Holy Innocents' High School
Complete guide to Holy Innocents' High School for P6 parents — Full Subject-Based Banding, journalism and arts CCAs, Hougang campus, and DSA-Sec pathways.
PSLE cut-off points
2025 S1 Posting · indicative bands by Posting Group
- Posting Group 3
- 11–14
- Posting Group 3 · affiliated
- 13–22
- Posting Group 2
- 21–24
- Posting Group 2 · affiliated
- 23–25
- Posting Group 1
- 25–27
- Posting Group 1 · affiliated
- 26–28
Earlier years
- Non-IP (indicative): 2024 14 · 2023 15
COPs move each year; use as a guide. Indicative bands aggregated from public sources, for reference only.
Holy Innocents' High School — commonly known as HIHS — is a government-aided, co-educational Catholic school located on Upper Serangoon Road in the Hougang area of north-east Singapore. With a Catholic mission heritage linked to the IJ (Infant Jesus) tradition, the school combines the national curriculum with values-based character development. HIHS is affiliated to Holy Innocents' Primary School and to Catholic Junior College.
HIHS 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 known for its journalism and broadcasting applied-learning programme, its band and orchestra culture, and an active community leadership tradition.
What makes Holy Innocents' distinctive
Holy Innocents' High is a co-educational Catholic school in the IJ tradition, affiliated to Holy Innocents' Primary and to Catholic Junior College. Its defining feature is a journalism-and-broadcasting Applied Learning Programme that develops critical thinkers and effective communicators, alongside a strong band and orchestra culture. For DSA-Sec families, the draws include that media-and-communications strength, a Chinese orchestra, concert band and choir, and competitive basketball and badminton. The best fit is a child with a media, music or communications talent, or a team-sport ability, who would value a values-based Catholic environment and an affiliation pathway. Sitting in Hougang, Holy Innocents' serves north-eastern families as a mainstream school under Full Subject-Based Banding. Confirm this year's talent areas in the DSA-Sec School Finder.
Programmes and Curriculum
Full Subject-Based Banding
HIHS offers all three mainstream secondary courses. Under Full Subject-Based Banding, students take each subject at G1, G2 or G3 level; from the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, students sit the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examinations at the end of Secondary 4. The school implements full Subject-Based Banding, allowing students to take individual subjects at higher levels based on their strengths.
For P6 families: HIHS is a mainstream affiliated school rather than an IP school. Posting Group placement follows S1 Posting. Refer to the HIHS official website for the current academic programme structure.
Applied Learning (Journalism and Broadcasting) and Community Leadership
HIHS offers an Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in journalism and broadcasting, developing critical thinkers and effective communicators, and a Learning for Life Programme (LLP) centred on community youth leadership. These MOE programmes anchor the school's applied learning and student development beyond the academic curriculum.
For context on the DSA-Sec process, see What is DSA-Sec?.
Co-Curricular Activities
HIHS runs CCAs across Performing Arts, Sports and Games, Clubs and Societies, and Uniformed Groups.
Performing Arts
- Chinese Orchestra
- Choir
- Concert Band
- Modern Dance
Sports and Games
- Badminton
- Basketball
Clubs and Societies
- Media and Journalism
- Community youth leadership and service groups
Uniformed Groups
- National Cadet Corps (NCC)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
- Scouts
CCA names and availability may change. The HIHS official website is the authoritative source for the current CCA list.
Campus and Facilities
Holy Innocents' High School is located at 1191 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534786 in the Hougang area of north-east Singapore.
Nearest MRT:
- Kovan (North East Line NE13) — within a short walk
Campus facilities include general and specialist classrooms, science and media laboratories, a multi-purpose hall, performing arts and music spaces, and sports courts. For current facility details and a campus map, refer to the HIHS official website.
Admission Pathways
PSLE and S1 Posting
HIHS admits students through S1 Posting across Posting Groups 1–3. As an affiliated school within the Holy Innocents' family, students from Holy Innocents' Primary may receive affiliation priority in posting, subject to MOE's rules. The cut-off point (COP) differs by track and by affiliation status, and changes each year. For current and historical PSLE COP data, see PSLE COP historical data.
DSA-Sec Admission
HIHS participates in DSA-Sec across performing arts, sports, media, and leadership talent areas. As a co-educational school with a strong Chinese orchestra, band, and dance culture, a journalism and media focus, and competitive racket and team sports, HIHS'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
HIHS is a government-aided co-educational Catholic school in the IJ (Infant Jesus) tradition.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| School type | Government-aided |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Academic tracks | Full Subject-Based Banding (Posting Groups 1–3) |
| ALP | Journalism and Broadcasting |
| LLP | Community Youth Leadership |
| Affiliation | Holy Innocents' Primary · Catholic JC |
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 HIHS official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holy Innocents' High co-educational?
Yes. Holy Innocents' High School is a co-educational school.
Does HIHS offer IP?
No. HIHS 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 journalism and broadcasting programme at HIHS?
HIHS runs an Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in journalism and broadcasting, helping students develop critical thinking and communication skills. A media or journalism talent pathway may also be available through DSA-Sec; check the HIHS DSA admissions page and the DSA-Sec School Finder for the current year's confirmed talent areas.
What PSLE score does my child need for HIHS?
HIHS has a separate cut-off point for each Posting Group (and for affiliated students), and COPs change each year. For current and historical data, see PSLE COP historical data.
Does HIHS offer DSA-Sec?
Yes. HIHS participates in DSA-Sec across performing arts, sports, media, and leadership talent areas. Use the DSA-Sec School Finder to see the current year's offerings.
What happens if my child is not offered a DSA place at HIHS?
Not receiving a DSA offer does not affect the standard S1 PSLE posting process. Students can still be posted to HIHS if their PSLE score qualifies and they rank the school in their choices, with affiliation priority applying where relevant. 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 HIHS — government-aided, co-educational, mission heritage, or north-east location:
- Xinmin Secondary School — Mainstream, Co-ed, Hougang
- Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School — Mainstream, Co-ed, Bishan
- Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) — Mainstream, Co-ed, Aljunied
- Nan Chiau High School — Mainstream, Co-ed, SAP, Sengkang
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