Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)
Explore the history of Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary).
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Fairfield was started by the faith of one lady - Miss Sophia Blackmore, a woman missionary from Australia, with a class of eight Nonya girls in a little room at Cross Street in 1888. Subsequently, the Telok Ayer Girls’ School was founded in August that year.
In 1912, when Miss Mary Olson was the Principal, the school expanded, moving to Neil Road and was named Fairfield Girls’ School, in honour of a generous donor, Mr Fairfield. After Miss Olson, Mrs Lim Bock Kee became the first Asian Principal to lead Fairfield Girls’ School in 1946. In 1958, the name of Fairfield Girls’ School was changed to Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School. When Mrs Lim retired in 1959, Miss Lim Geok Kheng, a teacher and old girl of the school, succeeded her as Principal until 1982.
1983 marked a new era in the history of Fairfield. It went co-educational with its re-location to Dover Road as two schools: Fairfield Methodist Primary and Fairfield Methodist Secondary Schools, headed by Miss Cheong Yuen Lin and Mrs Tang Poh Kim respectively. In 1995, Fairfield Methodist Secondary went single-session.
In 1996, Fairfield was amongst the first few groups of schools to gain autonomous status. Between 2001 and 2007, Fairfield continued to press forward in its mission to provide all its pupils with value-added education under the leadership of Miss Elaine Lim.
In December 2007, Mr Victor Owyong assumed school leadership, making history as the first male Principal to lead Fairfield Methodist Secondary School.
In 2009, to highlight the shared heritage of the two schools, their names were changed to Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) and Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary).
At the end of 2011, both schools wrote and adopted a common mission statement so as to achieve greater alignment with the educational mission of the Methodist Church in Singapore, and to achieve the concept of 'One Fairfield' with Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), which was further reinforced with a common badge.
In December 2021, Mr Wee Tat Chuen became the first old boy of the school to take up the role of Principal. Mr Wee had previously been a teacher and Head of Department of Fairfield Methodist Secondary.
Today, we continue to stand as a school that is special, because of the staff and support we are blessed with, and because of the almighty and loving God whom we serve. His grace is evident in our school.
Principals:
- Ms Sophia Blackmore (1888–1892)
- Ms Emma Ferris (Mrs Shellabear) (1893–1898)
- Ms Edith Anna Hemingway (1899–1903)
- Ms Luella Anderson (1904–1905)
- Ms Mary Olson (1907–1908)
- Ms Rovene Sunderland (1909)
- Ms Mary Olson (1910–1916)
- Ms Jennie Dean (1917)
- Ms Mary Olson (1918–1923)
- Ms Thirza Bunce (1924)
- Ms Mary Olson (1925)
- Ms Gazella Traeger (1926)
- Ms Mabel Marsh (1927–28)
- Ms Lila Corbett (1928–1933)
- Ms Mary Olson (1934–1935)
- Ms Catherine Jackson (1935)
- Ms Carrie Kenyon (1935–1938)
- Ms Geraldine Johnson (1939–1940)
- Ms Ellice Handy (1941)
- Mrs Lim Bock Kee (née Goh Khoon Tee) (1946–1959)
- Mrs Goh Soon Hoe (afternoon school; 1949–1956)
- Mrs Tay Poh Luan (afternoon school; 1957–1961)
- Ms Lim Geok Kheng (1960–1982)
- Mrs Tang Poh Kim (1983–2000)
- Ms Elaine Lim (2001–2007)
- Mr Victor Owyong (2008–2014)
- Ms Audrey Chen (2015–2021)
- Mr Wee Tat Chuen (December 2021-present)
Secondary school
- Mrs Tang Poh Kim (1983–2000)
- Ms Elaine Lim (2001–2007)
- Mr Victor Owyong (2008–2014)
- Ms Audrey Chen (2015–present)
Key Milestones
key milestones
1888 | Establishment of Telok Ayer Girls’ School by Miss Sophia Blackmore with eight Peranakan girls. |
1912 | Relocation of the school to its own school building at 178 Neil Road, and the school is renamed Fairfield Girls’ School after its generous benefactor, Mr Fairfield. |
1946 | Appointment of first Asian principal, Mrs Lim Bock Kee. |
1958 | Renamed Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School to mark its missionary beginnings. |
1983 | Relocation to larger premises on Dover Road and becomes co-educational. Splits into two schools: Fairfield Methodist Primary and Fairfield Methodist Secondary. |
1996 | Fairfield Methodist Secondary School accorded autonomous status. |
2008 | Mr Victor Owyong becomes the first male principal. |
2009 | To reflect their common origin and identity; Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) and Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary), the school crest is changed to a common one depicting ‘Fairfield’, instead of ‘F.M.P.S.’ and ‘F.M.S.S.’ |
2011 | The two schools adopt a common mission statement and achieve the concept of ‘One Fairfield’ with Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), which was further reinforced with a common badge. |
2021 | Mr Wee Tat Chuen becomes the first old boy of the school to take up the role of Principal. |
School Motto
Pure & Honest
School Crest

The emblem of the heart, which forms the central motif of the school crest, represents the highest of all emotions – love – the love of God for man and the love of man for his neighbour. Surmounting the heart is the torch of knowledge and wisdom that can illuminate the mind and broaden the vision of all who seek its light. Emblazoned in a band of burnished gold across the emblem of the heart is the name of the school, representing loyalty for the alma mater. The two stars at the base of the crest reflect the school motto, ‘Pure & Honest’, ideals that every student should aspire towards.
School Song
A world has opened for us
A world that's bright and gay
A world that's full of interest
Since to school we found our way
It's a world that's full of gladness
And we're happy all the day
And we learn that only busy folks
Can be bright and true and gay
It's at Fairfield, at Fairfield
Where all the world is bright
Where love is in the sunshine
And our hearts are gay and light
Oh! It's Fairfield, at Fairfield
Where all the world is bright
Where love is in the sunshine
And our hearts are gay and light
There we live and work and study
There we walk in wisdom's ways
Gaining strength for all the future
Far and near we'll sing thy praise
May blessings be upon thee
May many find thy halls
May the leaders of the future
Be found within thy walls
Here's to Fairfield, to Fairfield
To every student here
To every happy Fairsian
And to every teacher dear
Oh! It's Fairfield, at Fairfield
Where all the world is bright
Where love is in the sunshine
And all the world is bright.


