The QUEST Journey

Chapter 1: Our Beginning (1956 – 1959)

Queenstown Secondary Technical School (QSTS) started in 1956 as an all-boys technical school, being one of the first technical schools in Singapore. It was first housed in Jalan Eunos School while the new school premise was being built. In January 1957, the 1st cohort excitedly moved in with 343 students in Secondary one and two, stepping into a new future. Till this day, the school stands proudly at its original location at 1 Strathmore Road.

In 1959, all 92 of our first batch of students sat for the 1959 General Certificate of Education Examinations. Of all the students who sat for the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, 80% passed. Though technical facilities were still lacking, such as lathes and workshop benches, our boys continued to hone their technical skills with the little resources at hand, determined to do their best as the school continued to push ahead with the technical curriculum, embodying our QUEST spirit of resilience and excellence.

Chapter 2: Our Growth (1960 – 1977)

The improvements to the school in the early 1960s, such as the addition of new classrooms, some of them doubling up as the library and reading rooms, created a better learning environment for the students. We achieved a significant milestone in 1965 with the establishment of a Pre-University class, opening new pathways to higher education at the Polytechnic, a move which encapsulates our QUEST for learning and excellence.

This quest bore fruit when Ang Hock Chye, a standout student in the early years, was awarded the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Scholarship, now known as the President’s Scholarship, in 1964. In 1966, Lee Yock Suan, who scored 7 distinctions, became the second Queenstownian to be awarded the President’s scholarship. He went on to a Public Service career and served as a Cabinet Minister from 1981 to 2004. Several others in the cohort were also awarded prestigious scholarships like the Colombo Plan Scholarships and the Commonwealth Scholarships.

With its focus on academic excellence, Queenstown Secondary Technical School was highly sought after. To accommodate our growing pool of learners, the addition of a 4-storey building, a hall-cum-canteen, and 4 Science Laboratories were completed on 2 April 1968. The Minister of Education, Mr Ong Pang Boon, officially declared the new extensions open, marking another milestone in our QUEST for learning and excellence.

1971 saw the admission of girls into our school, making Queenstown Secondary Technical School a co-education school from then onwards. In the GCE ‘O’ Level in 1974, all 5 top students were from this batch of female pioneers. Two joined the National Junior College (NJC) while the other three opted to remain in Queenstown over placements in NJC.

The first Student’s Council was formed with 12 members in 1976. New facilities were added to the school in 1977 in the form of two basketball courts in the field, one volleyball court between the two workshops, ten table-tennis tables made of concrete and nine wooden tables in the hall. Queenstownian Mui Chee Wai did the school proud by being the only candidate to secure a P1 distinction for Basic Electricity. He continued his studies in the United Kingdom.

Chapter 3: Our Partnerships (1977 – 1989)

In 1977, the Alumni Association was set up. A group of the initial batch of 1959 graduate students, led by Queenstownian Mr Tan Wee Tin, having established successful careers of their own, stepped up with a mission to give back to the alma mater. The Alumni Association was the first local secondary school alumni to be officially registered with the Registrar of Society (ROS), establishing a legacy of support that endures to this day, and have tirelessly contributed to our Quest for learning and excellence.

Soon after, the School Executive Committee was formed in 1983, providing an additional pillar of support. The Committee supported the upgrades and improvements to the school facilities, enhancing the learning environment, such as the air-conditioning of the Library that was officially declared open by Goh Kim Leong, Permanent Secretary (Education/Director of Education) in 1984. The School Executive Committee and the Ministry of Education jointly funded the Computer Laboratory upgrade with 26 personal computers. Language learning, in the new Language Laboratory, also benefitted with more investments like the teacher’s console and the 48 students’ booths. These new learning developments were officially opened in conjunction with our Speech Day in August 1985 by our Alumnus Guest of Honour, Mr Lee Yock Suan, then Acting Minister of Labour.

In 1988, our school was among the few secondary schools selected by the Ministry of Education to provide CoRT Thinking and Pastoral Care & Career Guidance to our students. In November that same year, we launched a 3-day seminar for Secondary 1-3 students to participate in the ‘Growth Through Shared Responsibilities’ workshops, to top off our participation in this national program. Pastoral Care & Career Guidance continues to be one of the school’s key areas of focus, to develop our students’ positive self-concept and provide opportunities to explore different industries and discover their unique talents.

Chapter 4: Our New Identity (1990 – 1999)

In January 1993, Queenstown Secondary Technical School (QSTS) was renamed Queenstown Secondary School (QTSS). Though dropping ‘Technical’ from the school’s name was in keeping with the times, it brought disappointment and sadness to the pioneering cohort. They represented the ‘Technical’ era that produced many outstanding students, many of whom are still contributing actively to our society. They are the epitome of “Berani Berkhidmat - Dare to Serve”, powerhouses who helped Singapore shine through the industrialization years. The transition to QTSS represented not an ending, but a renewal of the school’s pioneering tradition, carrying forward the same dedication to technical excellence while embracing broader education horizons. The acronym ‘QUEST’, originally an abbreviation of Queenstown Secondary Technical, continues to embody our enduring spirit of exploration, excellence and enterprise.

Together with the name change, the school also moved out of the premises in Strathmore Avenue to a temporary site at Commonwealth Avenue for a major upgrade to the school premise. This involved the complete teardown and rebuilding of the new school compound.

In December 1994, our last batch of Pre-U students completed their education in Queenstown Secondary School. This was in lieu of the Ministry direction to consolidate ‘A’ level curriculum under the Junior Colleges. This last batch of Pre-U students did very well in their GCE ‘A’ Level Examinations.

In January 1997, the school was amongst the 20 pilot schools selected for the Thinking Programme by the Ministry of Education. The school also started on the Peer Tutoring/Group Study programme for students in Secondary 4 and 5 in Science and Mathematics in 1997.

By April 1997, the new school was completed and ready for students in June. Once again, an excited batch of students marched happily into the new school compound back to its original home ground, at Strathmore Road. The new school building and the QUEST Museum were officially opened by our Alumnus, Mr Lee Yock Suan, Minister for Information and the Arts and Minister for the Environment on 9 July 1999.

Chapter 5: Our Advancements (2000 – 2020)

The new millennium brought exciting developments to Queenstown Secondary School. In 2000, the school launched Project Cabin, establishing a permanent and welcoming space for the after-school programme. This initiative proved instrumental in developing students' social and leadership skills, building their unique strengths and teaching them to serve others in tangible ways, all while also providing crucial support for youth at risk and students needing additional assistance.

In 2007, the school underwent the Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing Schools (PRIME), resulting in significant infrastructure enhancements. The upgrading brought modern facilities including an Indoor Sports Hall, additional computer laboratories, upgraded science laboratories, a more spacious school hall, expanded study areas, and larger classrooms to enhance the learning environment. A ceremony was held on 23 March 2010 to officially mark the completion of the project.

Building on this improved infrastructure, the school introduced the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in Environmental Sustainability in 2014, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and empower our students to become stewards of a more sustainable future. In 2015, the school launched its Learning for Life Programme (LLP) focusing on Community Youth Leadership, helping students develop strong leadership capabilities through community service, embodying the school motto – Berani Berkhidmat! These programmes capture the Quest spirit in action – nurturing future-oriented leaders who dare to innovate and serve. Students learn to identify community needs, generate innovate solutions, and take effective action for positive change. This reflects our belief that every Queenstownian can be empowered to excel and contribute meaningfully to society.

Another significant milestone was reached in 2016 when the school celebrated its 60th anniversary with a grand homecoming dinner attended by hundreds of alumni. In 2017, the school was selected as one of the pilot schools for the Student Learning Space (SLS), with the Mother Tongue Language department leading the way in implementing this new digital learning platform. This early adoption of digital learning proved particularly valuable when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, enabling the school to smoothly transition to home-based learning while maintaining its educational standards.

**Chapter 6: Our Present **

In 2020, the school was selected to be one of the 28 pilot schools for Full Subject-Based Banding programme. This programme exemplified our Quest for learning and excellence, enabling students maximise their potential in multiple disciplines, experience the joy of learning, and develop their capacity to contribute meaningfully to community and society.

In 2022, the school embarked on an ambitious space redesign initiative, collaborating with various MOE divisions, the School Advisory Committee and Alumni Association to reimagine learning spaces. This comprehensive review aimed to enhance both the students' learning experience and staff's working environment, demonstrating the school's commitment to creating innovative and effective learning environments. Most importantly, it represents the school’s goal to orient students to the joy of learning and be oriented towards the future.

Throughout these years, Queenstown Secondary School maintained its reputation for the strive for excellence, with students consistently achieving commendable results in both academic and co-curricular activities, the ability to respond positively to challenges and to serve the community - thereby living up to the school's motto "Berani Berkhidmat - Dare to Serve".

Looking back, we have come a long way since 1956 when we started with only 116 students in three Secondary 2 classes and 227 students in six Secondary 1 classes, 15 teachers, 5 clubs and 1 uniformed group in shared premises. Throughout this journey, the motto and values of Quest have shone bright and our students showed their respect, care, resilience, integrity and the strive for excellence in school and onwards in their careers. These are the lifelong values of Queenstownians.

Viva QUEST! Queenstownian for Life !

A special mention of the principals who led / is leading Queenstownians in the QUEST journey:

Principals:

• Mr E.J. Doraisamy (1956–1958)

• Mr Chan Chieu Kiat (1959–1960)

• Mr R.T. Tambyah (1961–1968)

• Mr Lee Chong Kee (1968–1978)

• Mr Ng Soo Boon (1978–1982)

• Mr Wong Chong Heng (1982–1985)

• Ms Priscilla Ng (1986–1989)

• Mrs Goh Soo Geem (1990–1994)

• Mrs Chia Siew Yong (1994–1997)

• Ms Soh Mee Choo (1998–2001)

• Mr Lau Yan Boon (2002–2007)

• Mrs Mano Hirubalan (2007–2008)

• Mr Ang Chee Seng (2009–2015)

• Mdm Rasidah Bte Rahim (2016–2021)

• Mr Sim How Chong (2022-present)