B’ Div Boys - 1st Runner Up
’C’ Div Boys - 1st Runner Up

32. Sporting
Excellence Hockey
2008
Floorball
2008
Archery
2011 & 2012
B Boys: 1st B Girls: 3rd B Girls: 1st
1st Sustained Achievement
C Girls: 1st C Girls: 1st B Boys: 2nd
Award (Sports) C Boys: 4th 2009 C Girls: 1st
for outstanding achievements in 2009 B Girls: 4th C Boys: 2nd
Hockey & Floorball from 2007 - 2009
B Girls: 2nd 2010
C Girls: 3rd B Girls: 2nd
C Boys: 2nd C Girls: 3rd
2nd Sustained Achievement
2010 2011
Award (Sports)
B Girls: 1st B Girls: 1st
for outstanding achievements in
C Girls: 1st C Girls: 4th
Hockey & Floorball from 2008 - 2010
2011 2012
B Girls: 1st B Girls: 2nd
3rd Sustained Achievement B Boys: 2nd C Girls:1st
C Girls: 2nd
Award (Sports)
2012
for outstanding achievements in
B Girls: 1st
Hockey & Floorball from 2009 - 2011
C Girls: 3rd

33. CCA Achievements:
Uniformed Groups
Boys Brigade
St John’s Ambulance Brigade J M Fraser Award for
Corps Achievement Award 2011 – Bronze Excellence 2011 – Silver
NCC (Land) NPCC
Best Unit Competition Unit Overall Proficiency
2011 – Bronze Award 2011 – Silver

34. Co-Curricular Activities
Performing Arts
Groups
Chinese Dance, Concert Band,
Guitar Ensemble,
Modern DanceNEW!
Clubs & Societies
Art Club, Infocomm Club,
Environment Club, Library,
Robotics Club

35. Other CCA Achievements in
2012
 Whampoa CC Taekwondo Poomsae Championship
2012: Overall Champion
 Chinese Dance: 15th Singapore World “Gold Lion
Award” – Gold medal
 Boys Brigade: National Drill Competition 2012 – 2nd
 Band: 4th National Band Competition – Silver
 SJAB: Inter-Corp First Aid & Home Nursing
Competition Zone 6 – 2nd
 Modern Dance: Super 24! Dance Competition –
Champions
 Robotics: Underwater Robotics Olympics 2012 – 2nd

36. Value-added Results
since 2010
National Youth Achievement
Award: 2011 – 23 students
2012 – 90 students
Green Schools @ South West
Gold Award 2010 and 2011
Schools Green Audit Award
Lotus 2010 and 2011

37. Character & Citizenship
Education @ TWSS

38. Character & Leadership:
Developing future leaders
 Greater student involvement & ownership
 Flexibility & choice in community service
 Enhanced student leadership development
 Building confidence through school experiences (e.g. Sec 3 camp,
NT programme) and community outreach

39. Values in Action:
Partnering & Serving the Community
CCE-Project
Work using
Design Thinking
SouthWest
Mural of
Love
project
CNY
“Love
with a
Hamper”
SW CDC’s
Let's Paint
Homes!

40. Values in Action:
NE in the community
Total Defence Day @
ITE College West
Youths for
Religious Celebrating National Day
Harmony @ with the community
Southwest

41. Values in Action:
Partnering & Serving the Overseas Community
Overseas CIP in Thailand
Overseas CIP in Batam

42. Overseas Partnerships:
Enriching Learning and Making New Friends
Singapore-Hong Kong
Exchange Programme
Seojae Middle School,
South Korea

43. Parent engagement:
Strong Support from the PSG
PSG Welcome Tea for Sec 1
 Understanding
parents
parent needs &
expectations
 Leveraging on
resources from
SFE and Dads for
Life
Dine with Dads Breakfast with
2012 Sec 1 parents

44. Inspiring Excellence
@ TWSS
 TWSS Excellence and Resilience Awards
 Recognise outstanding and value-added performance of our
disadvantaged students & motivates them to progress to higher
education
 Sponsored by GIC and private donors
 TWSS Sports Scholarship
 Inspired by Syasya Rifqah, winner of the School
Spots Star Award
 Sponsored by the TWSS Alumni & SAC
 Develops sporting talent, starting with Hockey in
2012, while supporting
academic excellence

45. Building strong partnerships
 Leveraging new media