Direct School Admission (DSA)
2020 DIRECT SCHOOL ADMISSION – SECONDARY (DSA-SEC) EXERCISE
Introduction
1. Tampines Secondary School (TPSS) extends a warm invitation to Primary 6 students to apply for direct admission into the school for academic year 2021, before the Secondary One Posting Exercise.
Admission Criteria
2. We welcome students who are talented in any of the following areas:
Talent Area |
Admission Criteria |
Performing
Arts: ·
Dance
– Contemporary ·
Dance
– Chinese and Modern ·
Dance
– Malay ·
Band
– Concert ·
Drama
– English ·
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 |
Selection Process
3.
Application
for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The
application is free-of-charge and will be open from 12 May 2020 to 5 June 2020.
For more details, please refer to MOE website here.
4.
In
view of the COVID-19 situation, to ensure the safety of the DSA applicants,
in-person interviews and auditions will be discontinued for the conduct of 2020
DSA selection. Instead, shortlisted applicants will be notified to attend an
audition and/or interview through electronic modes, e.g.
video-conferencing conducted in a conducive environment at the students’
primary schools.
5.
The
interview panel will include a School Leader, the TPSS DSA coordinators 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, by 14th September 2020.
6.
In
addition to a 10-minute interview for each shortlisted applicant, the following
modes of selection are also used via video conferencing.
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 3x3m 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:
-
Brief
and simple tasks using commonly available materials, e.g. pencil/pen sketches
based on given stimulus
e)
For
STEM – Creative Engineering and Modelling:
-
Open-ended
challenges, using accessible materials, to assess aptitude for design thinking
and creativity.
7.
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 |
|
12 MAY 2020, 9am – 5 JUNE 2020, 3pm |
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 |
|
1
JULY 2020 – 14 SEPT 2020 |
Shortlisted
students will be invited to attend an interview and/or audition via
electronic modes such as video conferencing, depending on their selected
talent area. Selected students will receive DSA-Sec offers from
schools by Monday, 14 September 2020. ‘Wait Listed’ and ‘Unsuccessful’ applicants will also be
notified by 14 September 2020. |
8.
Please
note that successful DSA-Sec candidates who took 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.
9.
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.
10. Unsuccessful DSA-Sec
candidates will be notified of the outcome and participate in the centralised
S1 Posting to opt for schools.
11. 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
3.
For
clarification, please contact:
Visual and Performing Arts |
Mr Christopher Tan English Language |
|
STEM – Creative Engineering
and Modelling |
Mr Benjamin Low Head of Department Craft and Technology |
benjamin_low_yick_loon@moe.edu.sg |
4.
Thank
you.
DSA Coordination Team
Tampines Secondary School