Full SBB

Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) will be embarking on the Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) journey in 2023 with our incoming Secondary One cohort.

What this means is that:

Our Secondary One students will be placed in form classes with students from different courses of study. They will learn subjects such as Character and Citizenship Education, Music, Physical Education, Art, Design and Technology and Food and Consumer Education in their form classes. Our students may offer Humanities subject at a more demanding level from Secondary Two onwards.

Purpose of Full SBB

With Full SBB, we are moving towards one secondary education, with many subject bands, to better meet our students’ learning needs, without labels. This is part of the broader shift in our education system to recognise the strengths and interests of our children, to help them build their confidence and develop an intrinsic motivation to learn for life in them. We also hope that our students embrace inclusiveness and thrive in diversity.

What does Full SBB look like in FMS(S)?

There will be mixed form classes with the provision of a common curriculum. History will be offered at a more demanding level from Secondary 2.

Full SBB in Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) in 2023

Aspect of Full SBB

How will this aspect be implemented?

Offering of Humanities* subjects at a more demanding level from Secondary 2

*(only History for now)

Currently, secondary school students can offer English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics and Science at a more demanding level from the start of Secondary One based on students’ PSLE Achievement Level (AL) for each subject. Beyond the start of Secondary 1, students may also offer these subjects at a more demanding level based on their performance in secondary school.

Our school will also provide Secondary 2 students the opportunity to take History at a more demanding level, if they meet subject-specific criteria. This is applicable to students who are in the Secondary 2 Normal (Academic) course from 2023, and students who are in the Normal (Technical) course from 2024.

The criteria for taking Humanities at a more demanding level will be based on students’ aptitude for and interest in these subjects at Secondary 1. They should also possess positive attitude towards learning and strong commitment to offer the subject at a more demanding level.

Eligibility Criteria

·       Sec 1N(A) students who scored 75% and above in the 2022 History overall marks and at least 70% in the English overall marks, together with a positive recommendation from teachers are eligible to take the specific Humanities subject at the Express Level.
·         Students who qualify will be issued the SBB offer letter to take the specific Humanities subject at a more demanding level in Term 4 Week 6.
·         In deciding whether to take up the offer, students and their parents should consider the student’s aptitude and interest in the specific Humanities subject as well as their ability to cope with the other subjects.
      Student Learning Arrangements
·           Once students offer Humanities at a more demanding level, he or she will attend lessons together with students in the Express course as well as sit for the same Weighted Assessments and examinations as students in the Express course.
·           Should he or she be unable to cope, he or she would be advised to take the subject at the Normal (Academic) level.

Humanities subjects at a more demanding level will be made available for Normal (Technical) Secondary 2 students starting from 2024.

Mixed form classes with the provision of a common curriculum

Our school will implement mixed form classes starting from the Secondary 1 cohort of students entering our school in 2023.

The 2023 cohort of Secondary 1 students will be grouped in mixed form classes, comprising students from different courses of study. Mixed form classes present more opportunities for students to interact with other students taking different subject combinations, and with different strengths and interests.

In their mixed form classes, students will take a set of subjects at a common level, amounting to about one-third of curriculum time. This would allow students in mixed form classes to spend curriculum time together in these subjects.

These subjects are:

Art
Character and Citizenship Education
Design and Technology
Food and Consumer Education
Music
Physical Education

Teachers will adopt a range of teaching approaches to meet the different learning needs and pace of their students in the same form class.

English Language, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics, and Science will continue to be offered at Express Level, N(A) Level, and N(T) Level. The criteria for taking these subjects at a more demanding level from the start of Secondary One is based on students’ PSLE AL Score for each subject. Students will be grouped in different classes based on their subject level for each subject.

For more information on Full SBB, visit www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/psle-fsbb.

For more information on how our school will be implementing Full SBB, you can contact us at FMSS@moe.edu.sg.