Direct School Admission

These are the Direct School Admission talent areas that Hougang Secondary school is offering for 2026.  

We welcome students who are keen to develop their potential in any of the above areas to join us as Secondary 1 students in 2027. More details on the DSA selection process/criteria and timeline can be found below.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Do note that meeting all the criteria below does not guarantee the student will be shortlisted or given an offer. Applicants who do not have prior experience may also apply. The school will assess applicants based on the selection criteria, which may include assessing the potential of the applicants.

PERFORMING ARTS

English Drama (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Has passion for the arts, and demonstrates interest in theatre productions

• Participated in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentations/other international/national competitions, or school/public performances

Guzheng Ensemble (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates passion for music

• Possesses basic knowledge and competency in playing the Guzheng

• Participated in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentations/other international/national competitions, or school/public performances

Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates passion for music

• Possesses basic knowledge and competency in playing the Angklung/Kulintang instruments

• Participated in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentations/other international/national competitions, or school/public performances

Modern Dance (Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates passion for dance

• Possesses basic knowledge and competency in dance

• Participated in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentations/other international/national competitions, or school/public performances

LANGUAGE AND HUMANITIES

Debating (Boys & Girls) 

Criteria:

• Demonstrates passion for the arts

• Possesses a good command of the English Language

• Participated in public speaking/debates/oratorical competitions

SPORTS AND GAMES

Football (Boys)

Criteria:

• Possesses sound technical knowledge and skills in Football

• Preferably participated in National School Games (NSG)/other Football competitions

Netball (Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates interest in and possesses technical knowledge of Netball

• Preferably participated in National School Games (NSG)/other Netball competitions

Judo (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates interest in Martial Arts, technical knowledge of Judo is preferred

• Preferably participated in other Judo competitions

Floorball (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates drive and desire to perform at one’s best

• Possesses sound technical knowledge and skills in Floorball

• Preferably participated in National School Games (NSG)/other Floorball competitions

LEADERSHIP AND UNIFORMED GROUPS

Leadership (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates good role model behaviour anchored on sound values

• Possesses leadership qualities and the ability to positively influence their peers

• Preferably has experience as an appointed student leader impacting change amongst peers (e.g. Prefect, Class Monitor, CCA Leader, Peer Support Leader)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

STEM (Boys & Girls)

Criteria:

• Demonstrates strong interest in STEM subjects with sound understanding of design thinking principles and/or Computing fundamentals, whilst displaying curiosity and enthusiasm in exploring emerging technologies

• Preferably exhibits innovative thinking, adaptive thinking, and leadership potential through past experience in STEM projects, competitions, or activities

• Shows commitment to community improvement through innovative products with technological solutions, with the ability to inspire and mentor peers in STEM-related initiatives

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application for DSA-Sec can be submitted through the online DSA-Sec Portal. The application is free-of-charge and will be open from 6 May 2026, 11am to 2 Jun 2026, 4.30pm. For more details, please refer to MOE website – www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec ↗ (opens in new tab)

Parents and students are encouraged to choose schools wisely based on students’ aptitudes and strengths, bearing in mind the schools’ academic and non-academic requirements, and the programmes available to develop the area of talent.

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 Secondary 1 to 4.

IMPORTANT DATES

 For more information on Direct School Admission, please visit  www.moe.gov.sg/dsa-sec ↗ (opens in new tab)

TALENT AREAS & OPPORTUNITIES

Programmes, activities and/or opportunities that students can expect to participate in each talent area

Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to enhancing their competency in playing the Angklung and/or Kulintang instruments. As they progress with the CCA, Students will have opportunities to take up mentoring roles to guide their peers. In Secondary 2 and beyond, students may take up leadership roles, which will allow them to guide fellow members to work together to achieve the ensemble’s vision and mission. In addition, students will also be given opportunities to perform for school and external concerts and take part in the Singapore Youth Festival.

Guzheng Ensemble (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to opportunities to enhance their level of competency in playing the Guzheng and participate in the Singapore Youth Festival. They may take up positions as one of the lead players as they progress to Sec 2 and beyond. Students can also take the lead in projects (e.g., external performances and VIA projects), be groomed to take on EXCO positions.

English Drama (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to developing skills for on-stage as well as off-stage work. Apart from performing, they will be exposed to stage management and crew work. They will also get to take part in performances for communities outside school to grow their portfolio. More focused attention on actor training and performance opportunities (e.g., Singapore Youth Festival, school performance) will be given to the students so that they can hone their skills as a performer.

Modern Dance (Girls)

Students can look forward to enhancing their competency in contemporary dance techniques and participating in the Singapore Youth Festival. They will also get to take part in various school and external performances to build up their stage confidence. They will also get to watch contemporary dance performances to learn from professional dancers from recognised local dance academies. Opportunities for leadership positions will be provided to students and they will then get the chance to plan CCA activities and mentor peers.

Debating (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to training sessions on voice projection and building up stage presence, as well as taking part in identified national competitions. These national debate competitions give opportunities to students to hone their debating skills.

Football (Boys)

Students can look forward to opportunities such as conditioning of skills, participation in National School Games and other competitions. To further hone the skills of these students, they will also be given position-specific coaching (e.g., goalkeeper, strikers) from specialist coaches. In addition, students can look forward to Futsal-specific training and competitions too. Opportunities are available for students to serve in various leadership capacities.

Netball (Girls)

Students can look forward to cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of Netball and sports safety. Their ball skills will be honed, and they can participate in strategic play through training as well as game experience at both friendly and competitive levels. In addition to fostering strong friendships and developing good sportsmanship and teamwork, there will also be opportunities available for students to serve in various leadership roles.

Judo (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to undergoing more targeted training to fine-tune their techniques and strengthen their physical condition. In addition, they will undergo training in basic Sports Psychology and Nutrition to help bring their performance to the next level. They will be exposed to higher-level competitions and combined training with other established Judo schools. Opportunities will also be available for students to serve in various leadership capacities.

Floorball (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to an exciting array of experiences and opportunities for growth in our Floorball CCA. They can anticipate engaging in a dynamic team sport that fosters camaraderie and teamwork. Through regular training sessions, friendly matches, CCA-VIA, Sports Education Programme, external competitions, students are given ample opportunities to develop their physical fitness, floorball specific skills and leadership qualities.

Leadership (Boys & Girls)

Students can look forward to a variety of leadership opportunities to exercise self-leadership and team leadership. All students will undergo the Community Youth Leadership modules which are a key component of the school’s Learning for Life Programme (LLP). Students will also be given opportunities to exercise team leadership in their class committees, CCAs, VIA, as well as opportunities to impact positive change at a broader level as a Student Councillor or Peer Support Leader. Students will also participate in customised leadership training programmes to hone their leadership skills and competencies based on the Leadership Challenge Model.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Selected students will serve as STEM Leaders, taking on key roles in promoting STEM excellence across the school community. As STEM Leaders, they will champion innovative STEM initiatives in their classes and school-wide, fostering a culture of scientific exploration and discovery among their peers. These students will gain priority access to the InnoLab's equipment to prototype and bring their innovative ideas to life, as well as participate in nationwide STEM competitions, helping them develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through engagement in external partnerships and programmes, they will enhance their STEM capabilities and broaden their exposure to real-world applications. Through these experiences, STEM Leaders will develop into confident innovators capable of driving positive change in their school community and beyond.

CONTACT US

For further clarification, you may contact the following staff:
Mdm Jolin Chang
jolin_chang@schools.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)
Tel. No: 6385-1990