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School of the Arts, Singapore

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Coordinates: 1°17′57″N 103°50′56″E / 1.299250°N 103.848780°E / 1.299250; 103.848780
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School of the Arts, Singapore
新加坡艺术学院 (Chinese)
Sekolah Seni Singapura (Malay)
சிங்கப்பூர்க் கலைப்பள்ளி (Tamil)
Location
Map
1 Zubir Said Drive

227968

Singapore
Coordinates1°17′57″N 103°50′56″E / 1.299250°N 103.848780°E / 1.299250; 103.848780
Information
School typeSpecialised independent
Established2 January 2008
School code7802[1]
ChairmanLoh Lik Peng[2]
PrincipalMary Seah[3]
GenderMixed
Age range13–18
Enrollment1,200
Education systemInternational Baccalaureate
Campus size13 acres (5.3 ha)
Websitewww.sota.edu.sg

School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA) is a specialised independent school in Singapore, offering a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum leading to a International Baccalaureate diploma or career-related programme.[1][4]

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

History

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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 sudy 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.[4] 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 amount of time.[18]

Admissions

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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.[1][9][19] In 2010, SOTA also joined the DSA scheme for junior colleges, admitting a small group of students to its Year 5 cohort.[20]

Curriculum

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SOTA offers a six-year International Baccalaureate (IB) arts and academic curriculum, leading to a 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.[21]

Campus

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SOTA in 2013

The 13 acres (5.3 ha) 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.[24][27]

Notable alumni

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Principals

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Name of Principal Years Served
Rebecca Chew[16] 2008–2012
Lim Geok Cheng[16] 2013–2018
Mary Seah[3] 2019–present

References

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  1. ^ a b c "School of the Arts, Singapore". MOE. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ Koh, Aun (1 April 2024). "Why entrepreneur Loh Lik Peng spends about a third of his time serving Singapore's cultural and public institutions". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Wong, Derek (19 October 2018). "66 schools, including newly merged JCs, to get new principals next year". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b Lee, Tzu Yang (12 March 2004). "Report of The Committee On Specialised Arts School". Scribd. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Our Statutory Boards and Agencies". MCCY. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  6. ^ 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". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. ^ 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". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Update on Remaking Singapore Committee's Reccomendations" (PDF). www.nas.gov.sg. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b Safdar, Ashraf (22 November 2006). "Talent auditions begin for art school". Today. p. 7. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  10. ^ Ng, Jane (23 November 2006). "Arts school open to Normal stream students". The Straits Times. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ Ng, Jane (2 June 2007). "Arts school to hold fourth audition". The Straits Times. p. 60. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  12. ^ Ng, Jane (21 December 2007). "Students prepare for opening of arts school". The Straits Times. p. 31. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  13. ^ 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". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  14. ^ Ng, Jane (3 January 2008). "An exciting start for this pioneer batch". The Straits Times. p. 31. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ Hong, Xinyi (13 September 2007). "Multi-talented head-start". The Straits Times. p. 53. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Teng, Amelia (23 February 2014). "Sota's grads set the bar high". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Philip Jeyaretnam to take over as Sota chairman". The Straits Times. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  18. ^ Lua, Jia Min (5 July 2012). "Faster route to Nafa degrees, diplomas for arts school students". The Straits Times. p. 6. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ Teng, Amelia (30 June 2018). "Talented kids, especially those from needy families, to get early arts exposure through School of the Arts". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Sota latest to join direct admission scheme". The New Paper. 20 May 2010. p. 10. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Working with the School of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore to introduce a new DP Literary Arts subject". ibo.org. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Sota partners Louis Vuitton for visual arts initiative". The New Paper. 14 July 2011. p. 9. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  23. ^ Sanina, Anna (18 July 2011). "Louis Vuitton Partners with a Singaporean Art School". POPSOP. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  24. ^ a b Koh, Jeremy (5 January 2010). "School of the Arts moves into $145m campus". The Straits Times. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  25. ^ "School of the Arts / WOHA". ArchDaily. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ "SOTA TRIBUTE TO ZUBIR SAID". Today. 9 May 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  27. ^ Tan, Amelia (5 January 2010). "Arts school a place for students and the public". The Straits Times. p. 2. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
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