The Sports School, which is less than ten years old, has already chalked up an impressive record. 246 of its athletes and alumni have already represented Singapore in competitions as prestigious as the Olympic, Youth Olympic, Commonwealth, Asian and SEA Games. Besides its medal tally in both regional and international competitions it has now produced a Public Service Commission Overseas Merit Scholar as well and plans to introduce the International Baccalaureate diploma programme for its older student-athletes soon.

Sports School's Brand of Holistic Education

"Philosophically, Singapore Sports School is more akin to our European counterparts. The outstanding education that we provide offers a combination of academic rigour and comprehensive sports training that is well supported by our sports science practitioners," said Principal Mrs Deborah Tan.

Indeed, the School's Performance Enhancement Institute boasts a whole range of sports science specialists who are variously trained in physiology, physiotherapy, psychology, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and sports technology. Between them they underpin the most important areas of the school's athletic grooming by helping to identify young talent, devising all round fitness and ability programmes, and providing evidence-based tests and support for individual athletes in both training and competition. There is no equivalent to the range and depth of this expertise anywhere else in Singapore's educational landscape.

But another thread in both sport and studies at the School is the emphasis on personal excellence. "Without a doubt we prize talent but we also prize all the other attributes that can help these youngsters realise their full potential," Mrs Tan said.

Values are not just taught. They are naturally developed in the School. This is because there are many opportunities for its students to learn about themselves and others as they study, train, compete and live together. Such an all-inclusive environment is especially able to foster and monitor personal growth so that its young athletes also become capable young people and young leaders.

The School thus offers a broad range of educational experiences and seeks to produce both knowledgeable students who are independent learners, and thoughtful team-players who are also capable of being leaders. As Mrs Tan points out, "The uniqueness of our brand of holistic education is well-captured in our motto: grooming learned champions with character."

Integration and Flexible Delivery of Sports and Academic Curriculum

Nurturing young athletes has its problems, especially when it comes to balancing their academic needs with their sporting ones. Each year the Head Coaches of the various sport academies will draw up an annual training and competition plan but if any of their student-athletes are subsequently drafted into a national squad then SSP will sit down with the relevant National Sports Association to harmonise these students' schedules. It is therefore incumbent on the academic staff at the School to work very closely with all the students who, to a certain extent, have unusual commitments outside the classroom. This is particularly the case when young athletes are involved in training or competitions that take place overseas.

Even more personalised support is given to those athletes who are especially successful and who can therefore be away from school for months at a time. A good example of such a case is Isabelle Li, who was the silver medallist in Table Tennis at the 2010 Youth Olympics and who now has her sights set on the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. In the run up to the 2010 YOG Isabelle spent roughly six months abroad every year, either for training or for competitions. Clarence Chew and Tay Chi Kiat were similarly affected. It was therefore very necessary that the academic department at SSP worked extremely closely with the Singapore Table Tennis Association to provide highly customised support for these three young paddlers.

Extended and Multiple Academic Pathways for Student-Athletes

When the School first started it offered only secondary education to its student-athletes, but it soon became evident to its founding Principal, Mr Moo Soon Chong, that this was not going to be enough. Research and experience both showed that, with exceptions, an athlete is rarely at his or her peak until at least their mid or late teens. This meant that the academic pathway at SSP needed to be extended, and quickly, to take account of the longer maturation period of sporting accomplishments.

The first answer to this challenge resulted in a collaboration with the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the East Asia Institute of Management to offer a two-year Diploma in Sports Management and Exercise Science. The Diploma was taught at the SSP campus and was offered from 2007 to 2010.

This route proved popular with many of the School's outstanding student-athletes at the time. Olympians Tao Li, Calvin Kang, Dipna Lim-Prasad and Mylene Ong; and national athletes, bowler Jazreel Tan, sailor Sherman Cheng, jumper Stephen Tseng, swimmers Amanda Lim and Clement Lim, badminton shuttler Jeffrey Wong and golfer Gregory Foo, are amongst its distinguished alumni. A significant number of AUT diploma graduates are now pursuing a Sport Science and Management Degree in Nanyang University of Technology (NTU) while others have proceeded to overseas destinations like Monash University, the University of Western Australia and several US colleges for their tertiary studies.

The AUT Diploma programme in SSP was a model of an athlete-friendly academic set-up that nurtured many national athletes. It also paved the way for its successor which is arguably even more of a good fit. This is the customised Republic Polytechnic (RP)-SSP Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management programme which offered its first enrolment in 2011, the same year that the AUT Diploma programme saw its last graduating cohort. A big boost to the new programme was given when NTU committed itself to accept outstanding Sports School-Republic Poly graduates who are national or national age-group representatives, under its discretionary admission criteria. So currently, SSP student-athletes can continue to realise their sporting potential to the fullest without having to sacrifice their academic aspirations.

Another big step forward has been taken more recently. As from 1 September 2012 SSP was officially recognised as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school for the Diploma Programme (DP) which, it is hoped, will commence in January 2014. And in order that younger, academically able students can progress easily to the IB Diploma, SSP has already developed an Honours Programme for years 1 and 2 and a Pre-IBDP Programme for years 3 and 4.

The six-year IBDP through-train pathway will mean that, for the first time, suitable student-athletes will be able to pursue sporting and academic excellence concurrently, and when they graduate they will have a broad-based, rigorous and widely accepted pre-tertiary qualification that gives them access to reputable universities world-wide.

Yet Another Innovation: "School-within a-School"

In 2011, the School went a step further to enhance the training of a select group of student-athletes who had been drafted into national youth or senior teams. Instead of waiting for lessons to end to start their training, these youngsters start their day with training and have their lessons afterwards, in the evening.

Called the "School-within-a-School" programme, the aim is to optimise their training potential in the hope that some of them will break into the top 100 world rankings by 2015, Mrs Tan explained.

Research has shown that most athletes function optimally in the mornings. Responding to this fact, which has especial relevance for sports like table tennis and badminton where training intensity and volume are required to attain high performance standards, SSP in partnership with the respective National Sports Associations, decided to modify the training schedule for a select group of student-athletes. "The SWS programme as an innovation stemmed from our commitment to nurture talented athletes without minimising academic aspirations and is based on sound practice observed in other systems," said Mrs Tan, adding, "intermediate achievement milestones include finishing eighth or better in major international youth tournaments."

The selected student-athletes come from the table tennis, badminton and golf academies. They train from 8.30 to 11 am, break for lunch and a rest, and then resume training again from 2 to 4 pm. Academic classes start at 5 pm and end at 9.40 pm. This arrangement is beneficial for golf, not because of the physical demands of the sport but because it allows the young golfers to play full 18-hole practice rounds in the mornings.

With a small number of student-athletes on the programme currently, the evening classes are organised with subject teachers attending to two to three student-athletes from different levels. This allows close monitoring and ensures that each student receives special attention from his or her teachers.

The School has already seen positive results in the sporting performance of the student-athletes in the programme. Marc Ong and Nicklaus Chiam from golf, and Yee Herng Hwee from table tennis are notable examples. These students have catapulted into their respective national squads and earned themselves a number of accolades. Marc was the youngest Singaporean golfer at the Laos SEA Games in 2011 whilst Nicklaus joined the national ranks soon after. And for her part, Herng Hwee helped the women's table tennis team to win a silver medal at the recent SEA Championships at Vientianne in Laos.

Have their studies been adversely impacted? Well, so far all the student-athletes on the programme have either maintained or improved on their academic performance.

Student-Athlete Support

Because of their rigorous training and academic schedules, the residential programme in the School provides comprehensive support to student-athletes who stay in the boarding school from Sunday nights to Friday evenings. The boarding school is staffed by full-time professionals as well as staff volunteers from the School management, and academic and sports departments.

The conducive and safe environment presents a unique and pleasant experience for its student-athletes and staff - "a home away from home". And there is a distinct camaraderie and sense of belonging to the School as a result.

With class sizes averaging 20-25 close academic monitoring of the students is possible. Moreover, the integration of lessons with sports and boarding means that the youngsters receive continual feedback, which is always done in a spirit of care and goodwill, on their daily effort and quality of work.

"We are fully cognisant that podium finishes in sport are not always achievable. As such, we value and commend our student-athletes' daily effort at training and in their classes. We encourage them to strive for personal bests at competitions and over time, these personal best efforts may culminate in significant wins," said Mrs Tan. As a result many young athletes have learnt to increase their resilience to counter disappointments and setbacks. "They draw comfort from being in a community of fellow student-athletes and staff who understand the challenges and have support structures to encourage them."

But for those who do well there is also support of a different kind - in the send-off ceremonies that are traditionally held for student-athletes or alumni who are selected for major competitions. The alumni make every effort to attend these events regardless of their busy schedules. Mrs Tan believes that this is because of their close ties with the School and their memories of the acknowledgement given to their own achievements when they were students there. These ceremonies have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration and motivation for staff, student-athletes and alumni alike.

Sports School Graduates Do Well

Because the School is necessarily geared towards selecting and nurturing students with exceptional sporting talent it is no small feat when 65 per cent of its graduates go on to university, either at home or abroad. This is at the same time that its pipeline of national athletes at either youth or senior level has swelled to 246.

SSP graduates who continue to pursue their passion for sports whilst majoring in sport-science and sports management degrees at NTU and overseas will be Singapore's champions and stalwarts throughout their professional careers.

However, an even larger number of SSP graduates have gone on to pursue a wide and impressive range of tertiary degrees outside of those subjects related to sports. These include Accounting, Arts and Social Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Business Studies, Computer Engineering, Economics, Engineering, Law, Mathematics, Podiatry, Pre-Medicine, Shipping Management, and Sequential Art.

Topping the list is graduate Scott Ang who represented Singapore in Triathlon at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and won an SAF Overseas Scholarship last year, one of the prestigious Public Service Commission Scholarships. He will read Law at the University of Cambridge.

Not far behind are sailor Sean Lee and paddler Tan Hui Min who were both recipients of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science. Sean has been offered a Nanyang Scholarship and will pursue a double degree in Accountancy and Finance at NTU. Hui Min is now reading Computer Engineering on a scholarship at NTU.

Two swimmers have also excelled academically. Amanda Lim has been offered an NCAA scholarship at the University of Florida to pursue swimming and premedicine, and Pang Si Jia, who was awarded the University of Idaho Sports Scholarship, graduated in December 2011 with a top-ten Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing her Master's in the same subject.

The Place of SSP in the Landscape of Singapore Education

"Singapore Sports School has a special place in Singapore's education system. We are uniquely student-athlete centric with a set-up and resources that enable a good balance between sports and studies. We have a thoughtfully integrated academic and sports programme with the capability for flexible delivery in a nurturing environment that allows full access to world-class training facilities," said Mrs Tan.

The Sports School is therefore uniquely equipped to fully maximise a student's potential and to provide him or her with solid academic support. This is something mainstream schools may be hard-pressed to rival because of their resource constraints and lack of expertise. In addition, the school firmly believes in developing student athletes with sound values through a holistic and wellrounded education.

If a student wishes to excel in both sports and studies, the Sports School certainly seems the best place to do so.
 

仔细查看区美伦的"体育记录"：她从小学四年级开始打垒球，升读莱佛士女中，是莱中垒球队队长。在新加坡大学求学期间，是入选学联队和大学校队的垒球好手。出任莱中校长，她带领莱佛士女中在2000年至2007年，七度当选年度最佳体育中学（女子组）。这个记录，又让人感觉教育部可能早已认定她是继巫顺昌出任体育学校第二任校长的不二人选。

区美伦在育美东校读小四时被老师看中她眼手间的协调力好，加入垒球队。她自认"抛球和接球的能力还可以"。在大学她学网球，工作后开始打高尔夫球。身上蕴含的运动细胞，使她无论在主掌莱佛士女中或新加坡体育学校，都能带领师生发挥运动员活泼、积极、开放、奋斗的精神。至于如何接受胜利？如何面对失败？在任何情况下为学校带来体面的荣誉，还有团队精神等等，都是她作为一个运动员，从小就熟悉的。

《新学》新加坡教育双语双月刊创刊，区美伦欣然接受专访，畅谈她出掌新加坡体育学校如何致力为国家培养体育人才。

7公顷地7500万元打造新加坡体校

占地7公顷，以7500万元打造的新加坡体育学校（下简称体校）坐落于兀兰冠军大道1号。对体校来说，这路名是再适合不过了。它拥有世界级的运动设施与设备，包括两个奥林匹克标准的全天候泳池；12条球道的保龄球馆；一个可容纳700名观众，适合举办各种运动项目的室内运动场；10个网球场的网球训练中心；一个有32张乒乓桌的乒乓训练中心；三个英式女篮球场；30条靶道的室内射击场；一个宽八条赛道，由合成塑胶铺成的400米跑道；一个足球场、一个248个座位的多用途双层冷气礼堂。

新加坡体育学校的"运动科学学院"是全新加坡学校绝无仅有的。学院里有生物力学专家、运动心理学家、物理治疗师、体育科技师、体能教练和营养师。

创校九年已培养超过246名国家选手

体校自2004年开校至2012年11月1日，已有246名学生或校友代表国家参加东南亚运动会、亚洲运动会、奥林匹克运动会以及多项国际锦标赛。2012年获得武装部队海外奖学金，到英国剑桥大学读法律的洪毅强，是体校培养的第一名政府奖学金学生。帆船系毕业生李德仁和乒乓系毕业生陈慧敏则获得李光耀数学与科学卓越奖以及新加坡南洋理工大学奖学金，分别攻读会计金融系和电脑工程系。泳将林香杞和冯思佳则获得奖学金到美国佛罗里达大学和爱达荷大学深造。

这样的成绩对仅有九年校龄的体校来说，不能不算是一项成就。2012年23名代表新加坡征战伦敦奥运会的国家选手，有三名是体校校友。她们是泳手陶李、王翠彬和跨栏好手宁娜。虽然没有得奖，成绩都不错。陶李改写了新加坡女子100米仰泳的全国纪录，宁娜跑出了赛季最佳成绩。

区美伦说："为国家培养选手是体校的建校目的。我曾参观过中国和韩国的体育学校，他们都有最少50年的历史，新加坡体校却是一所还不到10年的学校，有这样的成绩是值得骄傲的。"

体校创校时有足球、英式女篮、田径、游泳、乒乓球、羽毛球、保龄球和帆船八个学系，2008年加进高尔夫球系，2009年解散帆船学系，2011年再加入击剑和射击两学系，目前共有10个学系。

运动和学业兼备

新加坡体育学校的校徽是左右两片匀和对称的羽毛，据已故创校校长巫顺昌生前解释，这代表了体校运动和学业兼备，同时也不忘注重人格的发展。

区美伦说："我告诉学生'这里是体育学校，不是体育俱乐部。'我们的办校哲学接近欧洲体校，严格的学科学习和体育比赛成绩受到同等关注。我们每一系的总教练会为学生拟好一年的训练和比赛日程，让课堂教师以灵活度和综合度来配合学生的学科学习，在发展好体育特长的同时，也掌握好谋生的技能，培养好性格。另外，经'运动科学学院'的专家指导，学生还学习心理学、营养学、生理学等知识，务求成为一名全面的体育学生。

"我们要求学生必须做好为体育'全力以赴'的心志。有了这个决心，校方自会在课业方面尽量配合，好让学生鱼与熊掌两者兼得。所以，学生很明白自己必须有全心全意的'承诺'。还未能下定决心的学生，我会劝他们先在主流学校学习，到想清楚了，中途才来插班也行，我们给他们足够时间去仔细想清楚。

"运动员的运动生涯很短，能光芒万丈的黄金时期有限，只有兼顾学业，掌握好学术能力，有了谋生技能，才能应付退役后的生计问题。运动员的黄金时期视不同的运动而异，我们不开设体操系，就因为体操的黄金期很短，尤其是女子体操，16岁就到顶了。我们注意到有些叫迟专业'的体育项目，例如射击，可以不必从小开始学，一名出色射击手的运动生涯可以维持到三四十岁。这个状况是我们在2012年开办射击系的原因之一 。"

她表示，体校从每届奥林匹克运动会运动员的平均年龄来看运动员的"黄金期"。以2012年伦敦奥运会为例，运动员的平均年龄是26岁至27岁，这就是运动员的黄金时期了。某些运动员在26岁以后的运动生涯仍然非常精彩，但毕竟是少数。

"运动员退役后怎么办？"于是，要求学生掌握好学术能力，具备一定谋生的技能，为退役后做好准备，就变得非常重要了。

区美伦说："在新加坡，父母一般都很重视孩子的教育，体校不能让家长失望。只有让孩子退役后的前景有了着落，家长才会安心让有潜质的孩子全面投入体育训练。有些学生在小学时期，没有了解运动应与学业并重，小六会考成绩不理想。来到体校，在兼顾运动和学业的单元学制和远程学习方式协助下，他们的成绩有了很大的进步。曾得亚运金牌的帆船好手张峰源就是其中一名。小六会考后他被编进普通工艺班，体校给了他改进的机会，他现在是南洋理工大学的学生。我们相信只要让学生明白掌握学术能力的重要性，并给他们也能同时学好的机会和辅导，他们是会进步的。"

开办两种高中课程

体校作为新加坡于2004年开办的第一所专才学校，初期只考虑开办四年制O水准课程。然而根据运动员10年成长的规律，四年中学课程对体校学生是不够的。一般运动员体能从小四开始发育，到中四毕业仅受了七年训练。男生发育又比较晚，为他们提供毕业后的延续训练就成了创校校长巫顺昌的当急之务。

几经接洽，体校和新西兰奥克兰理工大学于2008年为中四毕业生联办了两年高中课程，体校首几批佼佼者如陶李、江利龙、宁娜、王翠彬、陈诗桦、张峰源、林雍恩、王豪聪、符永恩、林香杞、曾克成等都修读了这项课程。不少人后来都到南洋理工大学或海外大学继续攻读大学课程。可惜这项课程学费一年要8000元，比较昂贵，不是一般家庭都能负担，体校决定中止，最后一批学生已于2012年毕业。

2009年体校再邀请有合作关系的共和理工学院特为体校开办类似新西兰奥克兰理工大学策划的高中课程，课程从2011年开始，学费相对比较便宜。这些课程都让体校毕业生在发展自己体育特长的同时，能兼顾学业。

体校于2010年开办六年直通车课程，为了照顾不同学术能力的学生，并满足不同家长的需求，决定开办两年的IB高中文凭课程（国际中学会考文凭课程 International　Baccalaureate），并于2012年9月1日正式成为能开办IB课程的学校。

体校的IB课程将于2014年1月开课，到时将和共和理工学院专为体校开办的三年制工院课程并存。

区美伦说："让三年制的工院课程和两年制的IB高中课程并存，是为学术能力差异的学生提供不同渠道的选择。体育有上好表现的学生，学术能力有很大差异。我们有小六会考积分超过60分的快捷源流学生，也有少数积分150分左右的普通学术和普通工艺源流学生。因此为他们提供不同要求的高中课程是恰当的。"

对某些表现特别出色的学生，体校还为他们量身定制超过三年的高中课程。

获得2010年青奥会乒乓银牌的李思韵和获得2011年东南亚运动会乒乓金牌的庞学杰都是新加坡土生土长的乒乓好手，究竟需要多少年的工院课程，才能让他们免试升读南洋理工大学呢？

区美伦说："李思韵一年有半年在外国受训和参加比赛，如果不特为她安排灵活上课时间，她没有办法应付学业要求。去年在乒乓总会每年拨款26万元的协助下，我们和共和理工学院合力为李思韵和庞学杰设计了一个专属于两人三至五年的工院课程。这26万元包括为他们提供更多出国比赛和受训的机会，接受国家队男女队主教练指导，还有私人补课，以及安排更多陪练员等。两人的目标都是2016年代表新加坡参加巴西里约热内卢奥运会。"

体校每年约收新生100人，10个主要科系，每科约收生10人。区美伦估计今年（2013年）第一批直通车课程的100名中四生，约有30人会升读IB的两年高中课程，20至25人修读共和理工学院的三年课程。其他学生则会选择离开体校，通过直接收生计划，以自己的体育强项进入初级学院或其他理工学院。外校中四生约有五人2014年会加入体校的IB两年高中课程。

"校中校"

区美伦说："我们希望通过特别安排，把选进'校中校'学生的潜能发挥到淋漓尽致，到2015年能在自己的体育项目里挤进世界前百名。"

这项特别设计的课程，是参考了中国、马来西亚、印尼等乒乓球和羽毛球强国的运动员，都是在白天进行大量训练得到启发的。即便丹麦和德国等欧洲强国也照跟，他们明白这是根据这两项球类运动员的生理基础的研究来规划的。至于高尔夫球系参与这项特别课程，则属偶然。新加坡的高尔夫球场有18个洞的场地，一般在早上比较有空，校方因此也让高尔夫球系的学生白天打球，晚上才来上课。

这18名学生从早上8时30分开始训练到11时，吃过中饭，稍事休息，下午2时再训练到4时，傍晚从5时开始上课到9时40分。区美伦指出，因为只有18名学生，晚上上课就像补习，一位老师面对几名学生，学生必须集中精神学习才行。要为18名不同级别、不同科目的学生安排功课表是不容易的事，校方还要步步跟进这18名学生的学业成绩，确保不会因为参与了这项特别计划而退步等等。

三系参加这项特别课程的学生人数会慢慢增加。她说："这项课程并非'试验性'的课程，而是'承诺性'的课程，是学校对学生的承诺所做出的特别安排。至于会不会推广到更多学系，我看未必。因为不是任何运动都可以像乒乓球或羽毛球可以长时间接连不断地训练，田径和射击就不行了，所以我们暂时限定在乒乓球和羽毛球两系。高尔夫球系是因为配合场地时间，才幸运地挤进去。"

从乒乓球学生余恒慧，以及高尔夫球学生王宗庆和詹耀淳没多久就获选进入国家队，并在国际比赛获奖，可见"校中校"课程已经发挥了成效。

世有伯乐然后有千里马

"世有伯乐然后有千里马"，怎样去"相中"千里马，挖掘具备体育潜力的少年，是体校老师和教练们的重任。体校的学生都是校方全权挑选的。虽是"直接收生"，却并没有参加教育部的"直接收生计划"。

区美伦说："教育部的'直接收生计划'有特定招生的时间，体校的教练和'相才'团人员， 却从每年的1月就展开新生的鉴定和招收计划。被我们'相中'了的学生仍然参加小六会考，我们按成绩录取快捷源流的学生比较多，普通学术或工艺源流的学生比较少，除非特别出色，否则我们不会考虑。"

这几年体校已经发展出各种"相才、选才"的标准。一些不曾参加过比赛，不曾得过奖的"青涩"学生进校，是通过了体校"相才"小组的利眼，看出了他们的潜能。能被专家"相中"的条件，除了运动潜能，还看这个年轻人的态度，是否愿意学习？是否勤奋学习等等。

区美伦经常对学生说："'天才'两字是被夸大了，良好的学习态度还是很重要。"

体校每年中一只有100个学额，却有上千人来报名，可见家长已经对让孩子进体校抱着非常开明的态度，希望孩子获得最好的教育。

在争取更多体育幼苗方面，体校重视年度的开放日，并有计划地与北部邻近小学进行多方面合作。

每年开放日，体校10个学系都准备好详细的小册子给来参观的家长和学生，让他们了解各学系的要求和发展情况。至于和体校有合作关系的17所北部小学，经常受邀到体校来，接受某些体育技能训练来改进学生的敏捷度、平衡力和协调力。体校也到他们学校去开讲解会或和教师研究怎样"相才"，怎样"见微知著"，怎样鉴定学生的体育潜能等等。这17所学校因为靠近体校，来去比较方便，彼此已经有了三年的合作关系。

区美伦说："每年体校有20% 新生来自这17所学校，对这个人数我们感到满意。难得的是这些学生还都是不曾得过奖的，是有潜能的孩子。他们被我们的专家'相中'，假以时日，希望能成才。'相才'既是一门科学，要量心跳、看体型，也是一门艺术，要凭经验和利眼，能否一眼看穿等等。我们正探讨这项合作计划是否需要扩大到更多学校去。 "

射击学生杨雪慧

和邻校的合作关系，帮助了体校人才的培训和选拔。他们为体校2012年开设的击剑和射击两项新学系就输送了有潜质的学生。

2010年青奥会给体校准备了一个有30条靶道的射击靶场，让体校认真考虑设立射击系，为新加坡培养更多优秀的射击选手。

区美伦说："开办击剑和射击系，是经过慎重思考并和多方商量才决定的。这两个项目均属于高技巧的精密运动，我们认为比较适合新加坡人。其他需要高气力、高力量的运动比较不适合新加坡人。"

体校在2011年1月开办"学习射击班" ，邻近七所有合作关系的小学送了300名小六生来参加这项为期14星期基本和高级课程的射击班。体校从中选取了12名有潜力的幼苗，邀请他们加入体校。2012年也以相同的方法选了12名学生。

至于击剑系的幼苗主要来自俱乐部的培训班，但是人才不多。一年要找六名男女生共12人并不容易，体校只好通过举办小学击剑比赛来发掘幼苗。

射击和击剑两系虽然在2012年才成立，但是在短短时间，学生已经在全国校际赛获得非常优异的成绩，这和体校聘请世界级的大师来指导有关。击剑系的总教练德国人比斯多夫是前世界冠军，射击系的步枪教练林捷蓉是国家选手，手枪教练林瑞鸿是2010年共和联邦运动会的金牌得主。

65%毕业生升读大学

2007年体校第一批四年制的学生毕业，到2012年1月已经有432人毕业。毕业生有些参加新西兰奥克兰大学为体校开办的高中文凭课程，有些到初级学院或者理工学院去。过去几年的毕业生约有65%学生升读大学，成绩非常理想。

区美伦说："根据教育部的统计，考进大学的学生，小六会考成绩一般在230分以上。体校只有30%的学生小六会考成绩在230分以上，因此能有65%的学生考上大学，校方感到非常满意。"

她指出，学生在体校取得好成绩，跟体校是小班制，学生得到教师的特别照顾有关。她曾开玩笑对学生说，在这样人少的班里上课，想睡觉或思想开小差并不容易。她经常巡课，看学生都很肯学习，表现很好。她相信运动员体内有很多快乐荷尔蒙，因此体校学生显得比一般学生热情和开朗。她初到体校，对学生的热情感到惊讶。学生会随时走上来，和她聊几句。她认为这和体校是一所寄宿学校，有一个大家庭的气氛，师生很熟络，彼此没有距离有关。

体校每星期四早会有一个"听冠军谈话"的时间，邀请校友以及各类冠军运动员来和学生谈话。2011年校方邀请出赛东运会10次，拿回10面金牌的铁饼运动员黄德炎来和学生谈他参赛的感想，当天大家都很受感动 。

学生或校友出征国际大赛前，校方一定举行全校师生送行会。这些国家选手只要一站到台上，就为学弟学妹做了好榜样，让年轻一辈立下 "我也要站到台上，成为国家选手"的心志。012年体校三位校友出征伦敦奥林匹克运动会，因为时间配合不来，体校为她们三人分别举办了三次送行会。

区美伦说："这些杰出校友无论多忙，从来不会拒绝校方的邀请。他们一方面饮水思源，感激母校的栽培，另方面也有薪火相传的思想，希望学弟学妹能接过自己的棒，像接力赛那样，一代传一代。我们希望学生能以学长为榜样，成为国家队员，为国家争光。"

未来的计划

体校在2009年进行了一次全面检讨并订定新的五年计划。新的五年计划从2010年至2014年。

区美伦说："这五年我们要关注的是各个学系的长期发展目标而非仅仅要求学生参加训练和比赛，我们要学生从训练和比赛认识更深层次的意义和价值。2010年起我们为中一中二学生推出'SportSmart Skills'，要借此给予学生全面的培训。我们发现新加坡运动员都太专了，游泳的不懂打乒乓，打乒乓的不懂游泳，这种向一边倾斜、不匀称的发展是不好的。新五年计划的概念是培养一个全面的运动员，给学生对运动有全面的体会， 停止这项运动后，可以发展其他运动，终生享受运动带来的乐趣。

"就如我们游泳系曾有一名学生洪毅强，教练认为他的表现不可能入选国家队，在发现他喜欢骑脚踏车后，立刻介绍他参加铁人三项（游泳 、 跑步 、 骑车）运动，往另一个方向发展。洪毅强离开体校后到英华（自主）中学读高中。2010年青奥会他代表英华参加铁人三项比赛， 2012年成为武装部队海外奖学金的三名得主之一，到英国剑桥大学攻读法律。他是体校培养的第一名政府奖学金得主，他的成绩让大家都很高兴。我们又有两名女生从帆船和田径系转入射击系，表现很好。其中一名更在短时间就显示了她在射击方面的潜能，她有可能代表体校出赛下一届青奥会。我们希望体校的学生能这样游走在各项运动间，如鱼得水。"们给他们足够时间去仔细想清楚。"