One of the recommendations proposed by the committee included establishing specialised schools in mathematics, science, sports, and the arts, to diversify the education landscape.

[4] The recommendation of establishing a specialised school in arts was accepted by MITA, and announced in the 10th Parliament of Singapore on the next day.

[9][10][11] On 2 January 2008, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang officiated the opening of SOTA at its interim campus at 90 Goodman Road, with more than 200 students forming the inaugural batch.

[1][9][19] In 2010, SOTA also joined the DSA scheme for junior colleges, admitting a small group of students to its Year 5 cohort.

[24][25] Announced by acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew on 8 May 2009, the address of the campus was named in honour of Zubir Said.