TMS was founded in 1980, sharing a campus with Bedok North Secondary School at Upper Changi Road.[2] In 1995, the school attained autonomy,[3] and in March 1999, it moved to its current campus at Upper East Coast Road.[3] It was ranked at all-time high 16th place among all secondary schools in 2000.[4]
Academic information
Being a government secondary school, TMS offers three academic streams, namely the four-year Express course, as well as the Normal Course, comprising Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) academic tracks.
The examinable academic subjects for Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level offered by the school for upper secondary level (via. streaming in secondary 2 level), as of 2017, are listed below.[6]
Notes:
Subjects indicated with ' * ' are mandatory subjects.
All students in Singapore are required to undertake a Mother Tongue Language as an examinable subject, as indicated by ' ^ '.
"SPA" in Pure Science subjects refers to the incorporation of School-based Science Practical Assessment, which 20% of the subject result in the national examination are determined by school-based practical examinations, supervised by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. The SPA Assessment has been replaced by one Practical Assessment in the 2018 O Levels.[7]
Sciences
Language & Humanities
Arts & Aesthetics
Additional Mathematics*
Mathematics*
Physics (SPA)
Chemistry (SPA)*
Biology (SPA)
Science (Combined)
English Language*
English Literature
Mother Tongue Language* ^
Higher Mother Tongue Language
Geography
History
Combined Humanities (Social Studies & another Humanities subject at elective level)*
Art
Design & Technology
Food & Nutrition
Music
Economics (OSIE)
Normal Course
The Normal Course is a nationwide 4-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination, which runs either the Normal (Academic) curriculum or Normal (Technical) curriculum, abbreviated as N(A) and N(T) respectively.[8]
A 5th year leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination is available to N(A) students who perform well in their Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Students can move from one course to another based on their performance and the assessment of the school principal and teachers.[8]
Normal (Technical) Course
The Normal (Technical) course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education.[9] Students will offer 5-7 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.[9] The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics.[9] Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.[9]