The school started with humble beginnings in a morning of January 1932 with only two classes. A few days ago, the first principal Mrs Downe and her 3 staffs had to go round Bukit Panjang Village and district to persuade parents to send their children to the new school. After much effort and together with the assistance of Mr Goh Tong Liang, a prominent resident, they managed to enrol the first sixty pupils.
Just after a week at the new school, Mrs Downe and a teacher were transferred out due to the small enrollment. Miss Alvis, one of the two remaining teachers, was appointed headmistress. She and the other female Chinese teacher taught all sixty students. Soon, word spread about Bukit Panjang English School and by 1941, there were classes from standard one to six.
During World War II when the Japanese was in Singapore, the school premises was believed to have been occupied by the Imperial Army. Throughout the whole war and the occupation of Singapore, the school was closed.
Three years later, on 12th September 1945, the Japanese surrendered but the school did not reopen until January 1948.
Mr C.A. Peterson took principalship from the school's reopening till 1951, when he was transferred out. His successor Mr Wee Loh Siew took charge until 1959, when he was succeeded by Mr Felix Choo. By the time Mr Wee took office, enrollment had steadily increased to 350. To cope with the demand for places in the school, Bukit Panjang Government Afternoon School was opened in July 1952 with an enrollment of 112. An annual magazine under the editorship of Miss Boswell published by the school during the fifties provided an invaluable record of the school then.
In 1955, Bukit Panjang School 2 replaced Bukit Panjang Government Afternoon School as it moved out to form the nucleus of Princess Elizabeth School. The school opened with 6 classes and a staff of 7. By 1959, all classes in Bukit Panjang School 1 and School 2 were full. Due to growing enrollment, 2 classes had to be held temporarily at the Bukit Panjang Community Centre until 1965.
In 1962, Mr C.B. Jesudason took over the principalship from Mr Felix Choo. Eight years later, he was succeeded by Mrs J. Thanabalasingam. During the sixties, the school excelled in the field of athletics. A year later, Mr Chen Yoon Chee took over as the principal for the next 13 years. During his tenure, much emphasis was placed on academic excellence. He was succeeded by Mr Chew Soi Tee from June 1985 to June 1989 when he was succeeded by Miss Ng Chwee Poh. A year later, the school changed its name to Bukit Panjang Primary School and moved to its current location at 109, Cashew Road, auguring a new beginning in the long history of the school.
Mr Tan Hwa Kwang took over as principal in 1995 and retired 2 years later on 28th October 1997. Mr Ng Teng Joo took over on 15th December 1997 and was promoted to the Singapore Ministry of Education's Schools Appraisal Branch 4 years later. At the turn of the new millennium in 2001, Mdm Vyjanthimala Balakrishna who was Vice principal of the school from 1999 to 2001 was appointed as Mr Ng's successor.
The school underwent PRIME from 2001 to 2003. There are currently 66 classes from primary 1 to 6 and the teaching staff is a strong 110.
History of Principalship
In the 74 years since the establishment of the school, the school has seen 12 principals come and go.
Mrs Downe (1932 - 1932)
Miss Alvis (1932 - 1942)
Mr C.A. Peterson (1948 - 1951)
Mr Wee Loh Siew (1951 - 1959)
Mr Felix Choo (1959 - 1962)
Mr C.B. Jesudason (1962 - 1970)
Mrs J. Thanabalasingam (1970 - 1971)
Mr Chen Yoon Chee (1971 - 1984)
Mr Chew Soi Tee (1985 - 1989)
Miss Ng Chwee Poh (1989 - 1995)
Mr Tan Hwa Kwang (1995 - 1997)
Mr Ng Teng Joo 1997 - 2001)
Mdm V. Balakrishna (2001 - Present)
School
The school is located on a small hill and comprises mainly of 3 blocks, a parade square, a netball court, a basketball court and a triangular field.
Block A
This block consist of Primary one, two, three and five classes on four levels. The ones/twos are given the lower floors while the threes/fives are given the higher floors. The block also contains the School Staff room, Head Of Department room, Library, Art rooms, Music studios AVA room
Students doing a science project at the Eco-garden
Also within its boundary are, a butterfly garden and an animal shed
Unnamed Block
This 3 Levelled block is situated between Block A and B and has no classrooms. It contains the General Office, Canteen and Hall
Block C
This block is the newest of all blocks, having been built when the school was undergoing PRIME. It usually contains Primary four and six classes with fours occupying the second level and sharing the third floor with the sixes who also occupy the fourth floor.
Also within its boundary is a fitness corner. In front of this block are the parade square and netball and basketball court while to its left is the school field.
Others
The Car park is in front of Block A while the Front Gate is situated along Cashew Road, just next to a private condominium
Location
The school is situated on the top of a small hill, this and the surrounding buildup environment explains the school's awkward field shape and small area. The nearest MRT station is Choa Chu kang which can be reached by Pending LRT Station, the nearest LRT station.
Missions, Visions and Crest
Mission -
We are committed to provide a nurturing and thinking environment so as to develop respectful and responsible pupils who value teamwork and lifelong learning.
Vision -
Towards a learning community
Motto -
Endeavour
Let's endeavour with all our might to climb the hill of knowledge.
Let's endeavour to seek, to strive and not to yield.
Let's endeavour always to our very best
Strategic Thrust 3 : Niche of Excellence in Aesthetics
We hope to produce students who possess:
Intellectual curiosity to think originally
Spirit of Initiative
Strength of character having a sense of teamwork and are willing in "giving" back to society
School Song
The School song has remained virtually unchanged since 1932, the melody that is played along with the singing of song is a digitised copy of the original 1970s (The specific year is unknown) recording. The composer of the song and the player of the original recording has been lost in the sands of time, however.
Let's strive to do our very best
What'er we can for our school
Let's endeavour with all our might
To climb the hill of Knowledge too
Endeavour is our school motto
We should always follow
But more important to uphold
The good name of our school
Let's sing its praises far and wide
To serve to strive and not to yield
Be it our joy and our pride
Bukit Panjang Primary School
(chorus)
Endeavour is our school motto
We should always follow
But more important to uphold
The good name of our school
Let's sing its praises far and wide
To serve to strive and not to yield
Be it our joy and our pride
Bukit Panjang Primary School
Academics
The school is well known in the town of Bukit Panjang and often produces a scorer in the PSLE top ten results. It emphasizes heavily on Mathematics.
The School currently offers:
