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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 all-boys premier school, founded in 1876, is located at Siglap Link, about one kilometre from Victoria Junior College. 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.[1] [2] Victoria School attracts students from all walks of life and has produced numerous scholars, politicians, top civil servants, academics, senior military/police officers, corporate figures, and sportsmen, who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of Singapore. The list of Victoria School old boys includes three Presidents: Mr Yusof Ishak, Mr C.V. Devan Nair and Mr S.R. Nathan.
[edit] History[edit] Kampong Glam: 1876-1900Victoria School had its humble 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. [edit] Syed Alwi: 1900-1932The 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. [edit] Tyrwhitt Road: 1932-1984In 1932, the school moved to Tyrwhitt Road, off Jalan Besar, and came to be known as Victoria School in 1936. [3] In 1940, the school motto, Nil Sine Labore came into existence. 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' Levels) 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 1975, Suresh Sahadevan scored 8 distinctions to become Singapore's top student in the GCE 'O' Level 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-Univeristy students sat for the 'A' levels 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 today and features two school buildings from the pre- and post-war period on a single site. The original main building is a unique educational building and 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. [edit] Geylang Bahru: 1984-2003In 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, one of the first two non-independent schools to do so. However, the programme was shelved a few years later. [edit] Siglap Link: 2003-The ceremonial move in 2003 to the new campus was graced by His Excellency, President S R Nathan, an old boy of VS. Together with the Victoria Hall hostel, the cost of construction of the new campus was almost S$40 million dollars. A new indoor sports hall costing S$5 million dollars was added in 2009. In 2008, Victoria School became the first school in Singapore to offer "Physical Education" as an O-level subject. [4] It is also one of the four pioneer secondary schools to offer the Regional Studies Programme. [edit] Symbols[edit] School VisionA Victorian is ultimately a Gentleman, a Professional and a Sportsman who makes tangible contributions to his family, work, community and nation. [edit] School MissionVictoria School aims to provide a stimulating environment that promotes life-long learning for high-calibre students from Singapore and abroad, as well as inculcating in them the values to be responsible and effective individuals. The school states its mission to be a premier school recognised for a rich tradition of excellence, and its ability to groom upright and balanced individuals with leadership qualities. It claims to be dedicated to instilling in Victorians a spirit of achievement, and nurturing them into becoming innovative and respectable leaders. [edit] School CrestThe 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. [edit] School ColoursYellow: Stands for dignity and excellence Red: Symbolizes universal brotherhood and equality [edit] School Motto"Nil Sine Labore" [edit] Culture & Tradition[edit] UniformVictoria School's uniform, like that of most Singapore schools, follows a British style. However, the maroon blazers are worn only to formal events, being too hot for day-to-day use because of the tropical climate. Victoria School's formal uniform consists of a 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 shorts/trousers. Secondary 3 and 4 Victorians wear a black school belt with 'Nil Sine Labore' engraved on the buckle. The school socks are white with the initials 'VS' in red on both sides. These are compulsory for all Victorians. In 2005, an official 'Victoria School' shoe bearing the letter 'V' on each side was introduced, this however, is not compulsory. Traditionally on Mondays, Victorians wear a maroon striped tie. Victorians wear the school badge above the left chest pocket, while student bodies such as the Prefectorial Board, Peer Support Board and Monitors' Council wear instead the badges of their respective student bodies. For physical activities and camps, students wear a bright yellow T-shirt with black trim, black shorts and white socks. Each house has its own running vest (singlet) in the respective 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. There are four types of official school badges, the default school badge, the Prefect badge, the Monitor Badge and the Peer Support Leaders Badge. There are also collar badges such as AV Club, Librarian, Choir, Chinese Orchestra, CLDDS, Concert Band, Arrow Scouts, NPCC, NCC (Sea) and Boys' Brigade badges, to represent the respective CCAs the students are in. [edit] IdentityStudents, teachers and even the principal of the school are often referred to and addressed as "Victorians" or "Gentlemen". Victoria School sticks to its colonial roots. Victorians are expected to address all male teachers as 'Sir' and female teachers as 'Ma'am'. The word "Victorian" in bold black letters across the back of the yellow PE T-shirt makes students wearing it very identifiable. [edit] DemographicsVictoria School's student demographic largely reflects that of Singapore as a whole. There are also numerous ASEAN (South-east Asia), PRC and A*STAR scholars in the school. Victoria School has established links with many schools abroad to promote a Singaporean brand of education and an exchange of ideas, particularly in the People's Republic of China(PRC). The school also has bilateral exchange programmes with schools in the PRC, Malaysia and Thailand. Some examples are Chung Hwa High School (Malaysia) and Hebei-Baoding (PRC). VS students of foreign languages take part in the Ministry of Education Language Centre's (MOELC) month-long Study-cum-Immersion Programmes (SCIP) to countries such as France, Germany and Japan. [edit] Victorian AnthemVictoria in Singapore For here we've learnt and striven too Victoria thy sons are we For others came before and went Lyrics by J A Frazer Note: With the establishment of Victoria Junior College, the lyrics of the anthem were slightly amended in 1987. The word 'School' after 'Victoria' was dropped after the first 3 'Victoria' [i.e. 'Victoria' in lines in starting two paragraphs]. 'Victoria' in these lines are now being sung as 'Vic-to-ri-a' instead of 'Vic-to-ria School'. [edit] Victorian SpiritVictorian Spirit is the sense of pride that the schools seeks to instil in every Victorian when he first enters the school as well as the patron saint of Victoria School. The Spirit, it is said, continues to live in the Victorian even many years after he has left the school. The Victorian Spirit is most evident during competitions when principal, teachers and students engage in cheering for the school. [edit] Peer Support BoardThe Victoria School Peer Support Board is one of the three Student Leaders' Organisations in Victoria School. Its motto is "You Never Stand Alone". The Mascot of the VSPSB is the Phoenix. Being a friend and a facilitator to the Secondary One Students and thus help the Secondary One students to transit into secondary school life has been one of its missions since it was established. Peer Leaders are also involved in many inter-school activities. PSLs played the role as station masters during the YOG/AYG Games Day in the school. They are also deployed to attend the Secondary One Orientation Camp. Senior PSLs are required to attend the Victoria Enhanced Leadership Outdoor Camp Instructors - Training Camp (VELOCI-T Camp). Outside school, the executive committee have been involved in the 1st ASEAN Youth Convention, both as student organising team members and as student liaison officers. [edit] Prefectorial BoardThe board is responsible for organising school events and helping regulate school discipline. 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 top three committee positions are chosen annually by students and teaching staff of the school through an online voting process. [edit] Monitors' Council[edit] HousesThe five houses of Victoria School are Kallang, Kapor, Whampoa, Glam and Rochore. They are most active during inter-house games such as soccer and other sports, as well as at the Sports Day at Victoria Junior College, and the School Cross-Country held at MacRitchie Reservoir. [edit] Special ProgrammesVictoria School offer the GCE Physical Education Programme, Art Elective Programme, Regional Studies Programme, and Higher Mother Tongue Languages in Chinese, Malay and Tamil. [edit] Art Elective Programme (AEP)The Art Elective Programme lead to the GCE "O" Level Higher Art examination. The AEP is offered to academically able students with talents in art. The aim of the programme is to stretch these students' talents in art, and to develop individuals who would be able to provide leadership favourable to the cultivation of the arts in Singapore. [edit] Regional Studies Programme (RSP)Students in the RSP will offer Bahasa Indonesia as a third language, and learn about Southeast Asian culture and contemporary society. RSP curriculum will include overseas immersion programmes and structured enrichment modules spread out during the course. [edit] GCE 6080 Physical EducationAn upper secondary class of about 25 students will be set aside such that PE Theory lessons can be held. The lessons and courses will be facilitated by the PE Department of the school. PE O Level will include courses like Weight Training, Soccer, Hockey, Cross Country, etc. Students will take the O Level Theory Exam at the end of the course (i.e. November of Graduating Year). This test will contribute 40% of their total grade. The other 60% coming from the practical component. [edit] Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs)The school holds many performing arts and sporting activities, with intra-school events such as the biennial Rhapsody, Drama Festival (Dramafest) and Evening of Music & Drama (EMD), as well as the Annual Victoria School Sports and Cross-Country Championships. [edit] SportsMany former students have gone on to represent Singapore in various sports, some also becoming captains of national teams. 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. An old boy, Dr A Vijiaratnam, is the only Singaporean who had represented Singapore in 4 sports - hockey, cricket, football and rugby respectively. Dr Vijiaratnam was also the first Pro-Chancellor of Nanyang Technological University. Teo Ser Luck, an Ironman triathlete who represented VS in football, cross-country and swimming, 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 & Ministry of Transport, as well as the Mayor, North East Community Development Council. In recent years, Victoria School students have represented Singapore in various sporting competitions. Some of these are as follows: 2005: 15-year-old Lo Jun Hao came in second in the World Byte Championships for sailing. [5] 2007: 13-year old Tan Xiang Ting was Singapore's only gold medal winner in the 4th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Korea. [6] 2007: Rezza Gaznavi captained the Singapore national Under-15 cricket team which won the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 cricket tournament in Nepal. 2009: 13-year-old Jeffrey Adam Lightfoot captained the Singapore national Under-14 football team for the inaugural Asian Youth Games held in Singapore. [7] In cross-country, VS has won more than 20 team titles since the 1980s, despite stiff competition as it is participated in by all the schools in Singapore. See Victoria School Cross-country. [edit] 2009 Inter-Schools Sports Results
VS received 22 Individual and 16 Team awards in the 2009 Schools Sports Colours Awards. [edit] Uniformed GroupsVictoria School has six uniformed groups:
Uniformed groups are Victoria School's forte, having won numerous Best Unit competitions, Gold medals and scoring many firsts over the last few decades. Former VS NCC cadets include the Chief of Army, MG Neo Kian Hong. [edit] 2009 Competition Results
[edit] Performing Arts
In June 2008, Victoria School Choir competed in the Olomouc Festa Musicala, Czech Republic. It won a Gold with 91 points in the Folklore category and was awarded a Gold with 99 points plus Category Champion for the SATB Boys category. Victoria School Choir was one of the 6 choirs in the entire competition to make the Grand Finals, taking fifth place.Victoria School Choir is also ranked as one of the top youth boy's choir in Singapore. Furthermore, the choir is recognised by many as a top choir, not only in SYF Choral Judging Competition, achieving either a Gold or Gold with Honours award each time, but also in international choral competitions. In 2009, the Chinese Orchestra and Concert Band both attained a Gold Award in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival Competition, while the Choir achieved the Gold with Honours award.[8] This was the Chinese Orchestra's fourth consecutive Gold award since 2003. [edit] 2009 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Results
[edit] Clubs and Societies
[edit] Clubs and Societies Achievements 2009
[edit] Community Programmes[edit] Youth DayOne of the most significant activities is held on Youth Day every year. Victoria boys attempt to 'paint the town yellow' as they go around the neighbourhood collecting old newspapers and items from the housing blocks. Residents are notified in advance that the boys are coming. The students carry the items down the block for disposal. The boys are usually clad in their signature yellow PT kit so they are easily identified by the public. [edit] President's ChallengeVictoria School participates in the President's Challenge every year. In 2006, it sold small booklets containing the artworks of Victorians past and present. In 2005, it held a watch design competition and the best designs were made into real watches and put on sale. In 2004, it allowed each class to initiate an activity to raise funds for the charity. Activities included having the boys wash cars for a donation and going door to door, doing chores for households for a donation, including cleaning and washing houses. [edit] Victoria ChallengeStarted in July 1987, the Victoria Challenge aims to allow classes to identify tasks that will contribute tangibly to the school. This contribution can be either aesthetic or 'atmospheric'. The Challenge is for classes to plan their task carefully and pledge to complete it within the time allocated. It is conducted once every four years and is regarded by students as a high point in their student life. Special T-shirts are designed for every Victoria Challenge. [edit] Camps[edit] Secondary One Bonding CampOn the first week of school, all secondary one Victorians will attend a three-day-two-night camp at the Ministry of Education's Jalan Bahtera Adventure Centre. They participate in various physical, interactive and character-building activities. [edit] Secondary Three Overseas Adventure CampVictoria School was the first school to send its entire cohort of secondary three students on an overseas camp, having done this since 2001. It is held 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. Activities such as kayaking and trekking are held. [edit] 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 regimented and disciplined, and incorporates physical training as the highlight of the camp. After completing the camp, the trainees are promoted to the rank of 'Junior Leader' and given a red T-shirt (these are called 'red shirts') with a badge in front reading 'INSTRUCTOR', and the words 'Leadership Training Camp' on the back of their shirts. Their seniors, their trainers during the camp, are promoted to the rank 'Senior Leader' and given a black T-shirt representing seniority over the 'red shirts'. [edit] Camp Instructors Camp (CIC)CIC is an outdoor camp held locally at 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 that a 'brotherhood' approach to development is employed. Standard school rules, however, are still very much enforced. After the camp is concluded, the participants are promoted to the rank of 'Camp Instructor' and the secondary 3s to the rank of '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 Veloci-T, trains Junior Leaders in both leadership skills and camp management skills. [edit] AwardsIn 2009, Victoria School was awarded the Ministry of Education's School Distinction Award (SDA). [9] [edit] Campus & FacilitiesThe VS campus has an innovative design, aimed to maximize learning. Outdoor spaces are integrated as part of the design - 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". This journey is translated into a variety of learning and social spaces. The linear space is marked by the "Victorian Torch" and the "Victorian Platform" at either end, meant to symbolise the beginning and the culmination of this Victorian experience, respectively. Functionally, the Eco-Street takes the form of a central green lung that provides a relief space between the classroom suites and the special teaching rooms. The setback between blocks allows more natural light into the interiors and better ventilation through the various spaces. The flora and fauna of the Eco-Street provide a setting for outdoor learning to take place. The Victoria Pool, the Learning Garden, and the Bio Pod and Exploration Patch are intended to represent a move away from structured classroom-based instruction, to a learning experience that fosters teamwork, communication and autonomy. The design allows flexibility in accommodating the school's subject-room system. This is a faculty-based arrangement by different disciplines and specialist subject areas. The classrooms are assigned to different subject areas and students move from class to class. The classrooms on ground level (Learning Studios, previously known as the Flexsi Rooms) are renovated and specially designed with 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 and other curricular needs. Some classrooms on the upper floors have balconies. Victoria Hall is a hostel within the VS compound. The Hall is beside the sea and East Coast Park, giving boarders both a bay view and easy access to the sporting facilities at the Park. It is home to about 500 boarders of different nationalities.[10] Victoria School and Victoria Hall were integrated within one development, optimising the use of scarce land. The object 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 valuable space for more landscaped areas. A S$500,000 AstroTurf field replaced the conventional field in early 2009. This has improved the field's capability of hosting events such as soccer matches, and allows games to be played comfortably even in wet weather. A Multi-Purpose Sports Hall costing some S$5 million was completed in June 2009. It consists of two storeys, but the height of the building is approximately 7 storeys due to the high ceiling. The ground floor gives priority to floorball. A special floorball mat is placed on the floor, but it can also be used to play sports like futsal. The enclosed second floor is suitable for sports like volleyball, basketball and badminton. The school has a Wi-Fi system. The entire campus is covered with a Wi-Fi signal. This allows teachers and students access to the internet anywhere on campus. A different ID and password is given to each student and staff member to access the wireless network, known as Wireless@VS. [edit] Incentives & SanctionsVictorians are expected to have the right attitude towards learning and be well-behaved. All Victorians are expected to know and apply five basic principles that will help them to achieve a high standard of personal discipline, which are following rules, showing respect, taking responsibility, building relationships and practising reflection. There are rules about uniform, grooming and attendance. As at some other schools, VS students are forbidden to use mobile phones (cellphones), known locally as handphones, in school.[11] However, students may seek staff permission to use their handphones in school in case of emergency. The most common punishments at VS are School Community Service (detention) and Demerit Points for minor offences. For major offences such as playing truant, gambling, vandalism, fighting, smoking, theft, bullying, cheating, or being disrespectful to staff, students are sent to the principal to be disciplined with corporal punishment in the form of strokes of the cane, with the offender donning his thin PE shorts for the occasion. The offender's spinal cord near the backside is protected with a thick leather belt to guard against any mis-stroke. Occasionally, caning is administered for a repeat of lesser offences such as inappropriate hairstyle or tinted hair, and "sneaking into school after morning assembly".[12] Canings are normally meted out in private, but in rare serious cases the ceremony may be performed in front of all the other students. This may be combined with a period of suspension from school or even expulsion. Most of the time, offenders are not caned but counselled. Counselling is still the preferred choice by the disciplinary staff of the school. The class with the most merit points in its level receives an award at the annual Speech Day. [edit] AffiliationVictoria School is affiliated to Victoria Junior College (VJC), which was established in 1984 to replace the Pre-University classes in VS. VJC provide VS students a choice to continue a two-year junior college education within the Victorian family after their secondary education. VS boys choosing to enter VJC get two bonus points off their 'O' level L1R5 academic aggregate. Entry to VJC is open to all secondary school students in Singapore. VJC has a small portion of its total student intake enrolled through its own Integrated Programme (IP), in which VS students have an equal opportunity of enrolling. [edit] Victoria Executive and Advisory CommitteeThe Victoria Executive and Advisory Committee (VEC/VAC) set the direction and advises on the future of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College. The committe has 18 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. [edit] AlumniThe alumni body, Old Victorians’ Association (OVA), was established in 1941. It serves as a formal channel for former students of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College to continue to associate with their alma mater, and to bind together under the Victorian family. The OVA gives support to the activities undertaken by the schools, assists needy and deserving Victorians, 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 will engage in games, indulge in school canteen food again and, most importantly, catch up with long-time schoolmates. The OVA team play an annual friendly football match with Victoria Institution Old Boys’ Association (VIOBA), the alumni body of Victoria Institution, Malaysia. The OVA hockey team play in the Singapore Hockey Federation - Men's Division 3 league. In 2009, OVA organized the inaugural combined VS and VJC gala concert, entitled "Nil Sine Labore", which boasts 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 read: [edit] Alumnus
A longer list of alumnus can be found here [edit] References
[edit] External links
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