Bukit Panjang Primary School

Mission

We are committed to provide a nurturing and thinking environment so as to develop respectful and responsible pupils who value teamwork and lifelong learning.

Vision

Future Leaders, Concerned Citizens

Motto

Endeavour -
Let's endeavour with all our might to climb the hill of knowledge.
Let's endeavour to seek, to strive and not to yield.
Let's endeavour always to our best.

School's Strategic Thrusts

Strategic Thrust 1:
Achieving Academic Excellence

Strategic Thrust 2:
Fostering in our Staff a Culture of Collaboration and Innovation

Strategic Thrust 3:
Achieving Excellence in Sports and Aesthetics

Strategic Thrust 4:
Nurturing Character, Leadership Qualities and Citizenship

School Crest

The raising sun signifies youthfulness and energy. The ray of the sun radiates our desire to strive for excellence. The range of hills represent the name of the school Bukit Panjang depicts our effort to climb the hill of knowledge.

Endeavour is our school motto. The burning touch lights up our quest for knowledge and leads the way to wisdom and glory. The colour green represent vitality and growth. The colour yellow symbolise loyalty to the school and nation. White signifies purity and honesty.

Our History

January 1932: Establishment of A New School

The first principal Mrs. Downe and her staff of three stood at attention as the Union Jack was raised to the strains of 'God Save the King'. Behind them stood the first sixty pupils of the school facing a new school building built from bricks and sturdy teakwood.
Bukit Panjang English School (as it was then known) was one of the very few primary schools in the northern part of Singapore. Mrs. Downe and her staff had to go round Bukit Panjang Village and district to persuade parents to send their children to school. After much effort and with the assistance of Mr. Goh Tong Liang, a prominent resident; they managed to enrol the first sixty pupils.

A week after, Mrs. Downe and a teacher were transferred out because of the small enrollment. Another teacher, Miss Alvis was appointed the new Headmistress. She teamed up with another Chinese lady teacher to teach all the pupils. Word soon spread about Bukit Panjang English School.

1941- 1945: The Japanese Occupation

From a humble beginning of two classes, the school grew from strength to strength. There were classes from standard one to standard six in 1941.
The Japanese Army occupied Singapore on 16th February 1942. It is believed that the Imperial Army occupied the school building during the war.
On 12th September 1945, the war ended when the Japanese surrendered to the British but the school did not re-open until January 1948.

January 1948: Swelling Student Intake

The principal, Mr. C.A. Peterson took office and left on transfer in 1951. He was succeeded by Mr. Wee Loh Siew. By then, the enrolment had steadily increased to 350.

July 1952: A New Beginning

To cope with the increasing demand for places, The Bukit Panjang Government Afternoon School was opened in July 1952, with an initial enrollment of 112. During this period, the school published an annual magazine under the editorship of Miss Boswell. These magazines provide an invaluable record of the school in the fifties.

In 1955, Bukit Panjang School 2 replaced Bukit Panjang Government Afternoon School as it moved out to form the nucleus of Princess Elizabeth School.

The school opened with six classes and a staff of seven. By 1959, all classes in Bukit Panjang School 1 and School 2 were full. Due to growing enrolment, two classes had to be held temporarily at the Bukit Panjang Community Centre until 1965.

In 1962, Mr C.B. Jesudason took over the principalship from Mr Felix Choo. Eight years later, he was succeeded by Mrs J. Thanabalasingam. A year later, Mr Chen Yoon Chee took over as the principal for the next 13 years. He was succeeded by Mr Chew Soi Tee from 1985 to 1989 when he was succeeded by Miss Ng Chwee Poh. A year later, the school changed its name to Bukit Panjang Primary School and moved to its current location at 109, Cashew Road.

Mr Tan Hwa Kwang took over as principal in 1995 and retired two years later in 1997. Mr Ng Teng Joo took over and In 2001 Mdm Vyjanthimala Balakrishna who was vice-principal

of the school from 1999 to 2001 was appointed as Mr Ng's successor.

In 2008, Mdm Ng Soh Hua took over from Mdm Balakrishna. She is the current Principal of the school of over 2500 pupils and approximately 115 staff.

Contributed by Mr Shyam Kumar (Bukit Panjang Primary School)