Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions on Crest Secondary School (CSS)

1) Why is CSS set up?
MOE is committed to supporting the learning needs of all students. The establishment of CSS complements MOE’s on-going efforts in providing students with an engaging learning experience, such as a curriculum that emphasises the building of students’ self-motivation and self-esteem, character development, and literacy and numeracy skills. CSS offers a customised four-year curriculum that integrates both academic learning and vocational training to provide students with skills-based, practice-oriented learning experiences. In addition, Character and Citizenship Education undergirds CSS’ holistic education approach, with a strong focus on values education and social and emotional learning to prepare students for future learning, employment and adulthood.

2) What is the curriculum offered at CSS?
CSS offers academic subjects and the ITE Skills Subject Certificate (ISSC). At lower secondary, students will be exposed to the 5 ITE Skills Subjects by way of Taster Modules. This will allow them to enjoy the range of skills options while allowing them to discover the interest and aptitude for each area before they select 2 subjects to specialise in at upper secondary. To support the learning of our higher ability students, the school may offer English Language Mathematics and/or Mother Tongue Language at the G2 level to these students, starting from Sec 1, if they meet the school’s eligibility criteria.

3) How are students assessed at CSS?
CSS adopts a skills-based, formative assessment approach to scaffold students’ learning and enable them to achieve the learning goals. Continual assessment, such as practice-based assessment, constitutes a major component of the overall assessment of students’ performance across subjects. For Taster Modules, students will sit for an end-of-module assessment at the end of each semester. In addition, students will sit for the End-of-Year Assessments for academic subjects.

4) What qualifications will CSS students graduate with?
CSS students will graduate at Sec 4 with the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) and the ITE Skills Subjects Certificate (ISSC). With these qualifications, CSS students can apply for Nitec courses at any of the three Institute of Technical Education (ITE) colleges.
Sec 4 students with special talent and skills aptitude e.g. sports, performing arts, technical & vocational skills may apply to ITE for early admission to their preferred Nitec courses via the ITE Early Admission Exercise, prior to the release of the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) results.

5) What Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) does CSS offer?

6. What are the criteria for student admission into CSS?
All P6, G1, G1/G2 eligible students may apply for admission to CSS. The school will evaluate each applicant carefully, taking into consideration the student’s potential to benefit from its skills-based, practice-oriented curriculum. All P6 eligible students will receive a letter inviting them to apply for admission into CSS when they receive their PSLE results from their primary school.

7. When must the application form for admission to Crest Secondary School be submitted to the school?
Starting from 2024, Crest Secondary School will participate in MOE’s S1 Posting Exercise. Eligible students may either submit their application to Crest Secondary School during the Pre-Registration Exercise or via the S1 Posting Exercise portal. You may scan and email the application form to crestsec@schools.gov.sg or by hand to the Admin Office (More details will be spelt out in the Invitation Letter for students who qualify for Crest Secondary School when you receive your PSLE results). The deadline of the application is on 26 November 2024, Tuesday (tentative) 3 P.M. We advise parents/students to submit the application form early. The school will evaluate each applicant carefully, taking into consideration the student’s potential to benefit from its skills-based, practice- oriented curriculum.

8. Does CSS offer financial assistance to needy students?
Singapore Citizen students may apply for MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (MOE-FAS) if they meet the gross household income or per capital income criteria. The MOE-FAS provides needy students with free school textbooks and stationery, school uniform and vocational attire, shoes and socks, waiver of school and standard miscellaneous fees, and daily school meal and transport subsidies. Students can approach the school’s Administration Office for a MOE-FAS application form or download the application from the website. Needy students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for MOE FAS may be considered for the School-Based FAS. Approval will be given on a case-by-case basis.

9. Does CSS provide bus shuttle service for students?
Due to a persistent island wide shortage of drivers for both private and public buses, the school is unable to procure shuttle bus services for the school from 2 Jan 2024 onwards. The one-way shuttle bus service will hence be ceased from year 2024 onwards. Students are to consider alternative transportation arrangements, such as utilizing public transportation options or carpooling. We appreciate support and understanding from students and parents/guardians.

10. What are the school hours at CSS?
The school hours in 2024 are as follows:

The latest dismissal time for Mon, Tue and Thur will be 3:15 p.m. Parents are to check the students’ timetable for details.

^ Please note that the above dismissal times will only take effect from 8 January 2024 (Monday) onwards.

11. What are the progression pathways after Crest?
As our students study the ITE Skills Subjects, it will provide them with a skills and aptitude advantage when they apply to ITE under the Early Admission Scheme as they will have developed their foundation skills for many Nitec courses at Crest.
Students in Crest specialises in 2 ITE Skills Subjects (which will be equivalent to 2 G1 passes). This means that they will be equipped with vocational and technical skills advantage when they apply to ITE under the ITE Early Admission Scheme. They will be able to apply to a wide range of related Nitec courses in ITE if they meet the respective entry requirements. More than 90% of our graduated students can progress to ITE for a skills course at the Nitec level. From there, depending on how well they perform, many will be able to progress to a Diploma or Higher Nitec programme at ITE or a Polytechnic.