Outram Secondary School

Prior to 1874

Before 1874, in response to the need to provide opportunities for learning English through the medium of the mother tongue of the various races, two schools were built in Singapore, one at Cross Street and other at Kampong Glam. As the numbers in the school at Cross Street grew, a new school, Outram Road School, was built at Outram Road, opened by the Governor of Singapore, Sir John Anderson on 26 February 1906. By Gazette notification in 1939 the word "Road" was deleted and the school was known as Outram School.

From 1906

Outram School functioned as a Primary School. Acting as a feeder school, Pearl's Hill Standard One proceeded to Standard Two at Outram. Likewise, Outram was the feeder school to Raffles Institution. The working arrangement between Pearl's Hill School and Outram School continued up to January 1953 whereas the working agreement between Outram and Raffles Institution ceased with the fall of Singapore in February 1942. After the war, Outram boys competed with other Government Primary School pupils in securing places in Government Secondary Schools.

Lost records (1906 to 1942)

Under the orders of the Education Department, Mr SG Mohamed Ghows, who was Outram's Principal in 1941, sent all Outram School's records to the Pasir Panjang English School for safe keeping. Subsequently, this school suffered a direct hit during the World War II and with it went all Outram's past records, from 1906 to 1942.

Conversion into a secondary school in 1954

On 1 January 1954, Outram School ceased to be a purely Primary School and was converted to a four-year Secondary Commercial School with a four-year secondary school course leading to the School Certificate of Commercial Education of the London Chamber of Commerce. With the conversion, the school motto was changed from "On to Success" to "Labor Omnia Vincit" – Labour Conquers All. The school's crest was also changed.

1954 to the present

School song

The Outram School Song, Labour Conquers All, was composed in 1966 by members of the school staff. Lyrics of the school song were composed by Mr Vincent Khoo and music by his sister, Miss Teresa Khoo.

Lyrics:

Verse 1

We will go marching on together
True to our Alma Mater
We will strive and march to victory
Loyal Outramians are we.

CHORUS:

Onward, friends, be true, sincere
Work and foes we must not fear
Never falter, never fall
Labour conquers all.

Verse 2

We will raise our standards high
And with our voices cry
Brave and true hearts we will always be
Loyal Outramians are we.

Pre-war school song

In the days gone by
We were at Pearl's Hill
Where we worked and played
With hearty goodwill
Now that we have gone
To greater heights
That we are proud
That Outram is our school
Three cheers for Outram School.

School badge

The school badge was introduced in 1958. Initiated by C.A. Peterson, the design was registered with the College of Arms, UK. Shaped like a shield, it has a book and two clasps on the top, the coat of the arms of the city of Singapore on the left and three broad bands of red, blue and yellow, the colour of the school on the right. The original colours of the school were red and blue, but since the celebration of the Golden Anniversary, yellow has been incorporated.

School Advisory Committee

The School Advisory Committee (SAC) promotes closer relationships between the community and the school, takes an interest in student and staff welfare and encourages students' extracurricular activities. Members of the committee have organised fund-raising events such as Swimathons and Funfairs to raise funds for school activities and improvement projects.

The committee is responsible for building the Swimming Pool and Squash Complex. The SAC encourages student participation in water sports, for example SAC sponsored the water-polo team on an overseas trip for being first in an inter-school competition. The committee gives the Outstanding Student Award to the best all-rounder on Annual Speech Day Celebrations to inspire students to strive towards excellence. It also sponsors annual staff dinners in which the Chairman presents souvenirs to long-serving teachers and non-teaching staff in appreciation of their service.

Parent-Teacher Association

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) promote co-operation and understanding between parents and the Principal and teachers for the welfare of the pupils. It provides opportunities for discussion and explanation of matters relating to the education of the pupils and encourages social interaction between parents and teachers. Annually, the PTA gives a scholarship award to the top 'O' level student and bursaries to needy pupils. It encourages pupils to read by presenting shields to champion reading classes. It donates a challenge trophy for the champion house for the annual cross country championship.

Every year, the PTA hosts the Secondary One Orientation to familiarise new pupils and parents with the school and its facilities. It organises gatherings for teachers and parents to discuss pupils' progress. It also organises talks for parents.

Old Outramian's Association

The Old Outramians' Association (OOA) serves as a link between past students and the school. It enables past students to gather and interact, preserving and renewing old friendships, and provides an opportunity for past students to give something back to the school which has nurtured them.

Like the SAC and PTA, the OAA encourages excellence in ECA and academic performance by giving awards to outstanding students on Speech Day Celebrations. It has helped to raise funds for the school by organising charity dinners, a golf championship and a film premiere. The OOA has also offered the use of the OOA Room, a facility fully funded by the OOA, to the school as a Pupil Activity Centre - a "home away from home" or after-care centre for the latchkey pupils.

Notable alumni

The school has built three Mother Tongue Culture Rooms (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) on the sixth floor to let students develop an interest and appreciation of the traditional cultures.

From January 2008, the school partnered with Singapore Polytechnic's School of Business to offer a new applied subject called "Introduction to Enterprise Development". This enables students to pursue their interests in Enterprise Development.

Principals

1. Chua Leong Hean
2. O K Abraham
3. M A Malla
4. Chan Joon Gek
5. Ratnavel Subramaniam
6. Lim Han Soon
7. Lim Chye Tin
8. Susan Leong
9. Chan Poh Meng
10. Choy Wai Yin
11. Loh Cheung Ming
12. Boo Hian Kok