Our Heritage

HISTORY

School History

St Hilda’s Secondary started as Bethel English School in 1929 on Ceylon Road in Katong. In 1934, Archdeacon Graham White acquired the school and affiliated it to the Anglican Diocese. In 1938, the school was renamed St Hilda’s School after the school’s patron saint, Princess Hilda of Whitby. The essence of the school’s aims and inspirations was captured in the Mosaic command, ‘Go forward’ (Exodus 14:15), which has since become the school motto.

During the Second World War, St. Hilda’s School came under the jurisdiction of the Japanese military authorities and functioned as a Japanese school. Following the end of the war in 1945, St Hilda’s School was the first private school to be reopened with a staff of 20 and an enrolment of 615 students comprising mainly overaged girls and boys. In 1950, the school was accorded grant-in-aid status by the government and it became an all-girls school. In 1965, the school changed the skirt design from a solid blue colour to the current design of tiny circles dotting a navy background. The school building underwent a major overhaul in 1969, and the new campus was consecrated in the following year. In 1984, the school commemorated its golden jubilee, which culminated in a Thanksgiving and Dedication Service at St Andrew’s Cathedral on 8 May.

In 1988, St Hilda’s School relocated to Tampines and split into two schools due to the increasing demand for better facilities to meet future needs. In the following year, St Hilda’s welcomed its first batch of 165 primary school and 109 secondary school male students. On 28 July 1990, St Hilda’s Primary School and St Hilda’s Secondary School were officially opened by then Senior Minister of State for Education Dr Tay Eng Soon. Bishop Moses Tay consecrated the two schools.

In commemoration of its 70th anniversary, St Hilda’s published Hildan Harvest, which records the school’s history since its founding in 1934. On 13 April 2012, then Minister for Education Mr Heng Swee Keat officially opened the new Student Activity Centre, which houses a multipurpose hall, two indoor sports halls and Singapore’s first roof-top full-size hockey pitch. In 2014, the school celebrated its 80th anniversary with a series of events centred on the theme, ‘Run with Endurance, Race with Joy’, which culminated in the sealing of a time capsule containing significant artefacts that would be unearthed during the school’s 100th anniversary. In 2019, the school celebrated its 85th anniversary with a line-up of events jointly organised with St Hilda’s Primary School. In 2024, the school celebrated its 90th anniversary with 90 acts of kindness and a combined schools Founder's Day with St. Hilda's Primary School.

Principals:

• Mr P.V. Thomas (1929–1934)

• Ms Chia Ah Moy (1935–1936)

• Ms Kathleen Nelson (1936–1942)

• Mrs Grace Muthiah (1945–1947)

• Ms Nellie Mitchell (1947–1959)

• Mrs Ann Punshon (1959–1963)

• Mrs Tan Beng San (1963–1965)

• Ms Huang Chai Lean (1965–1968)

• Mrs L. Balasundram (1968–1969)

• Mrs A. Abraham (1969–1997)

• Mrs Yeo Chin Nam (1997–2000)

• Mrs Sng Siew Hong (2000–2005)

• Mr Ong Kim Soon (2006–2010)

• Mr Khoo Tse Horng (2011–2017)

• Mrs Janice Lim (2018–2024)

• Mr Julian Lew (2025-present)

Key Milestones

1929: Establishment of Bethel English School on Ceylon Road in Katong.

1934: Archdeacon Graham White acquires the school and affiliates it to the Anglican Diocese.

1938: Renamed as St Hilda's School.

1950: Accorded grant-in aid status.

1984: Commemoration of golden jubilee.

1988: Relocation to Tampines as separate primary and secondary schools.

2012: Official opening of Student Activity Centre at St Hilda's Secondary School

2014: Celebration of 80th anniversary

2019: Celebration of 85th anniversary with St Hilda's Primary School and other key partners. These include a Combined School's Carnival, Founder's Day, Hildan Vision Night and 85th Anniversary Thanksgiving Dinner.

2024: Celebration of 90th anniversary with 90 acts of kindness and a combined schools Founder's Day with St. Hilda's Primary School.

School Motto

Go Forward

The founder of St Hilda’s, Archdeacon Graham White, captured the essence of the school’s aims and aspirations in the Mosaic command, ‘Go Forward’.

School Crest

The school badge embodies the aims and aspirations of St Hilda’s. Its circular shape symbolises unity within the diversity of people, creeds and cultures in Singapore. At the centre of the badge is a Cross mounted on a blue shield, which represents the teaching of Christ – to be of loving service to fellow men. The blue colour on the shield represents a forward movement through waters of uncertainty, while the shield symbolises perseverance in heavenly aspirations grounded on earthly realism through education. Below the Cross is the school motto, ‘Go Forward’.

School Song

Go forward together one and all

Forward onward, whatever may befall,
Let's raise our heads high and lift our voice
Service to others is the Christian's choice!

Go forward, onward, over to the right In service and brotherhood and love Forward and upward, ever to the light Go forward and serve our Lord above! St. Hilda's our Alma Mater dear

Go forward in her and have no fear
She is our teacher, parent and friend
Whatever our path, wherever we wend!