Direct School Admission (DSA)

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:

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 14^th 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):

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:

4.    Thank you.

DSA Coordination Team

Tampines Secondary School