JSS STAR Development Programme

Find out how the JSS STAR Development Programme helps top students grow their talents, think critically, and lead with purpose through a fully sponsored three-year enrichment journey.

Last updated 8 July 2026

The Programme’s Philosophy:

Guided by our school’s vision of grooming our students to be Champions of Mind and Leaders with Heart, the JSS Skills, Talent and Research (STAR) Development Programme is committed to provide our students the opportunity to stretch their intellectual capacity and talents in areas beyond the core curriculum and to hone their leadership skills.

The STAR Development Programme is a unique three-year programme that has been established since Nov 2004 and is exclusive to Jurong Secondary School (JSS) because it is fully sponsored by members of the School Advisory Committee. They are inspiring examples of how one gives back to the community and how one can create meaning and deliver values to others.

The school has refined the programme to grant our students the freedom to experiment, explore, wonder and question critically. This freedom of inquiry is guided by the discipline of study, the process of design thinking and the ethics of research.

We firmly believe that when one is blessed with talents, they should in turn be a blessing to others.

The Outcomes of the JSS STAR Student

The programme strives to nurture students who shall be exemplary in the following aspects:

As Champions of Mind, students of Intellectual Strength who:

possess the disposition to think flexibly in dealing with the ambiguities of our world;
demonstrate the ability to question critically for effective problem solving;
communicate with confidence, clarity and precision in qualifying their viewpoints;
evaluate the productiveness of their own thinking and strategies.

and are students of Resilience who:

possess the mental stamina to overcome challenges and adversities;
employ a range of alternative strategies for problem solving.

As Leaders with Heart, students of Service who:

devote their hearts, minds and talents in ways that enrich the lives of others;
show respect for all life and embrace diversity;
and apply their personal and inter-personal leadership competencies and passion to exert positive influence.

STAR Curriculum diagram showing three stages: Acquire, Connect, and Extend, leading upward to Champions of Mind, Leaders with Heart.

The programmes JSS students are exposed to are as follows:

JSS STAR Development Programme skills and activities by stage

Acquire (Skills)	Connect (Applying Skills)	Extend (Planning for my Future)
Star core Skills Programme:	Participation in competitions	Portfolio building
Project Management	Model UN (external)	EAE & DSA prep
Design Thinking	Model COP (school-based)	Passion project
Understanding self & Teamwork	Research opportunities	Interview skills
Collaboration with IHL or industrial partners	Resume skills

Common Experiences:

Learning journeys
Overseas trip (Sec 3 scholars only) to expose students to the importance of globalization and the need for Singapore to remain connected to the rest of the world to remain competitive
Fireside chat with industrial partners, alumni, experts
IQ camp

The Curriculum:

The Value of Design Thinking & Research:

Developing a design thinking mindset and research awareness amongst students is significant to their growth and maturity as it:

facilitates learning beyond the classroom, provides a meaningful platform to apply and synthesise knowledge gained;
encourages empathy in understanding the needs of others when developing ideas and solutions;
broadens perspectives of students with guidance by teacher mentors;
raises confidence to communicate projects clearly and effectively;
cultivates good team dynamics to equip students with the right attitudes and social skills for the future.

Talent Development Experiences:

Each JSS STAR Student will be able to participate in selected workshops, learning journeys, conferences and seminars that are fully subsidised by the school in order to further their development.

In addition, the school will provide full subsidy for student's participation in approved academic competitions and training fees incurred for the year. As part of the terms, the Overseas Immersion Programme in Year 3 will be heavily subsidised by the school with co-payment by the student via their Edusave accounts.

Continued enrolment in the programme is renewed biannually. It is subject to satisfactory performance in the STAR Programme and in the academic results of each student. Should the student’s performance or conduct not be satisfactory, the school reserves the right to withdraw the student from the programme.

Eligibility:

Phase I
Secondary One students with a keen interest in the Programme and who are assessed to be able to cope extremely well with the demands of secondary education (i.e. top students of the cohort based on their performance in the Sec 1 end-of-year exams) will be identified for the Selection Process. They will be invited to put up a personal statement, following which they may be called up for a panel interview. The selection exercise for this group of students will commence at the end of Sec 1.

Phase II
Secondary Two students who are keen in the Programme and who are assessed to be able to adjust extremely well to the demands of secondary education (i.e. top students of the cohort in their performance at the school’s Secondary 2 End-of-Year examination) will be identified for the Selection Process, which will commence at the end of Secondary 2, the process as indicated above in Phase I.