SINGAPORE – Outram Secondary School (OSS) will be relocated to a new campus in Anchorvale Crescent in Sengkang in 2026, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Jan 16.
The ministry said that although OSS is an established school, its current location in York Hill is in an area where demand for secondary school places is falling. The school’s relocation to Sengkang will cater to the higher demand for secondary school places in the north-east area.
OSS, which was formerly an all-boys primary school known as Outram Road School, was founded in 1906 and is one of the oldest schools in Singapore. In January 1954, it ceased being a primary school and was converted to a secondary school. In 1958, OSS admitted girls for the first time.
Madam Tan Soo Geok, 77, was one of the first batches of female students in OSS when she enrolled in 1960. Her schoolmates included former deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng.
The retired mother of two said that her time in OSS resulted in long-lasting friendships, and she hoped the same for future students at the new campus.
“I had a stroke in 2018 and many of my ex-Outram classmates came to visit me. We are still very close and have kept in touch all these years,” she said.
The school moved from its original premises in Outram Road to York Hill in 1968. In 1994, the school moved again to a site in Winstedt Road while awaiting the redevelopment of its new premises in York Hill, before moving back in June 1998.
OSS will not be admitting new Secondary 1 students in 2025, but will begin accepting them at its Sengkang campus from 2026. The school will operate two campuses until 2027, when the last batch of Secondary 4 students at the York Hill campus graduates.
OSS’ relocation is part of MOE’s plans to meet changing demands for school and MOE Kindergarten (MK) places across Singapore.
OSS principal Keith Tan said the school will retain its name, and its history will be formally documented and preserved at a heritage space in the new school building.
“To ensure that our students at the York Hill campus can also enjoy the new campus and its facilities, there will be activities designed for them to build camaraderie and enjoy shared experiences with the new Secondary 1 cohort at the Sengkang campus in 2026,” he said.
“While there will be no swimming pool at the Sengkang campus, our new building will feature facilities to support the holistic development of our students, such as design and technology studios, sports facilities and outdoor facilities,” he added. The school’s water polo and swimming co-curricular activities – which it is known for – will continue, with training sessions at the nearby Sengkang Swimming Complex.
“This relocation signifies a positive step towards providing an even more enriching educational experience for our students, and we are excited about this new chapter in our school’s legacy,” said Mr Tan. “Understanding that transitions can be challenging, we also want to assure our students, parents and staff that we are fully committed to supporting everyone during this period.”
MOE also announced the relocation and closure of schools in other areas.
Kranji Primary School and MK@Kranji will move from Choa Chu Kang to a new Tengah campus in 2028. As a result, the school and MK@Kranji will stop accepting Primary 1 and Kindergarten 1 pupils from 2025.
MOE said this will minimise disruption to pupils and their families in Choa Chu Kang.
MK@Bukit View will open in 2028. The centre will be housed within Bukit View Primary School’s new campus in Bukit Batok West.
MK@Blangah Rise has stopped accepting K1 applications due to falling demand for pre-school places in the area. It will not have a K1 cohort from 2024.
In Tampines North, a new primary school with an MOE kindergarten will begin operations in 2029. This is to accommodate the increasing number of families that are moving there as more Housing Board Build-To-Order projects have been completed. MOE said details of these schools will be announced at a later date.
