Established in 1862, St. Andrew’s Secondary School has a rich history. It has evolved from a small institution to a prominent school in Singapore.
St. Andrew’s Secondary School operates along traditional British lines. The school offers a four or five-year program. This program leads to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level or Normal Level examinations.
Let’s delve into the school’s fascinating past. Reverend Edward Sherman Venn founded St. Andrew’s Secondary School in 1862. In 1872, Canon J. A. Beccles applied for government aid. St. Andrew’s School became a grant-in-aid institution.
The growing school relocated several times. It moved from Upper Hokkien Street to Victoria Street. In 1875, it found a four-acre site along Stamford Road. By the 1920s, enrollment at St. Andrew’s Secondary School reached 800 boys. The 1930s saw the rise of prefects. The school excelled in boxing and rugby during this era.
In 1940, a new campus opened in Woodsville. More buildings were added in the 1950s. These buildings housed both primary and secondary sections.
In 1986, the secondary school moved to Potong Pasir. This location is across the Kallang River. The Woodsville buildings were inadequate for both primary and secondary classes. In 2003, the school temporarily moved to the old Victoria School building at Kallang Bahru. In 2005, it returned to new buildings opposite St. Andrew’s Junior School. This was part of the St. Andrew’s Village project. The project united the Junior, Secondary, and Junior College campuses.
The old school buildings were conserved and strengthened. They were re-used as a church. In 2007, it received an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Heritage Awards.
St. Andrew’s Village boasts Singapore’s first artificial rugby pitch. It opened in 2008. The pitch provides an all-weather surface. It is shared between the secondary school and the primary school.
St. Andrew’s Secondary School continues to innovate. In 2008, it introduced new subjects at the GCE Ordinary Level. These included Creative 3D Animation and Fundamentals of Electronics.
The school gained an Academic Value-Added Sustained Achievement Award in 2009. The Ministry of Education presented this award.
In 2010, St. Andrew’s Secondary School incorporated the Saint Andrew’s River Programme. Students investigated the impact of the Marina Barrage on the Kallang River ecosystem.
Since 2011, St. Andrew’s offers enrichment courses for upper secondary students. These courses focus on art for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examinations.
In 2011, the school received the Special Lee Hsien Loong Award. This was for Innovations in Normal Course.
St. Andrew’s Secondary School is known for its sporting achievements. It is one of the “Big Three” rugby schools in Singapore. The school has won numerous national school titles for rugby. St. Andrew’s has also held the Kiwi Cup for many years. The Ministry of Education has awarded it niche status in rugby.
Hockey is another strength of the school. The B Division Hockey Team has won several championships. The C Division Hockey Team has also achieved national titles.
Despite being an Anglican school, students are not required to be Christian. St. Andrew’s Secondary School has a house system. The houses are named Gomes, Hose, Loyfatt, Romanis, and Venn. The school emphasizes prefects. They maintain an ethos of service and high standards of conduct.
All students wear white shirts with the school badge. Lower secondary boys wear dark blue shorts. Upper secondary boys wear dark blue long pants. St. Andrew’s maintains strict rules for behavior.
Notable alumni include J. B. Jeyaretnam and Benjamin Sheares. They have made significant contributions to Singapore.
St. Andrew’s Secondary School stands as a beacon of education. It upholds tradition and embraces innovation. Its graduates continue to shape Singapore’s future. The school’s motto says it all: “Up and On”.