华文名：新加坡女子小学

History

Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS) was established on 1 July 1899, with an English lady teaching seven Peranakan girls in a cramped Hill Street house with a leaky roof. Thus began the first girls’ school in Singapore opened by the local community. This was thanks to founders Sir Song Ong Siang and Dr Lim Boon Keng’s strong convictions that girls must be empowered with an all-rounded education, opposing the traditional thinking of the times.

Despite an uncertain start, enrolment grew. By 1918, enrolment had reached 215. In 1924, the school moved to 37 Emerald Hill, which would become an integral part of its identity for the next 70 years. Meanwhile, the creation of its iconic school crest and a locally inspired uniform, comprising a white samfoo top and blue trousers, contributed to the blossoming SCGS identity. By 1936, SCGS had developed its house system, cookery and swimming classes, and a Girl Guides Company that received postcards from Britain’s Queen Mary.

After World War II, SCGS opened to all races, and had enrolled 700 girls by 1950. The school had its first Asian principal in 1951. In 1971, SCGS prepared its graduating girls for the first Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education examinations and attained 100% passes. SCGS girls also achieved sporting glory, especially in swimming and athletics. Dance then came to the fore, and later became a well-known SCGS institution. In 1989, SCGS achieved independent status.

On 4 July 1994, SCGS bade farewell to its Emerald Hill premises, which had been declared a significant historical site by the National Heritage Board, and moved to 190 Dunearn Road. A time capsule installed in the lobby in 1999 marked a century of illustrious school history. The school’s culture of excellence continued to be upheld.

In 2013, SCGS was the first school to be designated as a Centre of Excellence for Humanities. SCGS also offered an additional six-year Integrated Programme leading to the GCE A-Level at Eunoia Junior College.

Today, SCGS continues to equip girls with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be world-ready leaders. Its three pillars – the Talent, Character and Leadership, and Living and Life Skills Programmes – form a holistic experience to develop women who will stand out and lead their generation with confidence, purpose, principle and poise.