“To Forge a Better Life” is not just a motto. It’s the beating heart of New Town Secondary School.
New Town Secondary School opened in 1965. It was Singapore’s independence year. The school started in Queensway. It aimed to educate Queenstown residents’ children in English. Mid-1965 saw it named New Town Secondary School.
Initially, New Town Secondary School had over 1,800 students in 45 classes. These classes ranged from Secondary 1 to 4. Labour Minister Jek Yeun Thong officially opened the school on September 17, 1966.
In 1969, New Town Secondary School merged with Baharuddin Vocational School. This doubled the school’s size. Student intake increased to over 3,000. By 1975, it was Singapore’s largest school.
A 400-meter bitumen athletic track was built in 1974. This provided better sports facilities.
New Town Secondary School moved to Dover Road in 1998. Symbolically, a tree was moved to the new campus.
In 2015, New Town Secondary School celebrated its 50th anniversary. This was a significant milestone.
In 2023, Tanglin Secondary School merged with New Town Secondary School. The merged entity retained the name NEW TOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL. A new logo and uniform were created.
The school badge uses white, black, and red. White signifies purity and honesty. Black represents perseverance. Red embodies aspirations and unity. A flower with petals encircling a cogwheel sits at the badge’s center. The flower symbolizes scholastic achievement. The cogwheel signifies national progress.
Student Councillors play a key role. They deal with school-wide events and maintain discipline. Peer Support Leaders offer emotional support to students.
New Town Secondary School offers diverse CCAs. These include sports, clubs, and uniformed groups.
New Town Secondary School was one of the first to provide bilingual education.
Lee Kuan Yew and Benjamin Sheares visited the school. Their visits underscored education’s importance.
Ms. Yeo Lai Cheng was the first principal. Mr. Ari Manickam is the current principal.
New Town Secondary School’s story reflects Singapore’s growth. It is a place where students learn to forge better lives.