Beatty Secondary School


Beatty Secondary School is a co-educational secondary school in Toa Payoh, Singapore. It was established in 1953 along Beatty Road and moved to its current site in Toa Payoh in 1982.

History

The school was originally opened on 6 July 1953 at a site along Beatty Road, with three classes. It was the fourth school established as part of the then-government's 10-year Education Plan. In 1957, the school's female student population was transferred to the then-new Cedar Girls' Secondary School. That same year, post-primary classes for students who were unable to get into secondary schools were started in the school.
In 1982, the school moved to a new location in Toa Payoh North. The new building was constructed at a cost of S$7.5 million, and featured administrative, science and workshop blocks as well as 28 classrooms.
The graduated cohort of 2008 presented the school with the best overall results in the GCE 'O' Level examinations throughout the school's 55 years of history. Average L1B5 value stands at 18, making it a Band 9 school.

Assimilation of Balestier Hill Secondary School

In 2016, due to a lack of Secondary One students, Beatty Secondary School had been selected to merge with Balestier Hill Secondary School. This process was made in ease with the integration of Beatty's students and of Balestier Hill's students nearing the end of 2016.

Identity and culture

School crest and colours

The school colours are those of Admiral David Beatty, and the crest, which depicts a beehive encircled by bees, is taken from Beatty's coat of arms. These symbolise unity and the hard work required for one to achieve success.

School motto

The school motto, "Non Vi Sed Arte", or "Not with force but with skill", was also taken from Beatty's coat of arms.

School uniform

•Students are to wear the prescribed school uniform. Modifications to the uniforms are strictly not allowed.
•The school uniform must be purchased from the school vendor only.
•The school badge and tie are part of the uniform. The school badge and the school tie must be worn at all times when students are in their school uniform. The school tie is to be worn smartly with the top button of the shirt/blouse secured.
•Students are to be in full school uniform whenever they are in school, including school holidays and Saturdays, unless otherwise stated by the school management.
•Girls’ Blouse and Skirt
Short-sleeved white blouse with a pocket at the top left hand corner of the blouse.
•Navy blue, knee-length pleated skirt, which is to be worn at the waist.
Boys’ Shirt and Shorts/Pants
Short-sleeved white shirt with a pocket at the top left hand corner of the shirt.
•A pair of white shorts for lower secondary boys and a pair of white pants for upper secondary boys. Shorts/Pants are to be worn at the waist. There should be no belt holders.
The shorts are to be at knee-length.
Pants are not to be tapered or shortened above the ankles.
•Students are not to roll or fold up the sleeves of their shirt/blouse.
The shirt/blouse is to be tucked in neatly at all times.
•Belts are not to be worn.
•Students must wear the proper PE attire during PE lessons. After PE lessons, students are allowed to remain in their PE T-shirt but they are to change back into their shorts/pants/skirts. Students engaged in sports/outdoor activities must always be in their PE /CCA attire.

Academic Information

Being an integrated secondary school, Beatty Secondary School offers three academic streams, namely the four-year Express course, as well as the Normal Course, comprising Normal and Normal academic tracks.

O Level Express Course

The Express Course is a nationwide four-year programme that leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination.

Normal Course

The Normal Course is a nationwide 5-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination, which runs either the Normal curriculum or Normal curriculum, abbreviated as N and N respectively.

Normal (Academic) Course

In the Normal course, students offer 5-8 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Compulsory subjects include:
A 5th year leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination is available to N students who perform well in their Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Students can move from one course to another based on their performance and the assessment of the school principal and teachers.

Normal (Technical) Course

The Normal course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education. Students will offer 5-7 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics. Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.

Co-curricular activities

The school offers a variety of extra-curricular activities, labelled as co-curricular activities by the Ministry of Education. These include sports, uniformed groups, performing arts, clubs and societies. Several of these have been able to do well in outside competitions as well as attain awards for the school.
The school's National Police Cadet Corps unit has consistently gotten Gold for the Unit Overall Proficiency Award since 2012. The school's Boys' Brigade detachment, Scout unit and Girl Guides unit have also done very well in the past two years, attaining Gold in the James Milner Fraser Award, Frank Cooper Sands Award and Puan Noor Aishah Award respectively. Furthermore, its National Cadet Corps unit has attained the Gold award for the past four years.
The CCAs offered in the school are as follows:

Sports

Interviewed on Channel NewsAsia in February 2007, in a discussion on school upgrading, principal Boo Hian Kok expressed the view that schools should continue to ask for better facilities, provided they are able to justify their requests and prove they will benefit the students and teachers.

Notable alumni