TAMPINES SECONDARY SCHOOL

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the school like?

Tampines Secondary School aspires to provide a well-rounded education for all students and prepare them for the future. We guide all students to be part of a caring community of learners, thinkers and leaders, achieving this through the school shared values of Integrity, Courage, Adaptability, Respect and Excellence.

For more information, please watch an introduction by the principal:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KADrcVr8_nSla6E2X64KT5cpuFlxV7V6/view

2) Where is the school located?

The school is conveniently located at Tampines Street 12, a 5-minute walk from the Tampines MRT station and interchange. There are many buses that are also accessible at our nearest bus stops.

3) What are the school hours like?

Students report to school by 7.30 am and are dismissed between 2 to 3 pm on most days. Depending on the student's choice of CCA, they may be required to stay in school till 6 pm on CCA days.

4) What is the school niche?

Our Applied Learning Programme (ALP) is Creative Engineering and our Learning for Life Programme (LLP) is Creative Expressions.

You can find more information on these two Programmes on our school website.

5) What CCAs does the school offer?

We offer a wide range of CCAs. They are:

Visual Performing Arts Group

• Dance Dynamics

• Malay Dance

• Chinese Dance

• Concert Band

• Show Choir

• English Drama Club

• Art Club

• Photo & Video Club

Uniformed groups

• NCC (Land)

• NPCC

• St. John Brigade

• Girl Guides

Sports

• Badminton

• Basketball

• Football

• Wushu

• Netball (Girls team)

Clubs

• MediaTech

• InfoComm

• MakerFaire

The school also supports students with a strong interest in Tchoukball and Cross Country Run in their participation in the school national competitions, though we do not offer these as our official CCAs.

6) Does TPSS offer Subject Based Banding (SBB) for students?

Yes, we do.

7) What subject combinations does the school offer for its upper secondary classes?

Please refer to our 2022 Sec 3 Subject Combination Exercise microsite for the list of subjects:

https://sites.google.com/moe.edu.sg/tpss2020infosite/home

Please note that the subjects offered and the subject combinations may change annually.

8) Is Electronics offered to NA/NT students?

Electronics is an applied subject offered only to GCE O Level students. There are only 16 schools currently offering this subject and we are one of them.

9) Do you offer GCE O Level Computing?

TPSS is constantly reviewing our curriculum to develop Learners, Thinkers and Leaders. In the past few years, we have expanded our subject offerings to include GCE O Level Electronics and Principles of Accounts. We do not offer GCE O Level Computing at the moment.

10) How many pure Science classes do you offer?

TPSS customises our classes at upper secondary level according to the aptitude and interest of our students. Hence, we do not fix the number of Pure Science classes. On average, we have had two classes that cater to Pure Science students in recent years.

11) What additional support does the school offer for students’ learning needs?

We have a dedicated Student Development Team made up of experienced teachers who pay close attention to the students. They ensure that students’ needs are met by empowering students with strategies for learning and growth through special programmes.

Besides this, the school has trained specialists (2 School Counsellors, 1 Learning and Behavioural Support Officer and 1 Student Welfare Officer) to help students cope with academic, social or emotional domains of their school life.

12) What is the criteria for Secondary 1 NA students to transfer to Secondary 2 Express?

There are many factors to consider in assessing the suitability of a student for lateral transfer from 1NA to 2E. One of the factors is overall academic performance. In general, students must score at least 70% for overall average to be considered for lateral transfer. However, other factors such as learning attitude and disposition as well as consistently good feedback from teachers also need to be considered. School will therefore make a final decision based on aptitude and suitability of individual students in consultation with parents and teachers.

13) Apart from the semestral exams, how often are students assessed and what are the school’s assessment modes?

The school conducts structured assessments termly [Continuous Assessment (CA) and Semestral Assessment (SA)]. In addition, class assignments range from project work to personal reflections that may be included in the CAs for some subjects.

14) What is the school’s approach to motivate and develop students?

TPSS believes that every student can learn and flourish in a nurturing environment. We endeavour to nurture a Growth Mindset in every Tampinesian so that they know their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, commitment and perseverance.

Our Student Development Team has a well-established curriculum for our students to develop positive feelings of empowerment through modelling, practice and self-reflection. Developing a Growth Mindset in the students is not an immediate process and it requires the concerted effort of the teachers and stakeholders like parents.

15) What support does the school provide for the students’ social and emotional needs?

We have a dedicated Student Development Team that comprise of experienced teachers who pay close attention to the students’ well-being. They ensure that students’ needs are met by empowering students with strategies for learning and growth through classroom lessons and special programmes.

In addition, the school has trained specialists (2 School Counsellors, 1 Special Needs Officer and 1 Student Welfare Officer) to support students with the academic, social or emotional domains of their school life.