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Holy Innocents' Primary School

Explore the history of Holy Innocents' Primary School.

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The primary section of Holy Innocents' High School and Holy Innocents' Chinese Girls' School were amalgamated to form Holy Innocents' Primary School.

School History

Established in 1892, Holy Innocents’ High School was one of the first Chinese mission schools in Singapore. In 1932, Holy Innocents’ Chinese Girls’ School was founded by Rev Fr Edward Becheras, Parish Priest of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The school was then managed by the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus. In 1985, the primary section of Holy Innocents’ High School and Holy Innocents’ Chinese Girls’ School were amalgamated to form Holy Innocents’ Primary School. The school started with an enrolment of 1 608 students on 25 March 1985 with Miss Goh Boon How as the principal and Mdm Tan Hock Neo as the vice-principal. It was the first Catholic co-educational primary school with modern facilities in Singapore.

The year 1986 saw the last batch of graduands from the Chinese-medium school, and the school became an English-medium school the following year. With its history as a Chinese-medium school and continual efforts in advocating bilingualism, Holy Innocents’ Primary Shool was designated as a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school by the Ministry of Education in 1992.

In 2000, Holy Innocents’ Primary School extended learning beyond the shores of Singapore by providing the students with international immersion trips to China. The scope of its National Chinese Language Writing Competition was broadened with the collaboration of schools in China and Taiwan to become the International Chinese Language Competition. The aim was to promote a love and flair for the written language. The competition has seen an average of 6 000 entries from schools across Asia in latter years as the school rode the tides of digital transformation. The competition was rebranded as the International Chinese Language Creative Writing Competition and has launched compilations of creative works published annually, both in print and e-copies.

In an effort to equip its students with the skills and aptitudes to meet the challenges of the future, Holy Innocents’ Primary School offered Artistry in Ceramics as a Learning for Life Programme in 2014. Digimind@HIPS, which equips students with skills in design thinking, robotics and coding, was introduced in 2015 as the school’s Applied Learning Programme.

The school underwent PERI upgrading from 2017 to 2019. In 2022, the school established its own Heritage Enclave with the purpose of educating its students to hold on to their roots while envisioning and creating their future as the only Catholic, co-educational SAP primary school in Singapore.

Principals:
- Ms Goh Boon How (1985–1997)
- Mr Jimmy Tan (1998–2001)
- Mrs Doris Sum (2002–2009)
- Mdm Quek Seok Noi (2010–2020)
- Ms Seet Eng Geok Lena (2021 - present)

Key Milestones

key milestones

1892	Holy Innocents’ High School was founded as a Chinese medium school by Reverend Father Edward Becheras.
1932	Holy Innocents’ Chinese Girls’ School was the first Chinese girls’ school set up by Catholic missionaries.
1985	Holy Innocents’ Primary School was established as a Chinese-medium school through the amalgamation of Holy Innocents’ High School (Primary Section) and Holy Innocents’ Chinese Girls’ School; offering both pre-primary and primary education.
1987	Holy Innocents’ Primary School became an English-medium school.
1992	The school was designated as a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) School by the Ministry of Education.
2003	The school underwent Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools (PRIME).
2005	Holy Innocents’ Primary School was appointed the Cluster Centre of Excellence for Chinese Language.
2010	Holy Innocents’ Primary School celebrated its 25th anniversary and opened its Chinese Teahouse, 养心斋.
2014	Artistry@HIPS was first offered as a Learning for Life Programme (LLP). It was later re-centred to focus on Ceramic Art. Digimind@HIPS was introduced as an Applied Learning Programme (ALP), equipping students with skills in design thinking, robotics and coding.
2015	Digiminds@HIPS was introduced as an ALP, equipping students with skills in design thinking, robotics and coding.
2017	Commencement of (PERI) upgrading.
2019	Completion of PERI Upgrading. Holy Innocents’ Primary School returns to its premises at 5 Lorong Low Koon.
2022	Opening of Holy Innocents’ Primary School Heritage Enclave and Heritage Room, 如承馆.

School Motto

Sincerity and Charity

School Crest

Blue shield crest with a red cross, reading Holy Innocents' Primary School with Chinese characters.

The school crest is shaped like a shield with a cross at the centre.
The shield represents the defence of our faith.
The Cross at the centre signifies the centre place of Christ in our lives.
The red colour of the cross symbolises the blood of Christ and serves to remind us of the supreme sacrifice of Christ for all mankind. The colour blue, which outlines the shield symbolises the ever-soothing presence of our Mother Mary who is always there for us. The colour white symbolises sincerity and charity.

School Song

众烈圣婴，为吾校名，
崇高婴德，校训所宗。
谦虚学习，努力前行，
诚实朴素，勤勉始终。
和气待人，胸怀宽宏，
爱人如己，服务群众。

智德体群，四育并重，
身心康宁，精力沛丰。
传播文化，中西并攻，
培植青秀，克勤忠厚。
发扬道德，荣主救灵，
力行仁爱，缔造和平。