Chapter 1: A Dream That Sparked a Legacy
In the aftermath of the Japanese Occupation, when education was a luxury few could afford, Mr Yap Fun Hong envisioned a school for the underserved Chinese community in Hougang-Serangoon. Alongside Mr Heng Chin Soo and Mr Tan Choon Teng, he worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality. Despite financial hardship, Mr Yap sold five pigs to rent three bungalows along Upper Serangoon Road—laying the foundation for Sin Min School, which officially opened on 1 November 1945 with 620 students.

Chapter 2: Struggles and Resilience in the Early Years
The fledgling years were marked by scarcity. When Mr Heng became Principal in 1950, the school grew to 1,000 students but facilities were bare—rough wooden furniture, limited toilets, and a muddy field. Under Mr Tung Sey Yew’s leadership from 1954, the school admitted girls and started secondary education in 1956—an historic moment for the working-class community. In 1958, the school staged a 2-night fundraising concert at Broadway Theatre, raising $10,000 for new classrooms and a future site, anchoring its roots in the Hougang-Serangoon area.

Chapter 3: Led by Vision, Not Circumstance
In 1965, Mr Chew Peng Leng assumed leadership and pushed forward despite challenges of Singapore’s changing educational landscape. He introduced creative fundraisers—opera shows and film screenings—and rebuilt school blocks to accommodate rising enrolment. Under his watch, Sin Min transitioned from a Chinese-medium school to English-medium and became a government school. Mr Teo Ting Kok succeeded him in 1986, focusing on improving English standards and formalising support through the School Advisory Committee. It was during this period that the school relocated to Hougang Avenue 8.

Chapter 4: Xinmin’s Defining Turn
In 1992, alumnus Mr Goh Tong Pak became Principal of Xinmin Secondary School. Committed to discipline and academic excellence, he introduced the Self-Study Programme and Study Corners. A new school logo in 1994 marked a refreshed vision. Within five years, Xinmin rose from 134th to 50th in national school rankings and received its first Academic Value-Added Award—a testament to transformational leadership.

Chapter 5: Scaling New Heights
Mr Lee Hak Boon succeeded Mr Goh in 1998, steering Xinmin into a premier institution with a new student creed, school values, and uniform. The school reached 31st in national rankings in 1999 and, by 2001, achieved Autonomous School status and Singapore Quality Class certification. In 2003, Mrs Low Ay Nar led Xinmin to even greater heights with her X=Q (Xinmin = Quality) ethos. She launched bold initiatives like “Take Charge! Own Your School!” and introduced Parents@Xinmin. The school clinched the School Excellence Award in 2005 and was ranked Band 1 in national performance.

Chapter 6: A School for the Future
From 2006, Mdm Liew Wei Li envisioned Xinmin as a “Finishing School for Leaders,” nurturing students in Attitude, Skills, and Knowledge. She launched flagship events like the Mother Tongue Symposium and Science and Technology Symposium, and oversaw the building of the Creative Arts Complex (CAC). Xinmin sustained its Band 1 standing and continued receiving national recognition for character development.

Under Mrs Ong Hong Peng (2011–2017), Xinmin entered an era of innovation. The CAC was brought to life with dedicated performance and sports facilities, made possible through community fundraising and strong stakeholder support. She pioneered tech-enhanced learning such as the Flipped Classroom and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), and introduced applied subjects like Computing and Drama.

Chapter 7: Redefining the Xinmin Experience
Mr Tan Kuo Cheang became Principal in 2018, steering Xinmin to embrace 21st Century Competencies in a rapidly changing education landscape. He led a school-wide re-envisioning exercise, refreshing its mission, values, and crafting the Desired Xinmin Outcomes (DXOs). Signature programmes like Coding@Xinmin, RefleXions@Xinmin, Student Leadership Academy, and XinminCares were refined to ensure alignment with national education goals and to prepare future-ready learners.

Chapter 8: Resilience in a Time of Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) disrupted every aspect of school life. Under Mr Tan’s steady leadership, Xinmin pivoted quickly—launching online assemblies, remote learning, and innovative solutions like Grab@Xinmin for contactless food distribution. He also guided the school through national initiatives like Blended Learning, FSBB, and the National Digital Literacy Programme, laying the groundwork for the future.

Chapter 9: A New Chapter Begins
In 2023, Mr Tan Soon Hui assumed leadership as the world emerged into a post-pandemic era. With fresh optimism and renewed purpose, Xinmin Secondary School continues its journey—anchored by its legacy, propelled by innovation, and united by the enduring spirit of Strive, Excel, Serve.