Dunman High School
Complete guide to Dunman High School for P6 parents — Integrated Programme, SAP, STEAM, CCAs, Tanjong Rhu campus, and DSA-Sec admission pathways.
Dunman High School is a government autonomous co-educational secondary school and a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school located at Tanjong Rhu in the east of Singapore. It offers the Integrated Programme (IP), a six-year pathway leading directly to A-Levels at Dunman High's Junior College section without students sitting for the O-Level examinations.
Dunman High occupies a distinctive position among Singapore's top secondary schools: it is government-run (unlike the six independent schools), co-educational at both secondary and JC levels, and a SAP school with a strong Chinese language and culture programme. Government autonomous school fees apply, which are lower than independent school fees. Refer to the MOE school fees page for current figures.
The school's location at Tanjong Rhu — near the Singapore Sports Hub and Kallang — gives it easy access to sports facilities. The waterfront setting also means sailing is a notable part of Dunman High's co-curricular offering.
Programmes and Curriculum
Integrated Programme
Dunman High students follow a six-year IP from Secondary 1 through Junior College Year 2. Students do not sit for O-Levels; they proceed internally to the JC section. The school's academic programme integrates both English and Mandarin Chinese as active learning languages, consistent with its SAP designation.
For P6 families: choosing Dunman High through DSA-Sec or S1 Posting means committing to the IP pathway in a government school environment — retaining the bilingual culture of a SAP school with the fee structure and governance of a government institution.
For context on how the IP pathway differs from the standard O-Level route, see What is DSA-Sec?.
Special Assistance Plan (SAP)
Dunman High is a SAP school, one of Singapore's designated bilingual schools nurturing higher Mandarin Chinese proficiency alongside English. The Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) and Language Elective Programme (Chinese) are both available at Dunman High, reflecting its commitment to Chinese-English bilingual education.
STEAM Applied Learning Programme
Dunman High's Applied Learning Programme (ALP) is centred on STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Aesthetics, and Mathematics. This is listed on MOE SchoolFinder as a programme distinctive to Dunman High. STEAM DSA is also offered as an academic talent area, making it one of the few Singapore secondary schools where STEAM is both a curriculum focus and a DSA pathway. (Source: MOE SchoolFinder — Dunman High)
Music Elective Programme (MEP)
Dunman High offers the Music Elective Programme (MEP), one of MOE's national music development pathways. MEP allows students to pursue music as a formal academic subject alongside the IP curriculum.
School-based Gifted Education (SBGE) and Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP)
Dunman High is designated as an SBGE school by MOE. The Bicultural Studies Programme and Language Elective Programme (Chinese) are both available, supporting students with strong Chinese language ability and cultural engagement.
Co-Curricular Activities
Dunman High's CCA programme reflects both its SAP character and its position as a co-educational school, spanning Performing Arts, Sports and Games, Clubs and Societies, and Uniformed Groups.
Performing Arts
- Chinese Orchestra — reflecting Dunman High's SAP heritage and SYF participation
- Concert Band
- String Ensemble
- Choir
- Chinese Dance
- Modern Dance
- Drama (English and Chinese)
- Guzheng Ensemble
The school's performing arts groups have participated in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentation. Specific historical results are documented in the school's official records.
For DSA preparation in performing arts areas, see the DSALink talent guide index.
Sports and Games
Dunman High's proximity to the Singapore Sports Hub and the Kallang Basin gives it natural access to sailing as a distinctive CCA, alongside mainstream sports:
- Sailing — accessible from the Tanjong Rhu waterfront location
- Badminton · Basketball · Softball · Table Tennis
- Track and Field · Volleyball · Wushu
Clubs and Societies
Academic and interest-based clubs at Dunman High include Mathematics, Science, Infocomm, Debate, and community service groups. The school's STEAM Applied Learning Programme also shapes the academic club culture.
Uniformed Groups
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) — Army, Sea
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
- Scout
- Red Cross Youth
Campus and Facilities
Dunman High is located at 10 Tanjong Rhu Road, Singapore 436895 in the Kallang / Tanjong Rhu waterfront area.
Nearest MRT stations:
- Stadium (Circle Line) — approximately 10–15 minutes on foot
- Katong Park (Thomson–East Coast Line) — approximately 10 minutes on foot
The Tanjong Rhu location — near the Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang Basin, and the waterfront — is part of Dunman High's distinctive geographical character. Sailing and water-based activities are natural extensions of this setting. The campus houses both secondary and JC sections on the same site. For current facility details, refer to the Dunman High official website.
Admission Pathways
PSLE and S1 Posting
Dunman High is among Singapore's more competitive secondary schools by PSLE score, particularly for a government-run institution. As a SAP school, posting data includes HCL grade distinctions. It admits students through the S1 Posting Exercise under the IP posting category. For current and historical PSLE cut-off point data, see PSLE COP historical data.
DSA-Sec
Dunman High participates in DSA-Sec with a broad offering reflecting the school's distinctive STEAM focus and SAP arts culture. The STEAM talent area is particularly noteworthy — one of the few schools offering a STEAM-specific DSA pathway aligned with its ALP. The performing arts DSA spans MEP, Chinese Orchestra, Choir, Concert Band, Chinese Dance, Modern Dance, and String Ensemble. Sports DSA includes Sailing, which is geographically natural for the school's Tanjong Rhu location. Bilingualism and Leadership round out the academic talent pathways.
The specific talent areas offered are updated each year. For the current intake year's full list and to match your child's talent to schools, use the DSA-Sec School Finder.
For preparation frameworks by talent area, browse the DSALink talent guides. For DSA results guidance, see DSA Results.
Achievements and Recognition
Dunman High holds Government Autonomous school status under MOE — a tier below independent schools but above standard government schools, with additional programme flexibility and funding. It is also a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school.
MOE-recognised programmes at Dunman High (listed on MOE SchoolFinder):
| Programme | Type |
|---|---|
| Integrated Programme | Academic pathway |
| Special Assistance Plan (SAP) | Language and culture |
| School-based Gifted Education | Academic enrichment |
| Music Elective Programme (MEP) | Arts development |
| Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) | Bilingualism |
| Language Elective Programme (Chinese) | Language development |
| STEAM (Applied Learning Programme) | Curriculum innovation |
Dunman High's performing arts groups and sports teams have competed in national competitions including SYF and NSG. For specific results with year and category, refer to the school's official publications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunman High an independent school?
No. Dunman High is a government autonomous school, not an independent school. This distinction matters for fees (government autonomous fees are lower than independent school fees) and governance. Unlike the six independent schools (RGS, RI, HCI, NYGH, ACS(I), SJI), Dunman High operates under the standard government school regulatory framework with additional autonomy.
Does Dunman High have an affiliated primary school?
No. Dunman High does not have affiliated primary schools for the S1 Posting Exercise. All posting places are open to students on a non-affiliated basis.
What is the STEAM DSA at Dunman High?
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Aesthetics, and Mathematics) is Dunman High's Applied Learning Programme and also a DSA-Sec talent area. It is one of the few schools in Singapore offering STEAM as a named DSA talent area. Students applying through STEAM DSA should read the school's current admissions brief carefully for what the selection involves. For STEM-related preparation, see Math DSA and Robotics DSA guides.
What JC does Dunman High lead to?
Dunman High students on the IP pathway proceed internally to Dunman High's Junior College section for A-Levels. This is the same campus, making it a continuous six-year experience.
Does Dunman High offer DSA-Sec?
Yes. Dunman High participates in DSA-Sec across sports, performing arts, STEAM, and language/bilingualism talent areas. For the current year's full list, use the DSA-Sec School Finder. For the full DSA-Sec process, see What is DSA-Sec?.
Related Schools and Resources
Schools with Similar Profiles
- Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) — Independent, Boys, IP+SAP, Bukit Timah
- Nanyang Girls' High School — Independent, Girls, IP+SAP, Bukit Timah
- Catholic High School — Government-aided, Boys, IP+O-Level+SAP, Bishan
- National Junior College — Government, Co-ed, JC+IP secondary section, Bukit Timah
DSA Preparation Resources
- DSA-Sec School Finder — filter by talent area and PSLE score
- DSA-Sec Timeline — key dates for the application cycle
- What is DSA-Sec? — the complete process explained
- DSA Interview Question Guide — common questions and preparation approaches
- DSA Results — historical results data
- PSLE COP Data — historical posting data