School of the Arts, Singapore explained

School of the Arts
Native Name:
Location:1 Zubir Said Drive
Postcode:227968
Country:Singapore
Coordinates:1.2992°N 103.8486°W
Schooltype:Specialised independent
Established:2 January 2008
School Code:7802[1]
Chairman:Loh Lik Peng[2]
Principal:Mary Seah[3]
Gender:Mixed
Age Range:13–18
Enrollment:1,200
System:International Baccalaureate

School of the Arts (SOTA) is a specialised independent school in Singapore, offering a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum leading to an International Baccalaureate diploma or career-related programme.[4]

SOTA is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.[5]

History

On 25 November 2002, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean presented the findings and recommendations from the Junior College/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee in the 10th Parliament of Singapore. One of the recommendations proposed by the committee included establishing specialised schools in mathematics, science, sports, and the arts, to diversify the education landscape.[6] As such, on 12 August 2003, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (abbreviated as MITA, now known as MDDI) appointed Lee Tzu Yang as chairman of the Arts School Committee, to study the needs and feasibility of establishing a specialised school in arts.[7]

On 12 March 2004, the Report of the Committee on Specialised Arts School was presented to MITA. The recommendation of establishing a specialised school in arts was accepted by MITA, and announced in the 10th Parliament of Singapore on the next day.[8] Auditions for places in the inaugural intake began in November 2006, and due to an overwhelming response, more auditions were held up until July 2007. In total, more than 1,000 students attended the auditions.[9] [10] [11] On 2 January 2008, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang officiated the opening of SOTA at its interim campus at 90 Goodman Road, with more than 200 students forming the inaugural batch.[12] [13] [14] The first principal was Rebecca Chew, former principal of Naval Base Secondary School, and the first chairman was Lee Tzu Yang.[15] [16] [17]

On 5 July 2012, SOTA signed a memorandum of understanding with Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), allowing students to transfer to NAFA and complete diploma and degree programmes in a shorter period of time.[18]

Operations

Admissions to SOTA is conducted solely via the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme for secondary schools, and around 200 students are admitted in each intake.[19] In 2010, SOTA also joined the DSA scheme for junior colleges, admitting a small group of students to its Year 5 cohort.[20]

SOTA offers a six-year International Baccalaureate (IB) arts and academic curriculum, leading to an IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) or IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). The first batch of IBDP and IBCP students graduated in 2012 and 2015 respectively.[21] In 2011, SOTA partnered with Louis Vuitton to develop a visual arts programme as part of the curriculum, benefiting more than 60 visual arts students.[22] [23] Announced on 6 June 2022, IB collaborated with SOTA to develop a new literary arts course, as part of the school-based syllabus under the IB Group 6 subjects. The course was introduced for teaching from January 2023, and will begin assessments in November 2024.

The 13acres campus is located at 1 Zubir Said Drive in Bras Basah, along the foot of Mount Sophia.[24] [25] Announced by acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew on 8 May 2009, the address of the campus was named in honour of Zubir Said.[26] Costing S$145 million, construction of the permanent campus was completed in 2009, and SOTA moved in on 4 January 2010.[27]

Notable alumni

Principals

Name of PrincipalYears Served
Rebecca Chew2008–2012
Lim Geok Cheng2013–2018
Mary Seah2019–present

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 April 2024 . School of the Arts, Singapore . 17 September 2024 . MOE . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161444/https://www.moe.gov.sg/schoolfinder/schooldetail?schoolname=school-of-the-arts-singapore . live .
  2. Web site: Koh, Aun . Why entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng spends about a third of his time serving Singapore's cultural and public institutions . Tatler Asia . 1 April 2024 . 17 September 2024 .
  3. News: Wong . Derek . 19 October 2018 . 66 schools, including newly merged JCs, to get new principals next year . 17 September 2024 . .
  4. Web site: Lee . Tzu Yang . 12 March 2004 . Report of The Committee On Specialised Arts School . 17 September 2024 . Scribd . en . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161444/https://www.scribd.com/document/231694758/Report-of-the-Committee-on-Specialised-Arts-School-March-2004 . live .
  5. Web site: 30 June 2019 . Our Statutory Boards and Agencies . 18 September 2024 . MCCY . 21 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121142140/https://www.mccy.gov.sg/about-us/our-statutory-boards-and-agencies . live .
  6. Web site: Teo . Chee Hean . 25 November 2002 . Opening Speech by RADM Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence on the JC/Upper Secondary Review Committee Recommendations at Parliament on 25 Nov 2002 . 17 September 2024 . www.nas.gov.sg . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422152935/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2002112507.htm . live .
  7. Web site: Lee . Boon Yang . 16 February 2004 . Speech by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at MITA's Thank You Dinner at the Arts House, Old Parliament House on 16 February 2004 at 7.30PM . 17 September 2024 . www.nas.gov.sg . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161444/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/2004021601.htm . live .
  8. Web site: 15 April 2004 . Update on Remaking Singapore Committee's Recommendations . 17 September 2024 . www.nas.gov.sg . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161445/https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20040415-MND.pdf . live .
  9. News: Safdar . Ashraf . 22 November 2006 . Talent auditions begin for art school . 17 September 2024 . . 7 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161445/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20061122-1.2.10.9 . live .
  10. News: Ng . Jane . 23 November 2006 . Arts school open to Normal stream students . 17 September 2024 . . 5 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161447/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20061123-1.2.49.16 . live .
  11. News: Ng . Jane . 2 June 2007 . Arts school to hold fourth audition . 17 September 2024 . . 60 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161448/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20070602-1.2.65.14 . live .
  12. News: Ng . Jane . 21 December 2007 . Students prepare for opening of arts school . 17 September 2024 . . 31 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161447/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20071221-1.2.45.1 . live .
  13. Web site: Lee, Boon Yang . 2 January 2008 . Speech by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, at the Opening of the School of the Arts, 2 January 2008, 8.15AM at 90 Goodman Road . 17 September 2024 . www.nas.gov.sg .
  14. News: Ng . Jane . 3 January 2008 . An exciting start for this pioneer batch . 17 September 2024 . . 31 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161446/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20080103-1.2.47.9 . live .
  15. News: Hong . Xinyi . 13 September 2007 . Multi-talented head-start . 17 September 2024 . . 53 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161444/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20070913-1.2.72.5.1 . live .
  16. News: Teng . Amelia . 23 February 2014 . Sota's grads set the bar high . 17 September 2024 . .
  17. News: 5 December 2014 . Philip Jeyaretnam to take over as Sota chairman . 19 September 2024 . .
  18. News: Lua . Jia Min . 5 July 2012 . Faster route to Nafa degrees, diplomas for arts school students . 17 September 2024 . . 6 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161443/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20120705-2.2.39.16 . live .
  19. News: Teng . Amelia . 30 June 2018 . Talented kids, especially those from needy families, to get early arts exposure through School of the Arts . 17 September 2024 . .
  20. News: 20 May 2010 . Sota latest to join direct admission scheme . 17 September 2024 . . 10 .
  21. Web site: 6 June 2022 . Working with the School of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore to introduce a new DP Literary Arts subject . 17 September 2024 . ibo.org .
  22. News: 14 July 2011 . Sota partners Louis Vuitton for visual arts initiative . 17 September 2024 . . 9 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161448/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper20110714-1.2.7.5 . live .
  23. Web site: Sanina . Anna . 18 July 2011 . Louis Vuitton Partners with a Singaporean Art School . 17 September 2024 . POPSOP .
  24. News: Koh . Jeremy . 5 January 2010 . School of the Arts moves into $145m campus . 17 September 2024 . . 5 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161446/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20100105-1.2.9.2 . live .
  25. Web site: 18 March 2012 . School of the Arts / WOHA . 17 September 2024 . ArchDaily . en-US . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161444/https://www.archdaily.com/217481/school-of-the-arts-woha . live .
  26. News: 9 May 2009 . SOTA TRIBUTE TO ZUBIR SAID . 17 September 2024 . . 4 .
  27. News: Tan . Amelia . 5 January 2010 . Arts school a place for students and the public . 17 September 2024 . . 2 . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161447/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20100105-1.2.25.2 . live .
  28. Web site: En . Muk Qi . 21 February 2024 . Regina Song: The Rising 20-year-old Singaporean Singer-songwriter . 3 October 2024 . Hype Singapore . en-GB . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091347/https://hypesingapore.com/index.php/2024/02/21/regina-song-the-rising-20-year-old-singaporean-singer-songwriter/ . live .

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