Direct School Admission (DSA)

2023 DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION – SECONDARY (DSA-SEC) EXERCISE

Introduction

Tampines Secondary School (TPSS) extends a warm invitation to Primary 6 students to apply for direct admission into the school for academic year 2024, before the Secondary One Posting Exercise.

Admission Criteria

We welcome students who are talented in any of the following areas:

Talent Area	Admission Criteria
Performing Arts: Modern Dance Malay Dance Modern and Chinese Dance Concert Band English Drama Choir Visual Arts: Drawing and Painting	Candidates should meet at least two of the following criteria: 1. Prior experience in the talent area 2. Participation in national performance and/or competition with attainment (e.g. Certificate of Accomplishment at SYF Central Judging) 3. Attained at least Grade 5 (or equivalent) in the relevant talent area 4. Possess a personal portfolio (e.g. comprising the student’s own drawings or paintings)
STEM – Creative Engineering and Modelling	Candidates should meet at least one of the following criteria: 1. Prior experience as a member of a CCA which has STEM related activities (e.g. coding, robotics, drones) 2. Represented school in STEM related competitions 3. Able to demonstrate and showcase creativity in STEM with photos or videos of past projects
Football	Candidates should meet at least one of the following criteria: 1. Prior experience as a member of Football CCA or equivalent (e.g. external football training programme) OR 2. Past participation in football competitions/events.

Please note that meeting all the criteria does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted or given an offer.

Selection Process

Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 4th May 2023, 11am. For more details, please refer to MOE’s website on DSA here.

Unless otherwise stated, DSA selection interviews are conducted in-person at Tampines Secondary School. Details for each selection interview will be shared with shortlisted students in due course.

The interview panel will include a School Leader, a TPSS DSA coordinator and teacher I/Cs or instructors (where relevant). Thereafter, all applicants will be informed of the outcome (i.e. ‘Confirmed Offer’, ‘Wait List’ or ‘Unsuccessful’), via email or phone call, before the selection period ends in September (the exact date will be made known when MOE has updated the abovementioned DSA website).

In addition to a 10-minute interview for each shortlisted applicant, the following modes of selection are also used.

a) For Dance-related Talent Areas

Performance of a prepared item, such as a 1min dance solo featuring any genre that can be done within a classroom space. Students may perform dance(s) learnt in school (e.g. CCA, LLP) or self-choreographed pieces and should be in suitable dance or PE attire.

b) For Drama – English

A prepared 1-2min solo performance (e.g. a monologue). Students may perform something scripted, devised, or improvised, and this can be something learnt in school (in class or CCA).

c) For Music-related Talent Areas

A 2-5min performance on voice/instrument in your Talent Area (if student has access to the necessary instrument and if solo performance is possible), or
A 1-2min performance of pieces/songs learnt in primary school Music lessons or CCA, using voice or instruments available.

d) For Visual Arts

Discussion of the student’s past artwork, which might consist of art completed either in school or on their own time.

e) For STEM – Creative Engineering and Modelling

Open-ended challenges, using accessible materials, to assess aptitude for design thinking and creativity.

f) For Football

Demonstration of individual skills and movements that showcase agility.

The table below contains a summary of key dates for the application and selection stages of the DSA-Sec process (more information can be found at MOE’s website here):

Application Stage
11am on Thursday, 4 May 2023 to 3pm on Wednesday, 31 May 2023.	Once you have explored and shortlisted the schools of your choice, submit your application online through the DSA-Sec portal by 3pm on the final day.

Selection Stage
by Monday, 11 September 2023	Shortlisted students will be invited to attend an interview and/or audition at Tampines Secondary School’s campus, depending on their selected talent area. Selected students will receive DSA-Sec offers from schools by 11 September 2023. ‘Wait Listed’ and ‘Unsuccessful’ applicants will also be notified by 11 September 2023.

Please note that successful DSA-Sec candidates who took the PSLE are NOT allowed to participate in the S1 Posting. However, if they are eligible for third language and/or course options, they may enter these options during the S1 Option Submission period.

Students who are successfully admitted to the school via DSA are expected to honour their commitment to the school, and participate in the activities related to the talent they are selected for from year 1-4. Successful DSA-Sec candidates are also NOT allowed to transfer to another school after the release of the PSLE results.

Unsuccessful DSA-Sec candidates will be notified of the outcome and participate in the centralised S1 Posting to opt for schools.

Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on the student’s aptitudes and strengths, bearing in mind the schools’ academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.

Contact Details

For clarification, please contact:

Area	In-charge	Email
Visual and Performing Arts	Mr Christopher Tan Head of Department English Language and Literature	tan_ming_quan@moe.edu.sg
STEM – Creative Engineering and Modelling	Mr Victor Ng Vic Meng Head of Department Science	ng_vic_meng@moe.edu.sg
Football	Mr S Elangovan Head of Department PE and CCA or Mr John Ng Subject Head PE / CCA	s_elangovan@moe.edu.sg ng_lee_wei_john@moe.edu.sg

Thank you.

DSA Coordination Team
Tampines Secondary School