NorthLight School was established in March 2006 and opened to students the following year. Previously, students who failed the PSLE would enter technical schools, later called Vocational Training Centres, for secondary education. However, the attrition was alarmingly high. In 2005, the drop-out rate was 60% and only half of the remaining 40% entered Institute of Technical Education. Because the minimum entry age for VTCs was fourteen, there was two-year lag between the primary and secondary stages. In response to the problem, the Ministry of Education proposed to open a school to meet the needs of these students who would otherwise be forced to leave school. The Geylang Serai Vocation Training Centre was absorbed into NorthLight.
Campus
The current campus is located at 151 Towner Road, in Kallang. Previously, the Balestier branch of the Institute of Technical Education was based at the Kallang campus. Before NorthLight School moved to its current location in Kallang in 2015, it was situated on Dunman Road in Geylang.
Curriculum
The curriculum draws its inspirations from the Life Learning Academy in San Francisco. The curriculum, primarily vocational, emphasises on developing emotional strength and instilling life-skills in the students. The curriculum includes a wide range of vocational options. In addition, there is a 8-week-long industrial attachment to ensure the relevance of the skills picked up at school to real time employment needs. There is a Co-Curricular Activity programme to cater to the needs of students beyond the academics. The school has full-time, in-house counsellors to assist students troubled by social and emotional challenges.
Fees
Fees for courses range from $90 to $205 per semester depending on the course level and nationality of the applicant.
Financial assistance available to students includes:
the Community Development Council and Citizen's Consultative Committee-Institute of Technical Education Bursary scheme. The bursary, administered by the Citizen's Consultative Committee, is open to Singapore citizens only. The annual bursary ranges between $600 to $800 depending on the gross domestic household income of the applicant which is not expected to exceed $1500.
the Northlight Special Student Assistance Scheme, administered by the school, serves as an emergency scheme to see students through to the completion of their training.
The Good Progress Award, valued at $150, is given to the top 10% of students who show commendable improvement in their studies. The Edusave Awards for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service, valued at $150, are given to students in recognition of their excellence in non-academic areas.
