There are several schools in Singapore that have been left abandoned for years.
Former Upper Thomson Secondary School, Upper Thomson Road
Seated on a small hill opposite Springleaf Estate along Upper Thomson Road, the old school campus of Upper Thomson Secondary School, and later Seletar Institute, has been forgotten for almost two decades since its closure in 1997.
Upper Thomson Secondary School started in 1965, the same year Singapore achieved its independence. When it was first established, the classes were split into English and Chinese streams. In its first year, there were 13 classes of 484 Secondary One students taught in English and 10 classes of 365 students taught in Chinese.
As years went by, the number of student intakes rose to 1,500 to 2,000, where Chinese made up a majority of 80% or more. The school offered Secondary One to Four educations for all races of Singaporeans.
Despite limited budgets, Upper Thomson Secondary School had good facilities. Its premises consisted of a main block, assembly hall, a science laboratory block, basketball court and an artificial pond. Many early batches of Upper Thomson Secondary School students excelled in table tennis and badminton, winning numerous trophies in national competitions for their alma mater.
In 1988, the school was relocated to their new campus site at Yishun and had their name changed to North View Secondary School. The original name of Upper Thomson Secondary School had officially walked into the local history.
The old campus of Upper Thomson Secondary School was then taken over by Seletar Institute (SI), which was established in 1988. The old buildings were renovated with fresh coats of paint and installed with new air-conditioners. A library, conference room, gymnasium, art studio, staff lounge and computer room were also added.
Seletar Institute was one of the four original centralised institutes (CI) in Singapore that offered three-year study and General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (Singapore Cambridge). The other three were Outram Institute (OI), Jurong Institute (JI) and Townsville Institute (TI). Outram Institute and Jurong Institute had merged to form Millennia Institute (MI) in 2004, while Townsville Institute closed down in 1995.
Likewise, Seletar Institute could not escape the fate of closure as Ministry of Education (MOE) announced there would not be any more enrolment of ‘A’ Levels students in 1996. The institute was closed a year later, and the campus was left vacant and forgotten for more than a decade.
Former Braddell-Westlake Secondary School, Braddell Road
Elsewhere in Singapore, there is another abandoned school compound located along Braddell Road. It was the former Braddell-Westlake Secondary School. Although it was vacated only since 2005, the conditions of the buildings had deteriorated rapidly due to the lack of maintenance.
The most iconic feature of the former Braddell-Westlake Secondary School was its glass mosaic wall mural. Named The History of Development in Singapore and designed by the school’s former art teacher Ho Cheok Tin, the wall mural showcases as many as 15 Singapore’s past and present landmarks, such as the Singapore River, World Trade Centre, cable cars and the demolished National Theatre.
The old buildings will be demolished and replaced by a new Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) campus in the next couple of years.
Former Nanyang Polytechnic (Outram Campus), Jalan Bukit Merah
The former Outram Campus of Nanyang Polytechnic has been abandoned for some 15 years. Situated opposite the Silat Road Sikh Temple along Jalan Bukit Merah, the campus was Nanyang Polytechnic’s five temporary campuses when it was first established in April 1992; the other four being Bukit Merah, Tiong Bahru, Yishun and Jurong.
In 1998, Nanyang Polytechnic consolidated its schools and faculties and moved to a permanent site at Ang Mo Kio. The Outram Campus has since been vacated and forgotten, while the other four campuses were demolished and redeveloped.
Former Fuchun Primary School, Woodlands Centre Road
Located along Woodlands Centre Road, Fuchun Primary School was established on 2 January 1985 with an initial enrolment of 1,200 pupils in 37 classes. Former senior Parliament Secretary of National Development and Bukit Panjang Member of Parliament Lee Yiok Seng officiated its opening 14 August 1987.
As it was located very near to the Causeway and Johor Bahru, the former Fuchun Primary School was popular among the Malaysians who wanted their children to be educated in the Singapore Education System. Hence, the school saw its enrolment steadily increased over the years. By the mid-2000s, it had 53 classes and 2,037 students, serving mostly the children living at both the Woodlands and Marsiling vicinity.
Fuchun Primary School was shifted to Woodlands Avenue 1 in 2010, and its old campus at Woodlands Centre Road has been left vacant since then.
Also read about the stories of the abandoned and vacant schools elsewhere in Singapore:
Former Changi Changkat Primary and Secondary Schools
Former Batu Berlayar School at Pasir Panjang
Former New Town Secondary School
Former Parry Primary and Secondary Schools
Published: 02 May 2011
Updated: 18 May 2021
Remember Singapore 
The 1968 alumni book of Upper Thomson Secondary School
My name is Ian Martin and was a former student from 1977-1980 and can we visit the school when we visit there?
Regards
Hi Ian, its main gate is locked most of the time. There’s a CCTV at the entrance so it’s not advisable to trespass the compound.
Hi Ian. This is Naga. Hope you remember. Sec 4 C.
Hi Nagen, I’m not sure if you are the same Nagen I know but if you were from UTSS and worked in Woodlands before do drop me a mail.
To the rest it was indeed very interesting to see the posts and the pictures. Yes UTSS was not the top school during the 70’s but she produces some outstanding Singapore icons… I live abroad now and was just browsing through the FB and was surprise to see UTSS Alumni List. Great job whoever started this… I never fail to tell my children ( well adults now) about the Mr. Nair ( white horse) and Mr. Anthony ( hard to smile) and some others like Mrs .Su… who were good role models… All the best to all of you………
can i have ur email address so i can add u in the upper thomson sec. school facebook group
Hi Ian, my name is lim aik siang. Are you the tall guy sitting at the back? I remember there is a cute girl named Ivy Lee. My email limaiksiang@yahoo.com
Why didn’t they demolished the school???
Probably due to a lack of plans… for now
The school is abandoned (although I see caretakers maintaining it sometimes) and, like other abandoned buildings, it is not listed in any present-day maps
Worth to keep it, i guess……
I was in the final batch of students at SI. Really great natural environment perfect. Not many schools in SG are embedded in nature. Best years of my teenage life there. 🙂
Those are fond growing up memories we have there. It made me who I am today and those parts of me will be sorely missed. Something not everyone can understand. I am very glad to have many close friends from those days, including a little god-daughter.
Hi, I was in Upp Thomson Sec School, year of 1975 before leaving for overseas. I’ve lost total contacts with my classmates and schoolmates. Linking up with 1 might lead to others. I used to play badminton on very competitive level with fellow schoolmates like Foo Kong Fai, Tan Guan koon (mango), lionel and Ang Cheng Lam and dearest Sim Kian Bee. Our teacher/trainer was Mr Richard Chee. Some of us made it to SAFSA and the national squad. If by some miracle I can find them thru your help I will be most grateful. Please contact me at jonaafr@gmail.com
Hi, I just happened to be scrolling through the comments on this post and saw yours. I was a student at RGS from 2002 – 2005 and one of our PE teachers was a Mr Richard Chee. A rather memorable fellow indeed! (When teaching us how to play tennis, he always said, “Girls, you must SLAP the ball (with your racquet).” And he played the song “Goodnight, Irene, Goodnight” for us on the ukulele.) If you’re trying to get in touch with him — well, he might still be at RGS / someone there might know? 🙂
Mr Richard Chee taught me PE at CJC from 1994 to 1995. The last time I met him around 2008, he had already retired from teaching. Yes, I believe your Mr Chee is the same as mine as they love singing a song on the ukelele….
Hi Jew meng..I’m Jahra x student fr utss final yr 1975 class sec 4d class teacher MrLee Yiew Tee..
Yes… Missed those days…. And missed you guys out there from Seletar institute!!!
Miss those days. I pass by it almost everyday. Class of 79.
Hey, you know what, I was the one who supervised the building of the school under the PWD of old! Still have some old photos taken with school as background.
Hi im Mr May the oprations manager of North View Secondary School{formerly upper Thomson secondary}.I am in the process of setting up a heritage corner to celebrate the 25 yrs of the school/The school still holds the name Upper Thomson Secondary in Mandarin.I can be reached at 97535683.
Dear Mr Kong SF
U may not remember me. I from Drg Office. We were @ Adam Drive W&B. U & Miss Kee were looking after the “C” Div. KI Rpzario the SA(W&B). Glad to “see” U in this website. Rgds.
Deares former Seletrians…wow!! its such a long time since i used that name/term. Once I typed it, almost instantly I was brought back to those fantabulous years of SI. I was one of the pioneer batch of teachers to have started SI. I remembered our Principal Mdm Soh Bie Leng, such a dear dame. As a teacher back then, just starting out, Mdm Soh had been such an inspiration and her gentle yet steady persona helped mould me into a teacher with a sense of purpose. Thank you Mdm Soh! And to all my colleagues back then, i felt so much a member of the SI family. We started small and that made such a difference to instill the family spirit among the teachers and students. I am ever grateful that I had the chance of meeting great students who walked through the gates of SI. And it is so heartening to know that many of you became teachers! My first batch of ML students….can you still remember the drama we put up? I had such a blast! I would not change it for the world lah! As now, to all former Seletarians (students and staff), may your life be filled with sweet memories and may your heart smiles always 🙂
Ms Fauziah!!!! I’m Elaine Tan Pei Yen, a Seletarian from 1993-1995, from your form class!! Do you remember me? (Together with Ivan Ho, we created quite a hoo-ha in school back then… ;p)
How have you been? If you could, pls contact me at elaineteo76@hotmail.com so that we can chat further… Miss all of you!!
Hello Ms fauziah can u please respond to me
Wow didn’t know you were formerly a teacher there
I was school at Naval Base but in 1973 to 1974, I took my technical class at Upper Thompson. Such a memorable school. I am proud that mostly my projects were nicely display at the common corridor. For sure highest mark obtained.
RGS is to be moved to the location presently occupied by braddel westlake by 2018
hi there, is there a CCTV for the Braddell-Westlake Secondary as well?
I didn’t notice any CCTV when I was there…
thanks for replying.. but when were you there ya?
hmm why no pics of Gong Shan Xiao Sue at Outram Rd ?
Ian – finally I found someone from the same school. This school has a great impact in my life
hi are u also from upper thomson sec? which batch do u belong to? pls email to me icy_ira@yahoo.com
Suguna I do remember you. I’m Meng Guat. Hung out with Marianne and Stella. Would love to hear from you.
Hi Cathetine of course I remember you too especially in the Malay class with Cikgu Bawi.
Love to hear from you. My mobile no is 81214008.
Waiting eagerly to hear from you.
Kind regards
Suguna
Are you in spore Catherine??
IM ELANGO 1992 BATCH
LIKE SELEGIE AND FARRER THEY BOTH WERE CLOSED IN IN THE PAST
Great pics. I was the pioneer batch of Seletar Institute (1988)… brings back many fond memories
I’m 17 and waiting for my ‘N’ Level results. I frequently have nightmares, of this school. Believe me I’ve never gone inside the school but somehow I can memorize part of the school grounds.
Which school?
Wow! I had to go to Braddel-Westlake to do some “A” level papers about a million years ago! So sad to see this school just rotting away! Sigh!
Back then in SI, my late grandmother was a Malay food stall owner. Her stall was at the very end of the canteen. Whenever my mum came over to help her, I played behind the stall with some of the students. There was a chin-up bar I think. I was only less than 6 years old. Does anyone remember a very young boy at the canteen back then?
If Im not wrong, MOE shld be renovating braddell westlake sec sch for RGS? so that the RI family is combined. Btw, was the compound used for filming jack Neo’s “I not stupid”?
Hi, former Upper Thomson Secondary School students..there is a facebook group that uniting all former students all the way from when the school was initially open to the day of its closure. i was with the last batch before we are moved to North View Sec School in Yishun.
I was the 1st batch 1966 to 69.Still remember some the teachers Mr.Nair,Mr.singh,Mr.Miranda,Mr.Chong and tamil teachers Mr.Shanmugham&Mr.Letchumanan.Hoping to get in touch with my fellow classmates.
hi again, i was in upper thomson from 1985 to 1989 than we move to north view sec. we open up facebk group upper thomson secondary school to be in continuous contacts, exchange pictures, memories n conduct reunion events. currently we are in process in preparing our 3rd reunion consist of former teachers n students. please contact or email me 94895571 or icy_ira@yahoo.com .
I was doing my ‘O’ Levels in 1979.
Another campus that has been abandoned for many years, the former Singapore School for the Deaf, located at Prince Charles Square:
Passed by the vicinity today. The buildings were gone. A condo project named The Crest @Prince Charles is being developed there currently.
Hi Just wondering was Bradell Westlake Secondary the same as Braddel Secondary School which closed down on 1999???
Braddell sec sch and Westlake sec sch were 2 separate schs until they merge sometime in the 1990s when intake for the 2 schs shrunk. Perhaps the ministries can consider transforming these 2 buildings into nursing homes since it is some distance away from HDB dwellers and at the same time near convenient amenties
Hi, just wondering who has current jurisdiction over the UTSS and SI sites?
Oh wow, I just chanced on this website. UTSS will forever hold a special place in my heart. I still remember the school song!! (Yes, in mandarin). My culture shock (happiness) as I was from an all boy’s school. My first crush (it certainly felt like love then). My first fight. My first beating (sic). My first hockey game where the spectators carried hockey sticks. My having to lead the school in reciting the National Pledge…in Malay! The air rifle range. My first awesome goalkeeper dive. My 3 year pursuit of a medal in the 1,500 metre run. Basically, UTSS was where I experienced many of my life’s FIRSTS. 1977-1980 Those were good years!
Hi David I remember you because of Corrine ow
Hello David, Yes I do remember you now after reading the “having to lead the school in reciting the National Pledge, the air rifle range” etc….. interesting in deed….!!!! Am I correct to say you were living across the schools?
It will be good to meet if God be willing whenever I come to Singapore……
my late father was a teacher in UTss & i think he used to coach hockey.
I remember you David & also Corrobe Ow my best friend
Hi! David, I think I remember you as we are from the same batch of 1977 – 1980
Hi Suguna, hope you are well yes I do remember you too….. It was interesting to jog back the memory lane….
Hi! Are you Maniam?
Any idea how/who shld I look for to access the schools? Thinking of organizing event there.
Yes mam I am…. 🙂
It’s been really very long that I have not heard or seen you after ‘O’ levels
how about researching on the school at marsiling area. Old fu chun primary/secondary i not quite sure which is it. Its heard to be haunted.
I am a student from North View Secondary School and by this story, Idk that there was a school before this. i am only sec 1 this year 2014
Another is Manjusri Secondary (Sims drive, geylang area). It’s left there since 2006.
UTSS was my Mum’s Secondary School back then and till now she’s still so proud of her school. It was also kinda coincedental that i’m staying near NVSS so naturally i applied NVSS as my first choice when choosing my Secondary School. When i was studying at NVSS it was magical that i came to realised my form teacher, who taught me since Sec1 to Sec5, Mrs Rufus was from UTSS too and even the Drink Stall’s owners at the canteen was previously working at UTSS too.
The former campus of Changkat Changi Secondary School (1966-2001) and Changkat Primary School (temporary, 2002-2004) at Jalan Tiga Ratus, off Upper Changi Road East. Have been vacated since then.
https://remembersingapore.org/2014/05/14/the-changkat-changi-schools/
That Nanyang Poly campus, it used to be Silat Primary School. I was studying there till P3 when it closed it’s doors and a few years later became a campus of Nanyang.
Hey people. sorry to interrupt. Do you guys still remember parry primary school ? It was called parry avenue boy’s school in the late 1974’s if I remember. it’s located off yio chu kang road. But it’s converted into boys and girls school since then. (parry primary school )I do not know if the school still exsist or has been demolished. My dad used to go to that school and he is still finding for his long lost friends. Does anyone still remember that school ? You can email me at falloutgirl18@live.com.sg
thanks ! 😀
Parry Primary has been converted to a foreign student hostel. Security doesn’t let anyone else in.
I was from UTSS (1986-1988) then moved to NVSS (1988-1990) almost every weekend I pass by UTSS and all the memories … oooo my … No words to express…. Is there any way to be able to enter the school for the last time …. Who can I appeal to …am very sure …most ex students have the same feel as me ….
Hi,
There is an abandoned school right along Depot Road, I work at HP which so everyday I will pass by the school when going to work, would be interesting if you can research on the history of this school too
Hi, is this abandoned school still around? Because I cannot locate it when I passed by Depot Road.
I happened to pass by UTSS a few days ago and noticed it has been demolished…unless my eyes were playing tricks on me. Can anyone establish this?
The description of this video says , “Upper Thomson Secondary School as of 28/12/14 before DEMOLITION.
I am looking for 1971 English stream classmates, anyone who were in this year sec 4 graduation, please contact Wong Kuan Yuen this email:
Florawong3112@hotmail.com
The former Outram Campus of Nanyang Polytechnic has now been boarded up. It will be demolished/redeveloped as part of the expansion project of SGH…
Hi Suganthi here. I am currently a teacher at North View and we are in the midst of setting up our heritage corner. Could someone help to verify the facts of the initial cohort size when the school began? Source of information in this page?
Thank you.
Dear former last batches of UTSS and former 1st batches of NVSS, peace be upon you.
where are you man?
RGS Plans to Showcase Iconic 1979 Mosaic Mural
13 February 2017
The Straits Times
A 1979 glass mosaic mural at the former Braddell-Westlake Secondary School depicting about 15 landmarks of Singapore will get a new lease of life next year. The mural is a veritable time stamp of the era, but not many Singaporeans have seen it first-hand because the school was closed in 2005.
Raffles Girls’ School (RGS), which will be building its new campus on the site, plans to change that. In response to queries, an RGS spokesman said it is planning to move the mural to the new campus’ boundary fence, so that members of the public can view it.
Designed by art teacher Ho Cheok Tin, now 69, and titled The History of Development in Singapore, the mural features the National Theatre, which was torn down in 1986, and the Singapore Cable Car, which began operations in 1974.
The RGS spokesman said that it sees “value in retaining it as best as we can, to remind students of our shared history” as the mural depicts familiar scenes of Singapore’s development.
Mr Ho, who is now retired but helps out at Fuhua Secondary School’s Art Club as a Chinese painting instructor, welcomed the news.
“I’m very happy that my work will be retained as a record documenting memories and landmarks of the past that no longer exist,” he said. He added that the mural, which was made using specially ordered Italian glass, is also featured in a Primary 6 art textbook in a chapter on arts appreciation.
The mural was one of three that Mr Ho produced for the Ministry of Education as a teacher at New Town Secondary School.
Concerns about the mural’s fate had been raised by school alumni and other members of the heritage community here over the years. For instance, in 2012, former Westlake Primary School pupil Jaswinder Kaur wrote to the ST Forum requesting that the authorities preserve the “lovely” mural.
She said: “The mural is a beautiful work of art reflecting the aspirations and success of a nation…”
Dr Yeo Kang Shua, an assistant professor of architecture and sustainable design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, told ST that the mural’s standard-sized, pre-fabricated mosaic artwork style was popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
“The artwork has social memories tied to it and is representative of the particular era.
“It also helps generations of Singaporeans to recall and understand the architectural diversity and landmarks of the time,” said Dr Yeo.
Landscape and architecture photographer Darren Soh, who had flagged the mural as public art worthy of being retained back in 2013, said he applauds RGS “for going out of their way to do this”.
He added: “The mural is an important time stamp of what the country was aspiring to be and captures the buildings that were springing up which we were proud of.”
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/rgs-plans-to-showcase-iconic-1979-mosaic-mural
Hey,
Braddell-Westlake is gone now…
The last time I saw it, it was being surrounded by hoardings. Did you see it demolished?
Yes, all hoarded up and no longer accessible.
According to Street directory, RGS will be built on the site by 2019.
photos of the 1st batch class does any old classmates can
inclued
Demolition of two schools recently… they had been vacated for quite some time
Chaoyang School at Ang Mo Kio (former AMK North Primary School)
Saint Joseph’s Institution at Bishan
Both sites are empty plots of lands as for now…
Anyone from year 1973 till 1976 of UTSS?
Other vacant school sites (in mid-2020) as mentioned in this CNA article:
Former school buildings among 36 state properties to be converted to temporary housing for migrant workers
01 June 2020
CNA
20 Jalan Damai, the former Bedok North Secondary School
3 Yishun Ring Road, the former Yishun Innova Junior College
8 Chai Chee Lane, the former East Coast Primary School
501 Bedok South Ave 3, the former Temasek Primary School
3 Geylang Bahru Lane, the former site of the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board
121 Queensway, former New Town Secondary School
201 Ulu Pandan Road, the former Nexus International School
300 Jalan Jurong Kechil, the former German European School
25 Jalan Tembusu, the former Chatsworth International School
2 Tampines Ave 9, the former Tampines Junior College
12 Pasir Ris St 11, the former White Sands Pri School
931 Jurong West St 42, the former Hong Kah Secondary School
1033 Upper Serangoon Road, the former Serangoon Junior College
29 Woodlands Centre Road, the former Fuchun Primary School
1 and 3 Mei Chin Road, the former Global Indian International School
15 Tampines St 11, the former Qiaonan Primary School
60 Dunearn Road, the former Chinese International School
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-migrant-workers-housing-former-schools-state-properties-12792710
The Springleaf MRT Station is almost completed, just a short distance away from the former Upper Thomson Secondary School
There’s an abandoned school compound still standing at 36/38 Teck Whye Crescent where Jalan Teck Whye Primary School & Jalan Teck Whye Secondary School used to operate.
Would appreciate to know which Ministry to approach to check on the availability of any abandoned schools for conversion to private school usage. Appreciate any further information/links if anyone knows. Thank you very much.
Added the vacant former Parry Primary and Secondary Schools