Why Are We #SSPecial?
#weareSSPecial
When an aspiring athlete walks through the doors of Singapore Sports School, the weight of their hopes and dreams lies with the School. As a key player in the youth sports ecosystem and an education provider, Sports School takes a unique athlete-centric approach to develop champions and make their dreams come alive. Beyond winning medals, it aims to develop champions of tomorrow who are confident and future-ready individuals.
Sports Excellence
Sports School’s sports programmes are underpinned by the Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD). Based on the LTAD model, coaches strategise training according to their stage in athletic development. Planned and progressive steps are taken to optimise their performance and ensure that student-athletes’ reach their full potential. Sports School believes that the athlete-centred, coach-driven and sport science-supported approach will help develop a lifelong involvement of student-athletes in physical activity and sport participation and produce future champions.
Our sports programmes are strategically developed by experienced coaches to ensure physical, tactical and skills development in the chosen sport. To give them good exposure and experience, they participate in local and overseas competitions and training. Our sport academies also work closely with the National Sport Associations (NSAs) to ensure that student-athletes are well-supported in their sporting journey.
Their efforts are complemented by the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) which provides sports science support on campus, and work with the school to develop good nutrition habits, ensure athlete-life management, and build a champion’s mindset.
Athlete-Friendly Academic Programmes
Based on the LTAD model, Sports School provides secondary and post-secondary programmes for student-athletes. Student-athletes can enrol in the School after completing their primary school education, and continue their studies in the through-train International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or joint Polytechnic Diploma programmes (Diploma in Business with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Diploma in Business with Republic Polytechnic) to ensure long-term athlete development. As such, student-athletes can bypass the GCE O- or N-Levels to continue focussing on their sports development.
The academic programmes provided at Sports School are similar to mainstream schools but are flexible and customised to meet student-athletes’ needs. Student-athletes can plan their academic schedule according to their sporting goals to better balance sports and studies.
Secondary 4 student-athlete Ryo Ong took a gap year in 2022 to focus on sports. His decision to be a full-time athlete for a year paid off, as he qualified for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Paddler Izaac Quek Yong, who recently came into the spotlight for breaking into the Top 100 after the Singapore Grand Smash, took leave of absence from school towards the end of Secondary 4 to focus on table tennis. Swimmer Maximillian Ang Wei, who won 2 golds and 1 silver at the 53rd Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships, was on the extended Diploma in Sport and Leisure Management programme offered jointly with Republic Polytechnic. During his diploma studies, Maximillian represented Singapore at the 30th SEA Games, 31st SEA Games, and the 22nd Commonwealth Games. To achieve these milestones, Maximillian planned his studies around sports and extended the completion of his course. Likewise, Cheung Kemei who is in the IBDP programme, will be completing the course in three years instead of the usual two years. She recently took home a bronze at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships and will represent Singapore at the 32nd SEA Games.
Student-athletes who miss classes due to sporting commitments get academic make-up support through online resources and consultations with teachers. As the class size is small, teachers can also give greater attention and support to each student-athlete.
The polytechnic programme is also unique in Sports School. Polytechnic lecturers from the main campus teach student-athletes in Sports School from 12 to 4pm, four days a week. The structure of the timetable allows for morning training, evening training, and consultations on free days. Also, student-athletes take bite-sized modules compared to 5 modules by most polytechnic student-athletes. They can defer modules and extend the completion of the diploma programme based on their sports development plan and competitions.
Holistic Development
Sports School is not all about winning medals and chasing academic grades. The School emphasizes on developing Champions who will have the values, life skills, and good character to succeed in sports or other fields of their choice in the future.
It has a comprehensive student development programme that gives student-athletes a broad range of experiences and leadership opportunities to build good character, resilience, social-emotional well-being, future readiness, and active citizenship.
There are six distinct pillars in our Student Development Programme: Character and Citizenship Education, Enhanced Mentorship and Career Guidance, National Education, Sexuality Education, service to others through Values-in-Action projects, and Student Leadership Programme.
A Village To Raise Champions
Besides the programmes in place, Sports School supports student-athletes in various ways. They benefit from strong mentorship from staff who look at their total holistic development. A General Manager, an Academic Mentor, a Boarding Mentor, coaches, teachers, and corporate staff care for their overall well-being and needs.
Boarding is available on campus for student-athletes to maximise their time and become responsible and independent individuals. Boarding mentors ensure that student-athletes are well taken care of and support them during their stay in School. Resource teachers are also available during the supervised self-study time at Boarding to help student-athletes with their studies.
As Sports School in plugged into the sports ecosystem, they are also well-supported by sport organisations, sponsors, partners, and the Sporting Parents Network.
The collective efforts of the Sports School family have developed several sport champions, role models, and successful individuals over the years. With its strong programmes, athlete-friendly environment and support system in place, it is the best place for aspiring national athletes to thrive and shine.
Find out more about Sports School during the e-Open House, launching on 15 April 2023.
When an aspiring athlete walks through the doors of Singapore Sports School, the weight of their hopes and dreams lies with the School. As a key player in the youth sports ecosystem and an education provider, Sports School takes a unique athlete-centric approach to develop champions and make their dreams come alive. Beyond winning medals, it aims to develop champions of tomorrow who are confident and future-ready individuals.
Sports Excellence
Sports School’s sports programmes are underpinned by the Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD). Based on the LTAD model, coaches strategise training according to their stage in athletic development. Planned and progressive steps are taken to optimise their performance and ensure that student-athletes’ reach their full potential. Sports School believes that the athlete-centred, coach-driven and sport science-supported approach will help develop a lifelong involvement of student-athletes in physical activity and sport participation and produce future champions.
Our sports programmes are strategically developed by experienced coaches to ensure physical, tactical and skills development in the chosen sport. To give them good exposure and experience, they participate in local and overseas competitions and training. Our sport academies also work closely with the National Sport Associations (NSAs) to ensure that student-athletes are well-supported in their sporting journey.
Their efforts are complemented by the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) which provides sports science support on campus, and work with the school to develop good nutrition habits, ensure athlete-life management, and build a champion’s mindset.
Athlete-Friendly Academic Programmes
Based on the LTAD model, Sports School provides secondary and post-secondary programmes for student-athletes. Student-athletes can enrol in the School after completing their primary school education, and continue their studies in the through-train International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or joint Polytechnic Diploma programmes (Diploma in Business with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Diploma in Business with Republic Polytechnic) to ensure long-term athlete development. As such, student-athletes can bypass the GCE O- or N-Levels to continue focussing on their sports development.
The academic programmes provided at Sports School are similar to mainstream schools but are flexible and customised to meet student-athletes’ needs. Student-athletes can plan their academic schedule according to their sporting goals to better balance sports and studies.
Secondary 4 student-athlete Ryo Ong took a gap year in 2022 to focus on sports. His decision to be a full-time athlete for a year paid off, as he qualified for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Paddler Izaac Quek Yong, who recently came into the spotlight for breaking into the Top 100 after the Singapore Grand Smash, took leave of absence from school towards the end of Secondary 4 to focus on table tennis. Swimmer Maximillian Ang Wei, who won 2 golds and 1 silver at the 53rd Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships, was on the extended Diploma in Sport and Leisure Management programme offered jointly with Republic Polytechnic. During his diploma studies, Maximillian represented Singapore at the 30th SEA Games, 31st SEA Games, and the 22nd Commonwealth Games. To achieve these milestones, Maximillian planned his studies around sports and extended the completion of his course. Likewise, Cheung Kemei who is in the IBDP programme, will be completing the course in three years instead of the usual two years. She recently took home a bronze at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships and will represent Singapore at the 32nd SEA Games.
Student-athletes who miss classes due to sporting commitments get academic make-up support through online resources and consultations with teachers. As the class size is small, teachers can also give greater attention and support to each student-athlete.
The polytechnic programme is also unique in Sports School. Polytechnic lecturers from the main campus teach student-athletes in Sports School from 12 to 4pm, four days a week. The structure of the timetable allows for morning training, evening training, and consultations on free days. Also, student-athletes take bite-sized modules compared to 5 modules by most polytechnic student-athletes. They can defer modules and extend the completion of the diploma programme based on their sports development plan and competitions.
Holistic Development
Sports School is not all about winning medals and chasing academic grades. The School emphasizes on developing Champions who will have the values, life skills, and good character to succeed in sports or other fields of their choice in the future.
It has a comprehensive student development programme that gives student-athletes a broad range of experiences and leadership opportunities to build good character, resilience, social-emotional well-being, future readiness, and active citizenship.
There are six distinct pillars in our Student Development Programme: Character and Citizenship Education, Enhanced Mentorship and Career Guidance, National Education, Sexuality Education, service to others through Values-in-Action projects, and Student Leadership Programme.
A Village To Raise Champions
Besides the programmes in place, Sports School supports student-athletes in various ways. They benefit from strong mentorship from staff who look at their total holistic development. A General Manager, an Academic Mentor, a Boarding Mentor, coaches, teachers, and corporate staff care for their overall well-being and needs.
Boarding is available on campus for student-athletes to maximise their time and become responsible and independent individuals. Boarding mentors ensure that student-athletes are well taken care of and support them during their stay in School. Resource teachers are also available during the supervised self-study time at Boarding to help student-athletes with their studies.
As Sports School in plugged into the sports ecosystem, they are also well-supported by sport organisations, sponsors, partners, and the Sporting Parents Network.
The collective efforts of the Sports School family have developed several sport champions, role models, and successful individuals over the years. With its strong programmes, athlete-friendly environment and support system in place, it is the best place for aspiring national athletes to thrive and shine.
Find out more about Sports School during the e-Open House, launching on 15 April 2023.
