Victoria School

This article is about the secondary school in Singapore. For other uses, see Victoria School (disambiguation).

Victoria School (abbreviation VS) is Singapore's second government secondary school. The premier school, founded in 1876, is the only all-boys government school left in Singapore. The school is located at Siglap Link, about one kilometre from Victoria Junior College and a 5-minute walk to the East Coast Park.

Previous campuses of Victoria School include the Syed Alwi and Tyrwhitt Road sites. The Syed Alwi site is featured on the back of Singapore's S$2 banknote. See Singapore Portrait Series currency notes. The Tyrwhitt Road site was gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2007 and was awarded URA's Heritage Award in 2009.

Victoria School attracts students from all walks of life and has produced scholars, politicians, top civil servants, academics, senior military/police officers, corporate figures, and sportsmen. The list of Victoria School old boys includes three Presidents: Mr Yusof Ishak, Mr C.V. Devan Nair and Mr S.R. Nathan.

History

Kampong Glam: 1876-1900

Victoria School had its beginnings in an English class formed in Kampong Glam Malay School in 1876. Kampong Glam Malay Branch School was then established with twelve Malay boys. The school enrolment grew but the school provided poor shelter from the weather and was often flooded.

The school was more commonly known as the Government English School, an English school that catered exclusively to Malay pupils.

In 1897, the enrolment recorded was 122, and the school's first football team was formed by the principal, Mr F.W. Hartley.

Syed Alwi: 1900-1932

The school moved to new premises at Syed Alwi, near the Victoria Bridge. The school was renamed Victoria Bridge School.

The first annual sports meet was held in 1915 and the first annual Speech Day the following year. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) was formed in 1918. The first scout group of the school, called the Fifth Singapore (Malay) Troop, was started in 1919.

By 1920, the school enrolment was 733.

A library was built in 1929 with a donation of $1000 by Mr A.M. Alsagoff.

The House system was introduced in 1929 and House prefects were appointed in 1930. Until 1930, the school had only primary classes. It became the second government secondary school in Singapore in 1931.

Tyrwhitt Road: 1932-1984

In 1932, the school moved to Tyrwhitt Road, off Jalan Besar, and came to be known as Victoria School in 1936.

In 1940, the school motto, 'Nil Sine Labore', was designed.

During the Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1945, Victoria School was renamed Jalan Besar Boys' School by the Japanese authorities. The medium of instruction was Japanese, and the teaching of English was said to be forbidden.

In 1950, the first-ever school science and laboratories block in Singapore was built in VS. It was designed by the school principal, Mr R.F. Bomford.

In 1951, Post-School Certificate (present-day GCE 'A' Level) classes were started, and for the first time, girls were admitted into VS. Secondary one to four classes remained only for boys. The school anthem was composed in the same year.

In 1955, the school recorded a 99.5% pass rate at the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate Examinations (present-day GCE 'O' Levels), making it the top school in Singapore.

In 1957, the school had the best results in Singapore for the University Entrance Examinations.

In 1984, VS became one of the two pioneer secondary schools to offer the Art Elective Programme.

With the setting-up of Victoria Junior College in 1984, VS ended its Pre-University intake, and the last batch of Pre-University students sat for the GCE 'A' Level Examinations in November 1985.

The Tyrwhitt Road site was gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2007. It is one of the few early city-centre schools still in existence and features two school buildings from the pre- and post-war period on a single site. The Hall-cum-Canteen Block is the only known school hall left of this style and configuration in Singapore. The site was awarded the URA's Heritage Award in 2009.

Geylang Bahru: 1984-2003

The school moved to the Geylang Bahru campus in 1984.

In 1993, the then Minister for Education, Mr Lee Yock Suan, announced at the school's Speech Day that Victoria School would be one of the six pioneer schools to receive autonomous status. This followed the Ministry of Education's decision not to grant independent status to any more secondary schools. VS had applied for the school to go independent in 1991.

In 1994, the school was placed sixth in the Ministry of Education's ST Ranking for secondary schools, based solely on academic results.

In 2001, the Ministry of Education's Gifted Education Programme was started in Victoria School. However, the programme was shelved later.

Siglap Link: 2003-

The ceremonial move in 2003 to the new campus at Siglap Link was graced by His Excellency, President S R Nathan, an old boy of VS.

The cost of construction of the new campus, which consists of the school and hostel, was almost S$40 million dollars. A new indoor sports hall costing S$5 million dollars was added in 2009.

The design of the campus has won many architectural awards. It was also selected to participate at the 9th International Architecture Exhibition at Venice, Italy.

In 2008, Victoria School became the first school in Singapore to offer Physical Education as a GCE 'O' Level subject. It was also one of four pioneer secondary schools in Singapore to offer the Regional Studies Programme.

Victoria School will be offering the Integrated Programme, together with Cedar Girls' Secondary School and Victoria Junior College in 2012.

Headmasters/Principals

• 1876 - 1884 Mr Y A Yzelman
• 1884 - 1890 Mr Abdul Wahab
• 1890 - 1894 Mr M Hellier
• 1894 - 1894 Mr J King
• 1894 - 1894 Mr W J Parry
• 1894 - 1895 Mr M Hellier
• 1895 - 1897 Mr H S Atkinson
• 1895 - 1897 Mr F W Hartley
• 1897 - 1899 Mr J H H Jarret
• 1899 - 1900 Mr D A Yzelman
• 1900 - 1906 Mr P A Yearwood
• 1906 - 1910 Mr H Laugher
• 1910 - 1911 Mr Stockwell
• 1911 - 1912 Mr R E Smith
• 1912 - 1913 Mr H Laugher
• 1913 - 1914 Mr M B Brockwell
• 1914 - 1920 Reverend A J Amery
• 1920 - 1922 Mr Seah Seng Kang
• 1922 - 1934 Mr R E Smith
• 1934 - 1937 Captain C E H Jacobs
• 1938 - 1939 Mr F Cobb
• 1941 - 1941 Mr D Roper
• 1941 - 1941 Mr P F Howitt
• 1941 - 1941 Major E H Wilson
• 1941 - 1941 Mr J D Joseph
• 1941 - 1946 Mr S R Williams
• 1946 - 1946 Reverend Colin King
• 1946 - 1948 Mr P F Howitt
• 1948 - 1953 Mr R F Bomford
• 1953 - 1954 Mr Soo Ban Hoe
• 1954 - 1957 Mr M Campbell
• 1957 - 1958 Mr Boey Chen Kee
• 1958 - 1959 Mr A D Costa
• 1959 - 1959 Mr Wee Seong Kang
• 1959 - 1961 Mr Paul Abisheganaden
• 1961 - 1962 Mr Cheong Hock Hai
• 1963 - 1966 Mr Low Kee Pow
• 1966 - 1971 Mr A Kannayson
• 1971 - 1971 Mr Ong Kim Siong
• 1971 - 1975 Mr T P Naidu
• 1975 - 1982 Mr Looi Sik Cheong
• 1982–1986 Mr Andrew Ng Lian Timn
• 1987–1989 Mr Nicholas Tang Ning
• 1990–1994 Mr Tan Tiek Kwee
• 1994–1997 Mr Tan Kiak Seng
• 1998–2000 Mr Chia Choon Kiat
• 2000–2005 Mr Ang Pow Chew
• 2005–Present Mr Low Eng Teong

School Symbols

School vision

A Victorian is ultimately a Gentleman, a Professional and a Sportsman who makes tangible contributions to his family, work, community and nation.

School mission

A premier school recognised for its rich tradition of excellence, and its ability to groom upright and balanced individuals with leadership qualities. The school is dedicated to instilling in Victorians a spirit of achievement, and nurturing them into becoming innovative and respectable leaders.

School crest

The open book symbolizes lifelong learning. The torch symbolizes truth and the passing on of a tradition. It also illuminates the way of Victorians who venture forth to excel beyond the shores of Singapore.

School colours

Yellow stands for dignity and excellence. Red symbolizes brotherhood and equality.

School motto

Nil Sine Labore, a Latin expression meaning "Nothing Without Labour", i.e. nothing is achieved without work.

Culture and tradition

Uniform

Victoria School uniform, like that of most Singapore schools, follows the old British style, with the exception of school caps. The uniform is worn at all times, apart from the maroon blazer which is worn only during formal events.

Victoria School formal uniform consists of a white short-sleeved shirt, with either khaki short trousers (for secondary 1 and 2 students) or white long trousers (for secondary 3 and 4 students). A label bearing VICTORIA is sewn on the back pockets of the trousers. Secondary 3 and 4 students wear a black school belt with the school motto, Nil Sine Labore engraved on the buckle.

The school socks are white with the initials VS in red on both sides. Shoes have to be at least 70% white. In 2005, an official 'Victoria School' shoe bearing the letter VS on each side was introduced.

Victorians wear a maroon striped tie every Monday and on formal occasions. Victorians wear the school badge above the left chest pocket. Student bodies such as the Prefectorial Board, Peer Support Board and Monitors' Council have their own badges but the school crest remains the main feature of the badges.

For physical activities and camps, students wear a bright yellow T-shirt with black trim, black shorts and white socks, also know as"bumble bee". The school crest is sewn on the top-left side of the T-shirt and bottom-right side of the black shorts. VICTORIAN is printed on the back of the T-shirt.

Each house has its own running vest (singlet) in the house colours. These are yellow (Rochore), blue (Kallang), green (Kapor), purple (Whampoa) and red (Glam). It is worn during competitive athletic events like the annual Sports Day. The school crest is on the top-left side of the vest, with the name of the house below the school crest, while the word VICTORIA is imprinted on the back of the vest.

CCAs such as the AV Club, Choir, Chinese Orchestra, Concert Band and NPCC also provide their members with collar pins.

Identity

Students, teachers and the principal are referred to and addressed as "Victorians" or "Gentlemen". Victorians are expected to address all male teachers as 'Sir' and female teachers as 'Ma'am'.

Demographics

Victoria School student demographic largely reflects that of Singapore as a whole, with a substantial number of ASEAN (South-east Asia), PRC (People's Republic of China) and A*STAR scholars in its midst who stayed in the school's hostel, Victoria Hall. Local Chinese students come from both English-speaking and Chinese-speaking families. Despite being in an upper-class location, the majority of the students are from middle-income and lower-income families.

Victorian Anthem

Victoria in Singapore
There are other schools we know
Victoria is something more
The school that watch'd us grow

For here we've learnt and striven too
And played the sportsman's game
Victoria we give to you
The honour that you claim

Victoria thy sons are we
And we will not forget
Victoria thy triumphs see
And victories we share yet

For others came before and went
And carried to the world
Victoria's fame and our intent to
Keep her flag unfurled.

Lyrics by J A Fraser
Music by W E Meyer

Note: The anthem, which was composed in 1951, was slightly amended in 1987, with the establishment of Victoria Junior College. The word 'School' after 'Victoria' in the lines of the first two paragraphs was dropped. 'Victoria' in these lines is now being sung as 'Vic-to-ri-a' instead of 'Vic-to-ria School'.

Peer Support Board

The Victoria School Peer Support Board (VSPSB) is one of three student leader organisations in the school, with the motto "You Never Stand Alone". Its mascot is the phoenix. It serves as a friend and facilitator to new students and helps ease the transition from primary to secondary school life.

Peer Support Leaders (PSLs), as members of the board are known, also have roles in both intra- and inter-school activities. PSLs act as station masters during the YOG/AYG Games Day in the school, and facilitate the smooth running of the annual Secondary One Orientation Camp, among other duties. Both junior and senior PSLs attend the "Victoria Enhanced Leadership/Outdoor Camp Instructor Training Camp", otherwise known as VELOCI-T. PSLs, much like prefects, also regulate discipline to an extent, and rank between prefect and monitor in the hierarchy of authority.

Outside school, the executive committee of the PSB has been involved in the 1st ASEAN Youth Convention, both as team members and as liaison officers.

Prefectorial Board

The Prefectorial Board organises school events and helps regulate school discipline, and is the highest student authority in the school. The board is led by a Head Prefect and two Deputy Head Prefects - the First Deputy Head Prefect (Internal Affairs) and the Second Deputy Head Prefect (External Affairs). These three positions on the Board are chosen annually by students and teaching staff of the school through an online voting process.

The school's prefectorial board is split up into 3 departments which are Response, Welfare and Organizing. Response department will be in charge of the discipline of the students. Welfare department will be in charge of the welfare of the students as well as the prefects. Organizing department will be in charge of organizing events internally and externally. Heads and Deputy Heads are chosen from the other Secondary 3 students to form up the EXCO (executive committee).

The Prefectorial Board takes in students during the 1st and 2nd year of studies in Victoria School. Students nominated by teachers or CCA leader will attend a interview. Selected students will serve their probation period until the Student Leader's Investiture where they are invested.

As part of the school's leadership training program, all prefects in Secondary 2 will attend the Victoria Enhanced Leadership/Outdoor Camp Instructor Training Camp. In addition to heading most of the student-organised activities and events such as the annual Student Leaders' Investiture, VS Prefects made up the bulk of Victorian representatives in the organising of the 1st ASEAN Youth Convention held in August 2009.

Monitors' Council

The Monitors' Council act as a bridge of communication or dissemination of information between the School Administration, the various student bodies and students. They also advise teachers-in-charge on measures necessary to maintain good performance in all areas.

Houses

The five houses are Kallang, Kapor, Whampoa, Glam and Rochore. They are most active during the inter-house games such as football, as well as during the school's annual Sports Day, and the school's annual cross-country run.

Victoriana

VS publishes a biannual newsletter called the Victoriana, which was first published in 1982. The editorial board consists of teachers and students from the school's Media Club.

Victorian Spirit

Victorian Spirit is the sense of pride that the school seeks to instil in every Victorian when he joins the school. The Spirit, it is said, continues to live in the Victorian even many years after he has left the school.

Special Programmes

Victoria School offers the GCE 'O' Levels Physical Education Programme, Art Elective Programme, Regional Studies Programme, and Higher Mother Tongue Languages in Chinese, Malay and Tamil. VS students may also enroll in the Music Elective Programme in Secondary Three, or a 3rd Language (French/German/Japanese). However, these lessons are held at external venues. VS students of foreign languages take part in the Ministry of Education Language Centre's (MOELC) month-long Study-cum-Immersion Programmes (SCIP) in countries such as France, Germany and Japan.

GCE 6080 Physical Education

Victoria School became the first school in Singapore to offer Physical Education (PE) at GCE 'O' Levels, gaining the Ministry of Education's approval in 2006. Introduced in 2008, each year sees an upper secondary class of approximately 25 students taking PE Theory lessons. The lessons and courses are organised by the Physical Education department of the school, and involves both theoretical and practical aspects, including courses on weight training, football, hockey, and cross-country running, among others.

Students take the 'O' Levels theory exam at the end of the course (i.e. November of the graduating year). This exam contributes 40% of their overall grade, the other 60% coming from the practical component, assessed over a period of time.

In order to better acquaint students with the style of GCE PE lessons, PE Theory lessons are also conducted in lower secondary classes, as an examinable subject. The selection process for GCE 'O'-Level PE candidates is carried out towards the end of Secondary Two, and pupils whose applications have been approved by the PE department are notified prior to the subject combination allocation process at the end of the school year. Students who failed the initial application process, or missed the submission deadline, may appeal to do GCE 'O' Levels PE through enquiry and subsequent assessment by the VS PE department.

Art Elective Programme (AEP)

The Art Elective Programme leads to the GCE 'O' Levels Higher Art examination. The AEP is offered to academically able students with talents in art. The aim of the programme is to hone students' talents in art. For lower secondary classes, the AEP class is not entirely made up of AEP students, thus half the class will be taking their AEP lessons while the other half have Home Economics or Design & Technology classes. For upper secondary classes, AEP lessons are conducted after normal school hours

Regional Studies Programme (RSP)

A recently introduced programme, students in the RSP take Bahasa Indonesia as a third language, and learn about Southeast Asian culture and contemporary society. The curriculum includes overseas immersion programmes and structured enrichment modules spread throughout the course.

Integrated Programme (IP)

The Integrated Programme is a scheme which allow students to skip the GCE 'O' Levels and take the GCE "A" levels after six years of secondary and pre-university education. VS students taking the IP will proceed directly to Victoria Junior College after four years of secondary education at VS. The programme will start in VS in 2012. However, in 2011, 50 students of the secondary one cohort will be selected to continue their secondary three education at VJC, which already offer the IP, but will stop taking in students on its own from 2013.

Co-Curricular Activities

The school holds performing arts and sporting activities, with intra-school events such as the biennial Rhapsody, Drama Festival (Dramafest) and Evening of Music and Drama (EMD), as well as the annual Victoria School Sports Day and Cross-Country Championships.

Sports

Since the school's first football team was formed in 1897, Victoria School has made its mark in sports. Generations of Victorians have represented Singapore in various sports. In 1970, half of the Singapore national hockey team were former Victorians. And in 1978, the captains of the Singapore national teams for hockey, rugby and cricket were former Victoria School students, and a few others were in the national football team at the same time.

In 1940, Ali Ahmad broke the Singapore 100 yards sprint record which also equalled the Malayan record when he was still a schoolboy at Victoria School.

Kesavan Soon was Singapore's champion sprinter when still studying in VS and was Singapore's only schoolboy representative to the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Other VS boys include football luminaries like Uncle Choo Seng Quee, who is the only person who have coached the national football teams of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia; 1930s football legend and former Singapore football captain, Dolfattah; and Abdul Rahman, who played in a record nine Malaya Cup finals for Singapore from 1933 to 1950.

Another old boy, Dr A. Vijiaratnam, is the only Singaporean who had represented Singapore in four sports - hockey, cricket, football and rugby. Dr Vijiaratnam later became the first Pro-Chancellor of Nanyang Technological University.

Former natioanl rugby coach and captain, Song Koon Poh, Sportsman of the Year in 1978, is arguably Singapore's most illustrious rugby player.

Teo Ser Luck, an Ironman triathlete who represented Victoria School in football, cross-country, track and field, table tennis and Chinese chess, became the second sportsman in Singapore to enter Parliament in 2006. He is now the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Transport, as well as the Mayor, North East Community Development Council.

Tan Wearn Haw, Sportsboy of the Year in 1992 and 1995, and a Public Service Commission (PSC) scholar, was the first Singaporean to win the Asian Optimist Championship, and one of the youngest person to helm a national sports association when he became the CEO of Singapore Sailing Federation at the age of 32.

Some of the Victoria School students who have represented Singapore in sporting competitions in recent years include:

2005: Lo Jun Hao came in second in the World Byte Championships for sailing.

2007: Tan Xiang Ting was Singapore's only gold medal winner in the 4th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in South Korea. Rezza Gaznavi captained the Singapore national Under-15 cricket team which won the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 cricket tournament in Nepal.

2008: Fung Jinjie won a bronze medal for Singapore in the 2nd World Junior Wushu Championships in Bali, Indonesia.

2009: Jeffrey Adam Lightfoot captained the Singapore national Under-14 football team for the inaugural Asian Youth Games held in Singapore. 15-year-old Haseef Salim represented the Singapore national Under-21 hockey team in the Men's Junior World Cup Hockey Finals held in Singapore. Fung Jinjie won a team silver medal for Singapore in Wushu at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

2010: Jeffrey Adam Lightfoot, captain of the Singapore national Under-15 football team for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held in Singapore, was one of the three student athletes selected to be in a global campaign by Visa to promote the YOG. Besides Jeffrey in the YOG football team, other Victorians representing Singapore at the YOG are: Sean Toh (track and field), Haseef Salim, Fadzly Adam, Hidayat Mat Rahim and Fadhil Rizaini (all hockey), Clement Choong and Eugene Foo (both handball). Ryan Lo and Edward Lim were members of the Singapore team which won the Overall Best Nation at the IODA Asian Optimist Championship, Pattaya, Thailand. 13-year-old Ryan Lo, Singapore's youngest representative to the Asian Games, Guangzhou, China won a bronze medal in sailing for Singapore.

In cross-country, VS has won 31 team titles since 1988, despite stiff competition as it is participated in by more than 100 schools in Singapore. See Victoria School Cross-country.

Inter-Schools Sports Results

• Badminton:
  • 2009
    • B Division: Champion (East Zone)
    • C Division: Third (East Zone)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Champion (East Zone)

• Cross-Country
  • 2009
    • B Division: Runner-up (National)
    • C Division: Champion (National)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Champion (National)
    • C Division: Champion (National)

• Cricket
  • 2009
    • B Division: Runner-up (National) (11-a-side)
    • B Division: Champion (National) (8-a-side)
    • C Division: Third (National) (11-a-side)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Champion (National) (11-a-side)
    • C Division: Third (National) (11-a-side)

• Floorball
  • 2009
    • B Division: Runner-up (National))
    • C Division: Champion (National)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Runner-up (National)
    • C Division: Third (National)

• Football
  • 2009
    • B Division: Runner-up (National)
    • B Division: Champion (East Zone)
    • C Division: Runner-up (National)
    • C Division: Runner-up (East Zone)
  • 2010
    • C Division: Runner-up (National)))
    • C Division: Third (East Zone)

• Hockey
  • 2009
    • B Division: Third (National) (11-a-side)
    • C Division: Champion (National) (11-a-side))
    • C Division: Champion (National) (6-a-side)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Third (National) (11-a-side)
    • C Division: Third (National) (11-a-side)

• Sailing
  • 2009
    • B Division: Fourth (National)
    • C Division: Fifth (National)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Fourth (National)
    • C Division: Fourth (National)

• Shooting
  • 2009
    • B Division: Fourth (Air Rifle) (East Zone)
    • B Division: Fifth (Air Pistol) (East Zone)
    • C Division: Runner-up (Air Rifle) (East Zone)
    • C Division: Runner-up (Air Pistol) (East Zone)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Fourth (Air Rifle) (East Zone)
    • B Division: Third (Air Pistol) (East Zone)
    • C Division: Runner-up (Air Pistol) (East Zone)

• Table-tennis
  • 2009
    • B Division: Third (East Zone)
    • C Division: Third (East Zone)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Fourth (East Zone)
    • C Division: Fourth (East Zone)

• Tennis
  • 2009
    • B Division: Runner-up (National)
  • 2010
    • C Division: Fourth (National)

• Track and Field
  • 2009
    • B Division: Eighth (National)
    • C Division: Runner-up (National)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Fifth (National)
    • B Division: Fifth (National)

• Volleyball
  • 2009
    • B Division: Fourth (National)
    • B Division: Third (East Zone)
    • C Division: Fourth (National)
    • C Division: Champion (East Zone)
  • 2010
    • B Division: Third (East Zone)
    • C Division: Third (National)
    • C Division: Champion (East Zone)

• Wushu
  • 2009
    • C Division: Third (National)
  • 2010
    • C Division: Third (National)

• SPH Schools Relay
  • 2009
    • C Division: Overall Champion (National)

In the 2009 Schools Sports Colours Awards, Victoria School received 9 individual national colours awards, 12 individual zone colours awards and 16 team awards. For 2010, VS won the inaugural Best Schoolboy Award for Football and Wushu.

Uniformed Groups

Victoria School has six uniformed groups:

• National Police Cadet Corps
• National Cadet Corps (Land)
• National Cadet Corps (Sea)
• Red Cross
• Scouts
• Boys' Brigade

Uniformed groups are Victoria School's forte, having won Best Unit competitions, Gold medals and scoring many firsts. VS NCC (Land) won the Overall Best Unit Competition in consecutive years from 1981-1987 before the format of the competition was changed. Former VS NCC cadets include the Chief of Defence Force, LG Neo Kian Hong.

2009 Uniformed Group Competitions Results

• Boys' Brigade: J M Fraser Award for Excellence - Gold
• NPCC: NPCC Unit Overall Proficiency Award - Gold
• Red Cross: Red Cross Youth Excellent Unit Award - Gold
• Scouts: Frank Cooper Sands Award - Gold
• NCC (Land): Best Unit Competition - Gold

Performing Arts

• Chinese Orchestra
• Choir
• Concert Band

Victoria School Choir is one of the top choirs in Singapore. In 2008, the choir competed in the Olomouc Festa Musicala in Czech Republic. It won a Gold in the Folklore category and a Gold in the SATB Boys category, besides being the SATB Boys Category Champion. Victoria School Choir was one of the six choirs in the competition to make the Grand Finals, taking fifth place. In the biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Choral Judging Competition, the school has always achieved a Gold with Honours award, with exception of the 2007 SYF, where they achieved a Gold. In 2010, Victoria School Choir took part in the Orientale Concentus III choral competition in Taiwan in which they competed in two categories, clinching both the two categories' winner with a Gold and Silver, and also being one of the four grand finalists of the competition. At the inaugural Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore in 2010, the Victoria School Choir formed part of the contingent that sang the national anthem at the Opening Ceremony. In 2009, the Chinese Orchestra and Concert Band both attained a Gold Award in the SYF Competition. This is the Chinese Orchestra's fourth consecutive Gold award since 2003.

2009 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Results

• Choir: Gold with Honours
• Chinese Orchestra: Gold
• Concert Band: Gold
• Drama Chinese: Gold
• Dance Indian: Bronze
• Drama: Bronze

Clubs and societies

• IT Club
• Environment Club
• English Literary, Drama and Debating Society (English LDDS)
• Interact Club
• Library
• Media Resource
• Malay Drama
• Tamil Drama
• Chinese Drama
• Chess Club
• AV Club

2009 Clubs and Societies Achievements

• 6th National Chinese Debate Competition (Zone): Champion
• National Malay Debate Competition (Piala Berita Harian): Champion
• NJC Secondary Mathematics Challenge: Runner-up
• 6th Singapore National Youth Scrabble Championship: Runner-up
• Infocomm Club Award (Secondary School Category): Overall Winner
• The Straits Times National Schools Newspaper Competition: Runner-up

Community Involvement Programmes

Youth Day

On Youth Day, Victoria School boys attempt to 'paint the town yellow' as they go round nearby housing blocks in the neighbourhood collecting old newspapers and items for disposal. Residents are notified in advance about the collection. The boys are clad in their signature yellow PT kit so that they are easily identified.

President's Challenge

Victoria School participates in the President's Challenge every year. In 2006, it sold small booklets containing the artworks of past and present Victorians. In 2005, it held a watch design competition and the best designs were made into real watches and put on sale. In 2004, each class did a specific activity to raise funds for the charity. Activities included washing cars, going door-to-door to do household chores for a donation.

Victoria Challenge

Started in July 1987, the Victoria Challenge allows classes to identify tasks that will contribute to the school. The "challenge" itself is for classes to plan their tasks carefully and pledge to complete it within 24 hours. It is conducted once every four years. Special T-shirts have been designed for every Victoria Challenge since its inception. Every class' challenge is unique, and the challenges encompass various domains. Past challenges have ranged from creating miniature clay figurines, drawing floor murals to creating an "Arts Nook" in a corner of the school, complete with books and a piano. A log of the 2007 Victoria Challenge can be found here.

Overseas Exchange Programmes

Victoria School has established links with schools abroad to promote a Singaporean brand of education and an exchange of ideas. As part of the initiative to improve bilateral education links between Singapore and Malaysia, Victoria School has been link up with Penang Free School of Malaysia by the Ministry of Education. Other schools which Victoria School has bilateral exchange programmes with are Hebei Baoding of PRC, Chung Hwa High School of Malaysia and Sultan Omar Ali Saiffudin High School of Brunei.

Camps

Secondary One Bonding Camp

On the first three days of school, all Secondary One Victorians attend a three-day-two-night camp at the Ministry of Education's Jalan Bahtera Adventure Centre. The students will participate in physical, interactive and character-building activities designed to let them make new friends and adapt to a new environment.

Secondary Three Overseas Adventure Camp

Victoria School was the first school in Singapore to send its entire cohort of Secondary Three students on an overseas camp, having done this since 2001. It is typically held during March, on farmland in Malaysia. The aim is to bond the new Secondary Three students and help them settle into their new classes after being streamed according to their subject combinations, as well as to expose them to life outside the confines of urban Singapore. Activities such as rafting, trekking and mountain-climbing are held during the camp.

Leadership Training Camp (LTC)

The LTC is an annual four-day-three-night overseas leadership camp organised for Secondary 2 students who wish to be leaders of their respective CCAs and clubs/societies. The LTC training style is very regimental and disciplined, and physical training is a major part of the camp.

At the end of the camp, participants are promoted to the rank of 'Junior Leader' and given a red T-shirt (these are known as 'red shirts' by the school population) with a badge in front reading 'INSTRUCTOR', and the words 'Leadership Training Camp' on the back of their shirts. Their seniors, who are their trainers during the camp, are promoted to the rank of 'Senior Leader' and given a black T-shirt, representing seniority over the 'red shirts'.

Camp Instructors Camp (CIC)

The CIC is an outdoor camp held locally in which Secondary 2 students are trained to run camps and conduct activities commonly carried out during outdoor camps. The tone of the camp is different from the LTC camp in the way that a more casual, 'brotherhood' approach to development is employed. Standard school rules, however, are still enforced.

After the camp is concluded, the participants are promoted to the rank of 'Camp Instructor' or, in the case of Secondary Threes, 'Camp Leader'. They are given either red shirts or black shirts, the latter being the more senior.

Since 2007, the CIC has been merged with the LTC. The integrated camp, known as the "Victoria Enhanced Leadership/Outdoor Camp Instructor Training Camp", otherwise known as VELOCI-T, trains Junior Leaders in both leadership skills and camp management skills.

Awards

In 2009, Victoria School was awarded the Ministry of Education's School Distinction Award (SDA).

Victoria School has also attained various CCA awards, such as the Sustained Achievement Awards for sports, performing arts and uniformed groups, in recognition of its consistently high performance in national competitions, sports meets, the biennial Singapore Youth Festival and other events.

Campus and facilities

In the VS campus, the "Eco-Street" forms the central artery, and is the organising element for the linear plan that relates to the metaphor of a learning journey, one through which the student learns, interacts, socialises and develops into a "Victorian Gentleman, Professional and Sportsman". The linear space is marked by the "Victorian Torch" and the "Victorian Platform" at either end, symbolising the beginning and the end - or culmination - of the Victorian experience.

The Eco-Street acts as a green lung, providing space between the Classroom Block and the Science Block. This space allows more natural light into classroms, and allows for improved ventilation.

The diverse flora and fauna of the Eco-Street, including various tropical plants, fish and turtles, provide a setting for outdoor learning to take place. The Victoria Pool, Learning Garden, Bio Pod and Exploration Patch are intended to represent a move away from rigidly-structured, classroom-based instruction.

The classrooms on ground level (Learning Studios, previously known as the Flexsi Rooms) have sliding doors that open out to the landscape, inviting students to the natural outdoors. They have movable furniture and are air-conditioned. They are suitable for impromptu lectures, meetings, project work and other curricular needs. Some classrooms on the upper floors have balconies, taking advantage of the school's sea view. Classroom windows open out to the sea, bringing in cool air to rejuvenate both teachers and students during lessons.

There is also a 500-seater auditorium and a three-storey library.

Victoria Hall

Victoria Hall is a hostel consisting of two 11-storey blocks within the VS compound. The Hall is beside the sea and East Coast Park, giving boarders both a sea view and access to the sporting facilities at the Park. It is home to about 500 boarders of different nationalities, many of whom attend either Victoria School or Victoria Junior College.

Victoria School and Victoria Hall were integrated within one development, optimising the use of scarce land. The objective was to avoid duplication of facilities between the school and hostel and to encourage sharing as far as possible. This process achieved a 13 percent reduction in the net floor area of the hostel, freeing up space for more landscaping and other aesthetic development.

Sports facilities

A S$500,000 AstroTurf field replaced the conventional field in early 2009. This allows games to be played even in wet weather.

A Multi-Purpose Sports Hall which cost around S$5 million was completed in June 2009. It consists of two storeys, but the height of the building is approximately seven storeys due to the high ceiling. The ground floor gives priority to floorball. A floorball mat is placed on the floor, but it can also be used to play sports like futsal. The enclosed second floor is used for sports like volleyball, basketball and badminton.

The school also has an air rifle range, tennis court, PE rooms and a gymnasium.

Computer facilities

The school has a Wi-Fi system. The entire campus is covered with a Wi-Fi signal that allows teachers access to the internet anywhere on campus. A different ID and password is given to staff member to access the wireless network, known as Wireless@VS. Students are forbidden to access due to various reasons unknown to students.

The school recently upgraded its computer laboratories. All computers now have flat LCD screens and a CPU with a Core 2 duo processor and 3GB RAM. They all run on Windows XP.

Incentives and sanctions

There are rules concerning students' uniform, grooming and attendance.

As at some other schools, VS students are forbidden to use mobile phones/cellphones, known locally as handphones, in school. Students can ask the staff for permission to use their handphones in school in case of an emergency.

The most common punishments at VS are school community service, detention for minor offences. For major offences such as playing truant, gambling, vandalism, fighting, smoking, theft, bullying, cheating, or being repeatedly disrespectful to staff, students are sent to the principal to be disciplined with corporal punishment in the form of caning. Occasionally, caning is administered for a repeat of lesser offences such as inappropriate hairstyles or coloured hair.

Victoria Junior College

Victoria School is affiliated to Victoria Junior College (VJC), which was established in 1984 to replace the Pre-University classes in VS.

VJC provided VS students an option to continue a two-year junior college education within the Victorian family after the completion of their secondary education. VS students choosing to enter VJC get two bonus points off their GCE 'O'-Level L1R5 academic aggregate.

VJC has a small portion of its total student intake enrolled through its own Integrated Programme (IP), which VS students can apply for in Secondary Two. However, VS students are not given priority over other students in the IP's selection process. More than 30% of each cohort of the IP in VJC are from VS.

Victoria Advisory Committee

The Victoria Advisory Committee (VAC) set the direction and advises on the future of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College. The committee has 16 members and more than 80% of the members are Old Victorians. The principals of VS and VJC, as well as the President of the Old Victorians' Association, sit on the committee. The present Chairman of the Committee is LG (NS) Ng Yat Chung, a former Chief of Defence Force.

Old Victorians' Association

The alumni body, Old Victorians’ Association (OVA), was established in 1941. It serves as a channel for former students of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College to continue to associate with their alma mater.

The OVA gives support to the activities undertaken by the schools, assists needy students, and promotes sports, social and cultural activities amongst members.

Every first Saturday of March has been designated by OVA as Victorians’ Day, where Victorians from all years play games, eat school canteen food again and catch up with long-time schoolmates.

The OVA football team play an annual friendly football match with Victoria Institution Old Boys’ Association (VIOBA), the alumni body of Victoria Institution, Malaysia. OVA fielded two of the eighteen teams, "Old Victorians' Association" and "Tyrwhitt Old Boys", that competed in the Football Association of Singapore's Singapore 9s Masters 2009 tournament. The OVA hockey teams play in the Singapore Hockey Federation - Men's Division 3 League and Women's Premier League.

In 2006, OVA organized the Victoria School 130th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at the VS school field. A total of 1300 guests at 130 tables were there to celebrate 130 years of Victoria School. Old Victorians of all ages from the 1930s to 2000 and beyond, former principals and teachers, parent support group and ardent supporters of the school, came together to reminisce the good old days and to rekindle friendship. President S. R. Nathan, a distinguished Old Victorian, was the Guest of Honour.

In 2009, OVA organized the inaugural combined VS and VJC gala concert, entitled "Nil Sine Labore", which boasted a 260-strong cast comprising both students and celebrity alumni, at the Esplanade Concert Hall.

An old boy of VS, renowned poet and Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, composed a poem named "Victoria School" for OVA in 1980. The last two lines of the poem, "We do not return to you, mother, Because we never really left.", largely reflect on how Old Victorians feel towards their alma mater.

Alumni

• Yusof Ishak: First President of Singapore, 1959–1970
• C V Devan Nair: Third President of Singapore, 1981–1985
• S R Nathan: Sixth and incumbent President of Singapore, 1999-
• Eu Chooi Yip: Leader, Malayan Communist Party (Singapore)
• S Dhanabalan: Cabinet Minister, 1980–1993; Member of Parliament, 1978–1996; Chairman, Temasek Holdings
• Abdul Aziz Ishak: Cabinet Minister, Malaysia, 1955–1963
• Dr A Vijiaratnam: First Pro-Chancellor, Nanyang Technological University, 1992–2005; Olympian (Hockey), 1956; Only person to have represented Singapore in four sports - hockey, football, cricket and rugby
• Prof Edwin Thumboo: Renowned poet; Emeritus Professor, National University of Singapore; First and former Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS, 1980–1991; Cultural Medallion (Literature) winner, 1980
• LG (NS) Ng Yat Chung: Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces, 2003–2007; Senior Managing Director, Temasek Holdings; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Singapore Institute of Management; SAF (Overseas) Scholar, 1980
• LG Neo Kian Hong: Chief of Defence Force, 2010-; SAF (Overseas) Scholar, 1983
• MG Ng Chee Khern: Chief of Air Force, Singapore Armed Forces, 2006–2009; President's Scholar and SAF (Overseas) Scholar, 1984
• Air Vice Marshal Sulaiman Sujak: Malaysia first non-British Chief of Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force, 1967–1976; Deputy Chairman, Malaysia Airlines, 1977–1991
• MG Syed Mohamed Syed Ahmad Alsagoff: Commander, Malaysian armed forces based in Singapore when Singapore was part of Malaysia, 1963–1965
• Tee Tua Ba: Commissioner of Police, Singapore Police Force, 1992–1997
• Prof Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim: Singapore first non-British Attorney-General, 1965–1967; Queen's Scholar, 1936
• Koh Eng Tian: Solicitor-General, 1981–1991; Senior Counsel
• G Ramachandran: President, Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce, 1966–1968, 1973–1974, 1982–1986
• Quek Leng Chan: Malaysian tycoon; Founder of Hong Leong Group Malaysia

Books

• Lim Fang York, "A sense of belonging, and other poems", 1979, Victoria School
• Lim Mu Yao, "Celebrating 130 years of Victoria School in Singapore", 2006, Victoria School
• "Victoria School art elective program, 21 years", 2006, Victoria School; English 741.683095957 VIC, Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
• "Victoria Chorale", Victoria Chorale [1]

External links

• Official website of Victoria School
• Official website of Victoria Junior College
• Official website of Old Victorians' Association
• Ministry of Education - School Information Service - Victoria School
• Victoria School's Events, Lessons and CCAs weblog by Randell Siow