Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School

Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School (KCPSS) is a co-educational government-aided secondary school located in Bishan, Singapore.

Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School
国专长老会中学
Sekolah Menengah Kuo Chuan Presbyterian
Crest KCPSS
Location
Map
10 Bishan Street 13, Singapore 579795
Coordinates1°21′00″N 103°51′18″E / 1.3501°N 103.8549°E / 1.3501; 103.8549
Information
TypeGovernment-Aided, co-educational
Established1924; 100 years ago (1924)
SessionSingle session
School code7028 [1]
PrincipalJustin Tan
Enrollmentapprox. 1400
Color(s) Navy Blue 
AffiliationsKuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School (KCPPS), Saint Andrew's Junior College (SAJC)
Websitekuochuanpresbyteriansec.moe.edu.sg

History

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In 1924, two Christian ministers, reverends Tay Sek Tin and Tan Leng Tian, founded Katong Girls' School at 1 Joo Chiat Terrace. It had a modest enrolment of 11 pupils, both boys and girls. English and Chinese classes were conducted.

By 1925, the school moved to new premises at Koon Seng Road and was named Choon Guan School. In 1934, Margaret Dryburgh was appointed principal. Educational standards were raised and in 1936 the English section became a separate school called Choon Guan English School. In 1938, it became a 'grant-in-aid' for boys and J R Richardson became the principal. The same year Kuo Chuan Girls' School was opened at 36 Joo Chiat Lane with Margaret Dryburgh as principal. It had one hundred girls and three teachers. During the Japanese occupation, the school was bombed and remained closed for the duration of the war while the boys' school became a Japanese school named Koon Seng Road School. The boys' school was reopened on 24 September 1945. To accommodate those who could not gain admission, Dryburgh English School was established as an afternoon school. The girls' school did not open until the next year, with Monica Mary Sirkett as principal.

The boys' school was renamed Presbyterian Boys' School in 1946. B F Atherton became principal in 1951, followed by Gay Wan Guay in 1958. Dryburgh English School was merged with Presbyterian Boys' School under principal Sia Kah Hui in 1961.

The two schools were merged into Kuo Chuan Presbyterian School in 1985, and was split into primary and secondary school buildings as of 1987.

The school’s football field started undergoing renovation in 2022. It has since been completed around 2023.

The school currently has five houses since 2024 to celebrate their 100 year anniversary, they are: Dryburgh House, Richardson House, Lee House, Atherton House and Sirkett House. These houses are named after the school's five founding principals.

In 2024, the school celebrated its 100 year anniversary through a series of events and a musical.

Co-curricular activities

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The school offers 21 extra-curricular activities, labelled as co-curricular activities (CCAs) by the Ministry of Education. These include sports, uniformed groups, performing arts, clubs and societies, like English Drama Club, Shooting Club etc.

The school's uniformed groups have been able to achieve much over the past few years, with its National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) unit attained Gold for the Unit Overall Proficiency Award in 2017 and 2016, and Silver in 2015 and 2014. Its Girl Guides (1st Coy) (GG) unit also attained Gold for the Puan Noor Aisah Award in 2017, 2016 and 2015.[2]

KCPSS's soccer team (B division) has gotten third place in the second-tier league, in 2017.

References

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  1. ^ "School Codes". www.town4kids.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Uniform Groups". kuochuanpresbyteriansec.moe.edu.sg/. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
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