Clementi Woods Secondary School is no longer a separate Secondary 1 choice after PSLE results. It merged with Tanglin Secondary School in 2016, and Tanglin subsequently merged with New Town Secondary School in 2023. The present school for families tracing this merger history is New Town Secondary School, at 1020 Dover Road, Singapore 139657. Parents choosing a school for the 2027 Secondary 1 intake should not enter the old Clementi Woods name or use an archived cut-off from before those mergers.
For the 2026 Secondary 1 intake, based on PSLE 2025, New Town Secondary School’s historical score ranges were Posting Group 3 (PG3) 14–20, Posting Group 2 (PG2) 21–25 and Posting Group 1 (PG1) 26–30*. The asterisk indicates vacancies remaining after the previous posting exercise, not a guaranteed 2027 place. New Town now offers Digital Communicators, Change Makers applied learning, an Enhanced Art Programme for eligible pupils and a Learning for Life Programme developing confident, compassionate student leaders. The family should check current admission eligibility, subject levels, school support, CCA opportunities, the Dover Road journey and six acceptable choices.
Quick parent summary: • Clementi Woods Secondary School is a former institution, not a current 2027 Secondary 1 option; • First merged with Tanglin Secondary in 2016; • Tanglin merged into New Town Secondary in 2023; • Current school: New Town Secondary School, 1020 Dover Road, Singapore 139657; • Historical 2026 New Town ranges: PG3 14–20, PG2 21–25, PG1 26–30*; • Current ALP: Digital Communicators, Change Makers, including photography and stop-motion; • Current LLP: Community Youth Leadership and service; • Enhanced Art Programme is a selected route; • Phone 6775 4140; • Official New Town Open House announced for 14 November 2026; • Use the current MOE code, not Clementi Woods’ old one.
1. Can Clementi Woods Secondary School be selected in 2027?
No. Clementi Woods ceased operating as a separate school when it merged with Tanglin Secondary School in 2016. Tanglin itself then merged into New Town Secondary School in 2023. A pupil entering Secondary 1 in 2027 therefore cannot obtain an independent place at Clementi Woods by using its old name.
A family should search the current MOE SchoolFinder listing for New Town Secondary School and verify its official school code. Do not include Clementi Woods and New Town as separate entries to make six choices. A former name does not create new vacancies.
2. Why this school has a two-step merger history
The first merger was Clementi Woods Secondary with Tanglin Secondary in 2016. The school then operated under the Tanglin name and retained Tanglin’s West Coast Road campus. In 2023, New Town and Tanglin merged again, retaining the New Town name and site at Dover Road.
This sequence is documented in MOE’s school-merger information and in the official Tanglin school history. Parents need both steps to understand why a 2017 article may recommend Tanglin while a 2027 school-choice list contains New Town.
3. Clementi Woods was not simply renamed New Town
It can be tempting to describe the older school as having changed its name directly from Clementi Woods to New Town. That would omit the significant 2016 merger into Tanglin and the separate 2023 consolidation. The educational communities came together over time rather than through one simple rebranding.
This matters to alumni and to families searching for programme histories. Some arts activities came from Tanglin’s development, while New Town had its own education traditions. The current school curriculum is a present-day combination that parents must investigate independently.
4. Tanglin was an established school before 2016
Tanglin Secondary began in 1964 as Tanglin Integrated Secondary Technical School in Queenstown. It later changed names and moved to 301 West Coast Road in 1993. By the time Clementi Woods merged into Tanglin in 2016, the school already had decades of teaching and community history.
These facts provide context without creating a current school-choice route. A 2027 student will not be enrolling into Tanglin’s former campus or course structure, and the family’s travel planning must use New Town’s Dover Road address.
5. The Tanglin PLUS Applied Learning heritage
Tanglin was recognised for its Tanglin PLUS Applied Learning Programme, which developed perspectives and literacy for understanding society. It connected academic subjects with real-life questions and encouraged pupils to use critical thinking and clear communication.
A parent might still find Tanglin PLUS in older school brochures. Today’s New Town has a different current ALP called Digital Communicators, Change Makers. Do not assume the old Tanglin course is still offered in the same form or timetable.
6. Tanglin’s former arts Learning for Life Programme
After the 2016 merger, Tanglin developed a Learning for Life Programme in visual art, music and dance. Pupils gained opportunities to appreciate performances, make artistic work and contribute to the community.
That history may have enriched the combined school’s creative identity, but the present New Town LLP focuses on student leadership and community contribution. Its current Arts learning belongs primarily in the ALP and selected arts programmes. Families should use the 2026 programme descriptions rather than assume nothing changed.
7. The 2023 merger into New Town
MOE’s merger announcement identified New Town and Tanglin as a pair for the 2023 school year, locating the combined school at New Town’s existing campus. New Town’s current principal’s message discusses the preparation undertaken by the two staff and student communities before the merger.
It is therefore inaccurate to describe Clementi Woods as an active feeder campus or separate branch of New Town. The combined institution operates under one name. Pupil places and subject arrangements are determined for the present school, not reserved separately for each historical predecessor.
8. The campus is 1020 Dover Road, not West Coast Road
New Town Secondary School’s official July 2026 contact page lists 1020 Dover Road, Singapore 139657, and telephone 6775 4140. Dover MRT is the nearest listed rail station, and bus services 33, 96, 151, 183 and 196 serve the surrounding area.
Clementi Woods and Tanglin had different past addresses. Do not use those locations when estimating the new pupil’s journey. Check the correct school gate and test the actual route from home on a school-day morning.
9. Different school names can produce different commute times
A family in Clementi might remember reaching the former Clementi Woods or Tanglin school easily and assume the same commute will apply to New Town. Dover Road could produce a very different bus, MRT and walking pattern.
Try the morning door-to-gate journey and a return after CCA. Include waiting, road crossings, rain and the child’s energy level. A short, safe route can help preserve time for rest and academic work, while a longer route needs a clear educational reason.
10. Use New Town’s historical 2026 PSLE ranges
For the PSLE 2025 cohort entering New Town Secondary 1 in 2026, the recorded ranges were PG3 14–20, PG2 21–25 and PG1 26–30*. A lower total PSLE Score represents stronger achievement. The first number in a range is the strongest posted score; the final figure records the previous last-admitted score or the relevant vacancy notation.
These are New Town figures after the 2023 merger. Older scores for Clementi Woods or Tanglin belonged to different institutions and cannot be averaged to create a 2027 estimate.
11. What does the PG1 30* notation mean?
The asterisk following 30 indicates that the school still had vacancies for that Posting Group after the earlier exercise. The last actual pupil admitted scored numerically better than 30, but a qualifying pupil at the displayed upper end could have been accommodated.
A family should not infer that 30* guarantees a place in 2027. Current demand and school choices may differ. Likewise, the notation is not a grade for the school’s teachers or student culture. It is simply a piece of historical admissions data.
12. A PG3 example: Score 19
Suppose a pupil is eligible for PG3 and scored 19. New Town’s previous PG3 cutoff was 20, so the family may reasonably investigate the current school. The child enjoys photography and the family can manage the Dover Road journey.
That is a historically plausible option, not an offer. Ask about ordinary subject teaching and the child’s sense of belonging before ranking New Town. Include other suitable schools with a realistic spread of prior cutoffs.
13. A PG2 example: Score 24
A child with PG2 eligibility and Score 24 should compare with New Town’s previous PG2 cutoff of 25. The PG3 cutoff of 20 belongs to a different entry group and should not be borrowed as a general school standard.
Ask what level the pupil would take in English, Mathematics, Science and Mother Tongue and how the school supports strengths and gaps. A pupil might enjoy media projects while still needing explicit help with written explanations or calculations.
14. A PG1 example: Score 29
A pupil eligible for PG1 with Score 29 may see the earlier PG1 30* notation as a reason to investigate, while recognising that the prior vacancy is not guaranteed to recur. Parents should consider teaching at the appropriate subject levels, available support and the child’s actual interests.
Do not put New Town on a list as an unwanted placeholder just because the prior exercise left places. The school should be somewhere the pupil would willingly attend and find opportunities to grow.
15. Why a historical cutoff is not a quality score
The last-admitted PSLE total is determined by the previous cohort’s scores, preferences and vacancies. It is not a direct measure of how effectively a school teaches a particular child or how welcoming its students will be.
Parents should ask how New Town supports literacy, numeracy, friendships and student wellbeing. A school with a more selective numeric cutoff can be a poor personal fit, while a school with less demanding historical entry may offer exactly the teaching and activities a pupil needs.
16. Today’s ALP: Digital Communicators, Change Makers
New Town’s July 2026 Applied Learning Programme is called Digital Communicators, Change Makers. It helps students develop information literacy, critical thinking, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, often connected to Art and Humanities.
This is not the old Clementi Woods curriculum. A parent should ask how an ordinary Secondary 1 pupil is introduced to digital communication and whether projects teach accurate representation as well as attractive design.
17. Secondary 1: photography, framing and heritage
New Town’s current ALP says Secondary 1 students learn smartphone photography, including camera settings, framing, composition, exposure and focus, through the theme of heritage and shared history.
A photo project can teach observation and careful storytelling. Ask whether students also learn to seek consent, respect privacy and distinguish a creative image from a factual record. An appealing photo that removes essential context can mislead an audience, so ethics matters alongside technique.
18. Photography can strengthen English and Humanities
A pupil documenting a local heritage location must identify which details matter, organise a sequence and explain what the images communicate. These habits reinforce reading, research, English writing and historical interpretation.
Ask whether teachers teach students to verify facts and cite sources before attaching captions. A photograph alone rarely tells the complete historical story. Good teaching helps a young person recognise what evidence supports and what further investigation is needed.
19. Secondary 2: stop-motion animation
The current ALP identifies Secondary 2 learning in stop-motion animation, storyboarding and storytelling. The theme encourages pupils to think critically about their present community and environment.
Stop-motion work requires patient planning. Students must decide what happens in each frame, make changes consistently and refine the final sequence. Ask how teachers assess individual contributions, written planning and the accuracy of the message rather than simply praising a polished animation.
20. A storyboard turns ideas into an organised plan
A storyboard shows how information will unfold for an audience. A pupil may discover that a scene is missing context, an explanation is too long or a visual transition makes the story confusing.
Parents can ask whether students compare drafts and explain their revisions. This is transferable learning because an English essay, Science explanation and multimedia story all need clear sequencing. A young person who can organise ideas and accept feedback becomes a stronger communicator.
21. Tier 1 and Tier 2 experiences are different
New Town’s current ALP identifies Tier 1 broad learning for lower-secondary pupils and Tier 2 enrichment through Infocomm Club, Art and Crafts Club and selected media experiences. Tier 2 may involve creative advertising, video production, workshops and learning journeys.
Admission to the school does not automatically grant every pupil a selected CCA place or professional collaboration. Ask which activities all pupils take, how advanced participation is allocated and what workload an interested student can manage.
22. Persuasive media needs honest sourcing
A digital advertisement or video can communicate clearly but still be misleading if its evidence is weak or it hides important limitations. New Town’s ALP includes critical evaluation of digital content, a valuable skill in an online environment full of persuasive messages.
Parents should ask whether students learn how to verify a source, give credit and protect personal information. Digital competence means making considered decisions as well as operating software. These habits matter regardless of the child’s future career.
23. The Enhanced Art Programme is a selected upper-secondary route
New Town is among the schools offering the Enhanced Art Programme, intended for pupils with strong interest and suitability for deeper visual-art study. Current information describes specialist workshops, advanced studio work and exhibitions.
Do not assume every Secondary 1 child automatically joins EAP. Ask about the present selection criteria, subject requirements and how Art fits the upper-secondary timetable. Pupils not selected for EAP should still have meaningful opportunities through ordinary Art lessons and CCAs.
24. Why art and technology are not opposing pathways
Digital photography, animation and visual art all require observation, design choices and revision. Technology adds tools, while the arts help students consider meaning, context and human expression.
A child who loves drawing may enjoy multimedia work; a pupil interested in coding may appreciate the logic involved in animation. Parents should avoid demanding a permanent choice between ‘artistic’ and ‘technical’ identity at twelve. A broad school environment can help interests develop.
25. Learning for Life: caring student leaders
New Town’s current LLP aims to develop confident and compassionate leaders who serve the community. Its programme is based on the belief that every student can learn leadership, beginning with personal mastery and continuing through peer and team responsibilities.
Ask what ordinary Secondary 1 pupils do, what formal roles are selected and how shy students are included. A teenager can begin through small reliable actions rather than immediately running a large event.
26. The SPARK approach to leadership
The school describes its whole-school leadership approach with the acronym SPARK: Selection, Provision, Affirmation, Reflection and Knowledgeable others. It draws on the five practices of exemplary student leadership and aims to provide training with real opportunities to contribute.
A strong system teaches pupils to reflect honestly when a plan fails and to listen before making decisions. Ask whether the school provides feedback to ordinary class leaders and peer supporters, not only a ceremony for elected student councillors.
27. Peer Support Leaders and the first-term transition
New Town’s current LLP includes Peer Support Leaders, student councillors and class committees. Older pupils may help welcome new students or organise school events, creating opportunities for younger pupils to feel connected.
Ask how a Secondary 1 child reaches a trusted adult when a problem goes beyond what a peer can handle. A student volunteer is not a replacement for a counsellor or teacher in serious situations. Good peer support should operate with clear boundaries and adult oversight.
28. Kindness Week and school service
The LLP illustrates activities including New Town Kindness Week, Cyberwellness Day, peer support, encouragement notes and appreciation of school staff. These are opportunities for pupils to practise empathy and attention to other people’s experiences.
A well-designed service activity should help teenagers notice real needs rather than simply perform a ritual. Ask how students reflect on whether their contribution was useful and what they learned about classmates, teachers or community partners.
29. Morning Musings: sharing perspectives
New Town’s current signature directory includes Morning Musings, in which students are encouraged to speak about personal experiences, lessons and views. This can complement the digital communication ALP with ordinary spoken expression.
A child who is hesitant about public speaking may benefit from gradual preparation and a supportive audience. Ask how opportunities are organised and whether pupils who prefer research or writing can contribute in other ways. Confidence should be developed rather than assumed.
30. A merged school should be assessed as one community
New Town’s 2023 principal’s message describes the effort staff from Tanglin and New Town made to agree on programmes, school rules and timetables before the merger. The shared school identity emerged through deliberate planning, not a simple replacement of one badge.
By 2027, a new pupil will enter a school that has had years to build those combined routines. The child’s experience of current classrooms, friendships and support is far more relevant than a story about how separate campuses operated a decade earlier.
31. Current CCAs, not the Clementi Woods list
New Town offers sports, performing arts, uniformed groups and clubs. Some experiences reflect the strengths of its predecessors, but the present roster and timetables are determined by the current school.
Ask what activities welcome beginners, which require trials or auditions and how training affects transport home. The child should have second and third choices they would genuinely enjoy. A school may be an excellent fit even when the first-choice competitive CCA is full.
32. Full Subject-Based Banding and appropriate academic support
Posting Groups determine school admission; G1, G2 and G3 describe individual subject levels under Full Subject-Based Banding. A pupil may be strong in visual communication while needing more help in Mathematics or Science, or vice versa.
Ask which levels the child will actually study and how the school assesses readiness for later changes. Old Clementi Woods and Tanglin stream-based course labels cannot describe every detail of the current Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate pathway.
33. The 2026 New Town Open House
New Town’s current homepage announces Open House on Saturday, 14 November 2026. This is the relevant event for families choosing the present school. There is no separate Clementi Woods or Tanglin Open House for new Secondary 1 applicants.
Check the latest school notice for exact timing and registration details. Ask for a current photography project, CCA choices, Enhanced Art eligibility and examples of how form teachers support pupils. Let the child ask a practical question about an ordinary school day.
34. An older family connection to Clementi Woods
A parent or relative may have studied at Clementi Woods and remember the old school culture warmly. The family can share that history while explaining the later Tanglin and New Town mergers.
The child’s own needs should decide the choice. They will attend New Town, with its current staff and classmates, rather than a reproduction of a former school. Respecting memories and making a fresh educational decision can both be important.
35. Six legitimate schools and the MOE posting rules
MOE places pupils primarily by total PSLE Score. Where eligible pupils with equal scores compete for remaining places, citizenship, school-choice order and computerised balloting are tie-breakers. An inactive school name is not an extra route into the posting exercise.
List six distinct current schools in genuine preference order and include two or three historically less-demanding options where possible. Check the selected Posting Group and each school code, then save the official acknowledgement before the deadline.
36. After posting, use New Town’s 2027 instructions
If posted to New Town, follow the school’s current 2027 orientation, school attire, booklist, subject-level, device and Parents Gateway instructions. The homepage already links 2027 booklist and uniform-purchase information, but purchases should match the actual child’s confirmed subjects.
Practise the Dover route and establish healthy organisation and sleep routines. The first term matters more than an argument about which old school should receive the credit for today’s programmes.
37. Official sources and final parent decision
Read MOE Heritage: Tanglin and Clementi Woods history, New Town’s merger-era principal’s message, current Digital Communicators ALP, current leadership LLP, Enhanced Art and other programmes, Dover Road contact details and MOE SchoolFinder.
Reviewed 5 November 2026. Clementi Woods is a former school, and the ranges above are historical results for New Town’s 2026 intake, not 2027 admission guarantees. This guide is independent and does not represent an official MOE or school notice.