School History

Hougang Secondary School (HS) was established in 2001 as a Government co-educational school at Lowland Road. On 20 December 2001, the school relocated to its current site at Hougang Street 93. The spacious and conducive physical environment as well as the up-to-date facilities offer opportunities for all Hougeans to strive for excellence and ‘Make the Difference’. HS provides a holistic and quality education for Hougeans to pursue their strengths and passions. Premised on this belief, the school partners parents and stakeholders to care, lead and inspire students to discover their passion and fulfil their aspirations.

HS places strong emphasis on character and values education. It is committed to nurture every Hougean into Passionate Learners, Principled Leaders and Grateful Citizens, who will make the difference in their life journey even after they have left the gates of HS. There are opportunities for Hougeans to be imbued with the school’s core values of GRIT (Gratitude, Respect, Ingenuity, Trustworthiness and Grit) through its Instructional, Character and Citizenship Education, Student Leadership, CCAs, Learning for Life and Applied Learning programmes which cater to different needs and interests of the students. The school also believes in building strength of character and inculcating values such as “Respect Yourself, Respect Others” and “Choose Wisely, Face Consequences Squarely” which serve to guide our students in their pursuit of skills and knowledge.

HS believes that strong values will provide students the impetus towards academic excellence. Therefore, the school’s Learning for Life Programme – Community Youth Leadership, “Values in Action, A Hougean Way of Life”, provides a sustained and enhanced values education progressively over 4/5 years. Leveraging on the Service Learning approach, students take ownership of their involvement in VIA projects, seek to understand the needs of the community, and co-construct and mentor their peers to bring about awareness, action and advocacy in their chosen area of community need.

To nurture Hougeans to be confident and competent speakers, the school’s Applied Learning Programme, “Effective Communication Skills through Authentic Learning” strives to promote communication skills using real life learning platforms. By furnishing students with authentic settings and problems, they will be able to acquire useful and transferable communication skills. The programme includes broadcasting, public speaking, debates, drama and journalism.

A school of distinction, HS was recognised for having best practices in Student All-Round Development, Character and Citizenship Education, and Teaching & Learning in 2016.

Principals:

• Mr Chia Choon Kiat (2001 to 2008)
• Mr Ng Tiong Nam (2009 to 2016)
• Mr Arivazhagan Manickam (2017 to 2022)
• Mr Brandon Lee (2023 to present)

Milestones

Photographs	Year	Descriptions
	2001	Establishment of Hougang Secondary School at Lowland Road. Pioneer staff and students at Lowland Road campus in 2001.
	2001	The Hougean Move “We’ve moved in and we’ll move forward” First assembly at Hougang Secondary School, Hougang Street 93 following its re-location from Lowland Road.
	2003	Official Opening of Hougang Secondary School by GOH RAdm Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence RAdm Teo inspecting the Guard-of-Honour contingent with Founding Principal, Mr Chia Choon Kiat
	2006	Formation of HS Alumni Founding Principal, Mr Chia Choon Kiat with SAC Chairperson, Ms Evelyn Lim, SAC members, Teacher i/c and Alumni EXCO.
	2009	Participation in Asian Youth Games Torch Relay The torch relay resumed on June 29 for theSchools leg, with the flame travelling to 45 schools around Singapore, where over a hundred runners had the honour of carrying the torch. Hougang Secondary School was one of the 45 schools that received this honour.
	2016	Invited the then Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport, Mr Ng Chee Meng as GOH to school’s GRC Banquet 2016 – “Say Yes to 3G Volunteerism : Youths.Educators.Seniors
	2017	Received the President’s Award for Volunteerism & Philanthropy – Educational Institution Winner for having achieved excellence in giving.
	2018	Received the PAYM – Service Learning Award for our long-term service and commitment.