DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION (DSA)

IntroductionDSA-Sec Exercise was introduced in 2004 as part of MOE's move towards creating more flexibility and options.More than 90 schools are participating - all independent schools, autonomous schools and schools with approved niche programmes.To encourage more schools to recognise academic and non-academic achievementsParticipating schools will decide on their own admission criteria.

Participating Schools

For schools offering an integrated programme (IP Schools) – 100%;

For independent schools (IS) – 20%;

For autonomous schools (AS) – 10%;

For schools with niche programmes approved by MOE (Niche Schools) – 5%;

IP (Integrated Programme)

Also known as “through-train” programme.

Students in IP schools need not sit for GCE “O” Level exams and move on to JC1 & 2 (Year 5 & 6) before sitting for GCE “A” levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB)

Only some schools have this programme – Eg: SJI, Hwa Chong Institution, RI, Dunman High, NJC, VS, ACS(I) etc.

Niche Programme SchoolsSchool Niche

St Patrick’s School Military Band

Hai Sing Catholic Robotics

Manjusri Sec Wushu

Montfort Sec Badminton

Pasir Ris Crest Sec Performing Arts

Pasir Ris Sec Chinese Orch

Ping Yi Sec Design Education

St Hilda’s Sec Volleyball

Stages of the DSA-Sec Exercise

Selection StageJul – Aug *

Exercise School Preference StageMid-Oct *

Results Release StageLate-Nov *

Selection Stage

Schools will run their own selection exercises and make offers to students who meet their admission criteria.

By the end of this stage, each school would have informed all their applicants if the school: would like to give them a confirmed offer. have placed them on the waiting list. is unable to offer them a place in the school.

Pre-Exercise School Preference Stage

Applicants who received a confirmed offer, or who were on a waiting list will be given a School Preference Form (from our school) in mid Oct.

The form will show a consolidated list of all the schools which have given the applicant confirmed offers or placed the applicant on their waiting list.

Exercise School Preference Stage

Students may indicate their school preferences at their Primary Schools.

Students may indicate up to 6 school preferences in order of priority.

Students who have exercised their school preference for a confirmed offer or one on waiting list, and are accepted, will not be able to exercise their choice of schools during the S1 Posting Exercise.

Exercise School Preference Stage

Students will later be allocated to schools based on the school preferences they have indicated, and how each school has evaluated and ranked them.

Students given confirmed offers would be guaranteed a place in that school provided they indicate that school as one of their preferences.

DSA-Sec Results will be released with the PSLE results through the Primary Schools.

Successful students will not be allowed to make any school selection in the S1 Posting Exercise, no matter how well you perform in the PSLE.

Students may however indicate their interest in special programmes through the S1 Posting Exercise.

Results Release Stage (late-Nov)

The Student Perspective

Student obtains information on DSA-Sec schools through the following:Checking the schools’ websites; orcalling the schools; orvisiting the schools.

Student identifies which school to apply for.Student checks with the secondary schools that they are interested in on how to apply.

DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION (DSA)

Press Release on start of DSA in May 2013.