CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
Complete guide to CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) for P6 parents — Art Elective Programme, Full Subject-Based Banding, CCAs, and DSA-Sec admission pathways.
PSLE cut-off points
2025 S1 Posting · indicative bands by Posting Group
- Posting Group 3
- 6–10
- Posting Group 3 · affiliated
- 8–20
- Posting Group 2
- 21–22
- Posting Group 2 · affiliated
- 21–25
- Posting Group 1
- 25–28
- Posting Group 1 · affiliated
- 26–28
Earlier years
- Non-IP (indicative): 2024 10 · 2023 11
COPs move each year; use as a guide. Indicative bands aggregated from public sources, for reference only.
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) — commonly known as CHIJ Sec — is a government-aided, autonomous, Catholic school for girls located on Lorong 1 Toa Payoh in central Singapore. Part of the CHIJ (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) family of schools, it combines the national curriculum with values-based character development in the CHIJ tradition. As an autonomous school, CHIJ Sec has greater flexibility over curriculum enrichment and co-curricular programming than standard government schools.
CHIJ Sec is a mainstream school under Full Subject-Based Banding, posting students through Posting Groups 1–3 with each subject taken at G1, G2 or G3 level; it is not an Integrated Programme school. The school is distinctive for offering the Art Elective Programme (AEP), one of MOE's national art development pathways, available at only a small number of secondary schools — giving CHIJ Sec a strong visual arts identity.
What makes CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) distinctive
What sets CHIJ Sec apart is the Art Elective Programme (AEP) — an MOE-designated pathway offered at only a small number of secondary schools, where art is studied as a formal academic subject covering studio practice and art history. As an autonomous Catholic girls' school in the CHIJ tradition, it pairs that visual-arts identity with greater curricular flexibility than a standard government school. For DSA-Sec, the listed talent areas are debating, choir and concert band, and sports including rhythmic gymnastics, netball, bowling and racket sports; art is not among the DSA talent areas currently listed for the school. Beyond art, CHIJ Sec carries a strong tradition in rhythmic gymnastics, netball and racket sports, alongside an active band and debating culture, so its intake spans visual arts, sport and performance. A girl with a serious portfolio or a clear artistic direction — not only an academic profile — has a distinctive home here. For DSA preparation, see the DSA interview guides; confirm current talent areas in the DSA-Sec School Finder.
Programmes and Curriculum
Full Subject-Based Banding
CHIJ Sec follows Full Subject-Based Banding: students are posted through Posting Groups 1–3, and each subject can be taken at G1, G2 or G3 level based on the student's strengths.
For P6 families: CHIJ Sec is a mainstream autonomous school rather than an IP school. Posting Group placement follows S1 Posting. Refer to the CHIJ Sec official website for the current academic programme structure.
Art Elective Programme (AEP)
CHIJ Sec offers the Art Elective Programme (AEP), an MOE-designated programme where students study art as a formal academic subject, covering studio practice and art history alongside the mainstream curriculum. AEP is available at only a small number of secondary schools in Singapore and is a route towards art study at the junior college level.
For context on the DSA-Sec process, see What is DSA-Sec?.
Co-Curricular Activities
CHIJ Sec runs CCAs across Performing Arts, Sports and Games, Clubs and Societies, and Uniformed Groups.
Performing Arts
- Choir
- Concert Band
Sports and Games
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Netball
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Tennis
- Track and Field
Visual Arts
- Art Club / Art Elective Programme
Clubs and Societies and Uniformed Groups
- Debating
- Girl Guides
- Various community service groups in the CHIJ tradition
CCA names and availability may change. The CHIJ Sec official website is the authoritative source for the current CCA list.
Campus and Facilities
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is located at 626 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319764 in the Toa Payoh area of central Singapore.
Nearest MRT:
- Toa Payoh (North South Line NS19) — approximately a 5-minute walk
- Braddell (North South Line NS18) — approximately a 6-minute walk
Campus facilities include general and specialist classrooms, science laboratories, art studios for the Art Elective Programme, a multi-purpose hall, performing arts and music spaces, and sports courts. For current facility details and a campus map, refer to the CHIJ Sec official website.
Admission Pathways
PSLE and S1 Posting
CHIJ Sec admits students through S1 Posting across Posting Groups 1–3. The cut-off point (COP) differs by Posting Group and changes each year. For current and historical PSLE COP data, see PSLE COP historical data.
DSA-Sec Admission
CHIJ Sec participates in DSA-Sec across debating, sports, and performing arts talent areas. As a girls' autonomous school with a strong rhythmic gymnastics, netball, and racket-sports tradition, and an active band and debating culture, CHIJ Sec's DSA tends to attract applicants across these strengths. DSA offers place students into the school's mainstream tracks.
The specific talent areas offered change from year to year. Use the DSA-Sec School Finder for the current year's full list. For key application dates, see the DSA-Sec Timeline. For preparation by talent area, see DSA Interview Preparation. For historical results context, see DSA Results.
Achievements and Recognition
CHIJ Sec holds the status of an autonomous school under MOE, within the CHIJ family of schools, and is recognised for its Art Elective Programme.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| School type | Government-aided, Autonomous |
| Gender | Single-sex girls' school |
| Academic tracks | Full Subject-Based Banding (Posting Groups 1–3) |
| AEP | MOE-designated Art Elective Programme |
| Heritage | CHIJ (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) |
The school has received various MOE recognition and development awards over the years. For verified award details, refer to the MOE recognition listings and the CHIJ Sec official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) only for girls?
Yes. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is a single-sex school for girls.
Does CHIJ Sec offer IP?
No. CHIJ Sec is a mainstream school under Full Subject-Based Banding, posting students through Posting Groups 1–3. It is not an Integrated Programme school.
What is the Art Elective Programme (AEP) at CHIJ Sec?
The Art Elective Programme (AEP) is an MOE-designated programme where students study art as a formal academic subject, covering studio practice and art history. It is offered at only a small number of secondary schools in Singapore. Art is not among the DSA-Sec talent areas currently listed for CHIJ Sec; check the DSA-Sec School Finder and the school's admissions page for this year's arrangements. Check the CHIJ Sec DSA admissions page for the current year's criteria, and see DSA Interview Preparation for general guidance.
What PSLE score does my daughter need for CHIJ Sec?
CHIJ Sec is an autonomous school with a separate cut-off point for each Posting Group; COPs change each year. For current and historical data, see PSLE COP historical data.
Does CHIJ Sec offer DSA-Sec?
Yes. CHIJ Sec participates in DSA-Sec across debating, sports, and performing arts talent areas. Use the DSA-Sec School Finder to see the current year's offerings.
What happens if my daughter is not offered a DSA place at CHIJ Sec?
Not receiving a DSA offer does not affect the standard S1 PSLE posting process. Students can still be posted to CHIJ Sec if their PSLE score qualifies and they rank the school in their choices. Students who accept a DSA offer from any school are withdrawn from the S1 posting exercise entirely. See how S1 Posting works after PSLE.
Related Schools and Resources
Schools with Similar Profiles
These schools share one or more characteristics with CHIJ Sec — girls-only, CHIJ family, autonomous, or the Art Elective Programme:
- CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School — IP + O-Level, Girls, SAP, Ang Mo Kio
- Bukit Panjang Govt. High School — Mainstream, Co-ed, AEP, Choa Chu Kang
- Crescent Girls' School — Mainstream, Girls, MEP, Redhill
- Tanjong Katong Girls' School — Mainstream, Girls, MEP, Paya Lebar
DSA Preparation Resources
- DSA-Sec School Finder — filter by talent area and school
- DSA-Sec Timeline — key dates for the application cycle
- What is DSA-Sec? — the complete process explained
- DSA Results — historical results data across schools
- DSA Interview Preparation — preparation guides by talent area