Tiong Bahru Secondary School (立道中学), established in 1966, was one of the pioneer bilingual integrated (混合中学) secondary schools built after Singapore Independence (August 9, 1965). It had both Chinese and English streams, attracting students from nearby primary schools in Tiong Bahru, Bukit Ho Swee and Delta Road areas. The first principal was Mr. Gwee (1966-1970), a former World War II Lieutenant, who was succeeded by a former Raffles Institution Head of Department (Chemistry), Mr. Chan (1971 - ?).
This bilingual school aimed to create an environment for different language streams of students to interact outside classrooms, in extra-curricular activities, sports, etc. Those students who were active 'beyond books' benefited most from the bilingual exposure at this golden age between 13 and 16 years old.
With enthusiastic young teachers and talented kids from neighbourhood average families, in its first decade the school excelled both academically and in sports.
The school had outstanding sports in mountain climbing (it was the first Singapore school to climb Mount Kinabalu) and basketball teams. The school's first brass band was formed in 1969, and within three years it placed in the top 20 (11th place) in the Singapore Youth Festival Brass Band Competition.
The 1971 graduated batch produced top GCE O-level students in Singapore, Five of them went on to the country's then only junior college, National Junior College (国家初级学院), and thereafter one student won the prestigious Public Service Commission Overseas Merit Scholarship. The 1976 graduated batch produced the "Singapore Water Queen" Olivia Lum, founder and CEO of Hyflux.
As the population of the old precinct was ageing, and the younger generation families were moving out, the school's student enrollment dropped after the late 1980s. The school merged with its neighbour, Bukit Ho Swee Secondary School (立达中学), in 1991 to form Delta Secondary School, and again in 2004 all were grouped under Bukit Merah Secondary School.
The vacated campus was once used as the temporary administrative head office of Nanyang Polytechnic, now permanently occupied by SEAB (Singapore Examinations & Assessment Board - Tiong Bahru Examinations Centre). Today, the fond memory left of the school is the Angsana tree planted by the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yee on June 6, 1976.