DSA WorkshopDSA Workshoppresented by PSGpresented by PSG

DSA WorkshopDSA Workshoppresented by PSGpresented by PSG

Saturday 19Saturday 19thth April 2008 April 2008

AGENDA• What is DSA?• Which schools offer DSA?• When is the DSA exercise?• How & when to apply?• Where to go for more information?• Question & Answer session with

parents of ex-TNS DSA students

DISCLAIMER• This is NOT an official briefing

by the School• The parents are here simply to share

their experiences in past DSA exercises• Please check with MOE and/or schools

for current DSA policy and practice• Neither the School nor the PSG should

be held liable in any way

What is DSA?• DSA stands for Direct School Admission• MOE scheme to give participating schools

greater flexibility in their admission of pupils using criteria other than PSLE results

• Aims to promote holistic education by allowing a more diverse range of pupil achievements and talents to be recognised

• DSA is optional – students can continue to gain admission via PSLE results

Why DSA?• If you are outstanding in a

particular area (can be academic or non-academic)

• Once you are offered a place via DSA, your place is guaranteed as long as you qualify for the course

• Results of DSA application are known by July/August before PSLE

Why not DSA?• Process can be more stressful than

applying for a job– Submission of application & portfolio– General Ability Test or equivalent– Interviews & more tests– Trials (for non-academic criteria)

• Chances of success are not high and can be discouraging

• Subject you to emotional upheaval

Please Note• If you are successful in DSA and

you accept the offer, you will no longer be eligible to participate in the centralised Secondary One Posting Exercise

• You may seek school transfers on your own depending on availability of PSLE Supplementary Intake Exercise

Which schools offer DSA?

• In 2007, 56 secondary schools offered DSA for 2008 Sec One

• Schools with integrated programme (IP) such as ACS (Independent), Dunman High, Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Girls’ High, RGS, RI & River Valley High

• Independent schools (IS) (but without IP) such as MGS, SCGS & SJI

• Specialised independent schools (SIS) such as NUS High School of Math & Science, School of the Arts (SOTA), Sports School (not strictly under DSA) & School of Science & Technology (SST) (opens 2010)

Admiralty Sec Fairfield Methodist Sec River Valley High

Ahmad Ibrahim Sec Fuhua SecSchool of the Arts, Singapore(SOTA)*

Anderson Sec Gan Eng Seng Sch Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

Anglican High Hwa Chong Institution St Andrew’s Sec

Anglo-Chinese (Independent)

Jurong Sec St Anthony’s Canossian Sec

Bukit Panjang Govt High Jurong West Sec St Hilda’s Sec

Catholic High Maris Stella High St Joseph’s Institution

Cedar Girls’ Sec Methodist Girls’ (Sec) St Margaret’s Sec

CHIJ Katong Convent Montfort Sec St Patrick’s School

CHIJ Sec (Toa Payoh) Nan Hua High Tanjong Katong Girls’

CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ Nanyang Girls’ High Tanjong Katong Sec

CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent Ngee Ann Sec Temasek Sec

Chung Cheng High (Main) Northland Sec Victoria School

Clementi Town Sec NUS High Xinmin Sec

Commonwealth Sec Outram Sec Yio Chu Kang Sec

Crescent Girls’Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ (Sec) Yishun Town Sec

Deyi Sec Presbyterian High Yuhua Sec

Dunman High Raffles Girls’ (Sec) Zhonghua Sec

Dunman Sec Raffles Institution

School Programme Offered

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (252/235)

6-year IP leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma

Dunman High School (260) 6-year IP leading to the ‘A’ levels

Hwa Chong Institution (261)Nanyang Girls (265/251)Hwa Chong Institution

6-year IP leading to the ‘A’ levelsHCI Integrated ProgrammeHwa Chong Diploma for top 30%

NUS High School Of Mathematics & Science (Own Criteria)

6-year IP leading to the NUS High School Diploma Students will also sit for the SAT and Advanced Placement Examination by the College Board

Raffles Institution (263)Raffles Girls (266)Raffles Junior College

6-year IP leading to the ‘A’ levelsRaffles ProgrammeRaffles Diploma (unconfirmed)

River Valley High (254) 6-year IP leading to the 'A' levels

National Junior College* 6-year IP leading to the 'A' levels

School of the Arts(Own Criteria)

6-year IP leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma

 

6 Year Integrated Programmes

Non-IP Schools: MGS (255/220), SCGS (257/200), SJI (243/235), CG (243), TKGS (234), VS (246)*Starts 2009

How many places aregiven out under DSA?

• Schools with Integrated Programme (IP) have the discretion to admit up to 100% of their intake through DSA but in 2006/07 reportedly admitted only up to 50%

• Independent Schools (IS) without IP - 20%• Autonomous Schools (AS) without IP – 10%• Niche Programme Schools (NS) – 5%• NUS High, SOTA and Sports School admit

100% of their intake through DSA or equivalent direct application

What you need to do now

• Get a computer and an email account• Gather information on schools by

calling them, checking their websites, attending their open houses

• Get ready your portfolio of supporting documents

• Register and sit for any selection test if required

• Submit your application

ACS (Independent)• 23 April – Presentation to P6 GEP students &

parents• 25 April – Presentation to Non-Feeder Schools

P6 students & parents• By 12 May & 27 June – Register for High Ability

Selection Test on 26/27 May & 8 July• By 22 May, 18 June & 3 July – Register for

Sports Trials on 24 May, 21 June & 5 July• 27 June – Closing Date for Submission of

Application & Portfolio • Website: www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep

RI / RGS

• Open House –RI on 17 May, RGS on 24 May

• Sports Trials/Interviews on 2 or 23 June (07)

• General Ability Test and more tests• Closing Date for applications on 13

July (07)• Website: www.raffles.sg

Hwa Chong / Nanyang Girls

• Open Houses –3 May for Hwa Chong and 17 May for Nanyang Girls

• 1 June (07) – DSA1 application closes (for Singapore Asia-Pacific Maths Olympiad Platimum, Gold & Silver awardees, GEP students & Sports talents)

• 13 July (07) – DSA2 application closes (for all other students who have done exceptionally well academically and shown strong leadership qualities in school

• General Ability Test, more tests, Sports Trials & Interviews

Websites: www.hci.edu.sg/www.nygh.moe.edu.sg

NUS High School of Mathematics & Science

• 15 March to 20 June – Registration for Phase 1 (85% of vacancies)

• Talks: 30 May (full) 13 June (applicants only)

• 28 June – Selection Test• 19 & 26 July – Non-residential Math &

Science Camp for short-listed applicants• 19 to 26 November – Registration for

Phase 2• Short-listing of applicants for Phase 2

based solely on PSLE performance• Website: www.highsch.nus.edu.sg

Singapore Sports School

• 4 or 5 years leading to GCE ‘O’ levels• Open House & Selection Trials usually in July• Track & Field, Badminton, Bowling, Soccer,

Netball, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Golf & other sports on a case-by-case basis

• Apply directly to Sports School• Applicants should also apply to a mainstream

secondary school. MOE has given assurance that a place will be available in the school that he is posted to should he decide to opt out of Sports School

• Website: www.sportsschool.edu.sg

School of the Arts (SOTA)• Primary criteria for admission is artistic talent in

– dance (ballet or non-ballet)– music (instrumental or voice)– theatre; or– visual arts

• Applicants must attend Talent Academy (TA) for live auditions, interviews, portfolio review & creative writing

• Applications for TA sessions on 18, 19 & 20 June close on 2 June 2008

• 6 year integrated arts and academic curriculum with International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as graduating qualification

• Website: www.sota.edu.sg

National Junior College

• Starts 2009• 6 year IP leading to GCE ‘A’ levels• Applications from 19 April to 9 May• Admission Tests on 26 May• Interview on 12 July• Website: www.njc.edu.sg

School of Science & Technology (SST)

• Opens 2010• 4 years leading to GCE ‘O’ levels• Special focus on Applied Learning• 100% admission via DSA• Website: www.sst.edu.sg

For more information• Visit MOE DSA website at

http://www.moe.edu.sg/education/admissions/dsa-sec/

• Call MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872-2220

• Visit websites of participating schoolsor call them as MOE website may not be current– website addresses and telephone numbers

available on the MOE DSA website

Q & A Session

• K H Ling – RI Parent• K S Toh – Hwa Chong Parent• Bobby Boon – Sports Sch Parent• Linda Lian – RI/NUS High Parent• Lee Lian – RGS Parent• Claire Cheong – NUS High Student

Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank YouPlease visit our websitePlease visit our website

at www.psg.tns.sg at www.psg.tns.sg or email us at or email us at psg@tns.sgpsg@tns.sg if you have any questionsif you have any questions