SINGAPORE — Singapore is set to make major changes to its Primary 1 registration system from the 2027 registration exercise, giving more children without prior school connections a better chance of securing a place.
The changes include an increase in the number of places reserved for Phase 2C at most primary schools, as well as a new two-track admission system at 12 schools that will reserve opportunities for children living farther away.
The move is aimed at making popular schools more accessible and encouraging students from different social and economic backgrounds to learn together.
More Phase 2C Places for Children Without School Connections
From the 2027 Primary 1 registration exercise, most primary schools will reserve 60 places for Phase 2C, up from the current 40.
Phase 2C is particularly significant because it is open to children regardless of whether their families have previous connections to a school.
This means the additional 20 reserved places could give more parents a chance to apply without relying on advantages such as:
- Alumni connections
- Parent volunteer programmes
- School staff connections
- Religious or clan affiliations
However, schools with smaller Primary 1 intakes of fewer than 180 places will continue to reserve 40 places for Phase 2C.
Phase 2B will remain unchanged, with 20 places reserved at each school.
New Two-Track Scheme to Be Introduced at 12 Schools
The biggest change will affect 12 primary schools, where Phase 2C places will be divided into two separate tracks.
One track will be for children living within 2km of the school.
The other will be for children living more than 2km away.
The two groups will effectively compete for places within their respective tracks.
Importantly, there will be no further home-school distance priority within either track.
This means that for children applying within the same track, living 500 metres from a school will not provide an advantage over someone living 1.9km away.
Likewise, children living beyond 2km will compete against others in the same category.
The 12 Schools Under the New System
The two-track system will apply to:
- Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)
- Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
- CHIJ (Katong) Primary
- Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
- Nanyang Primary School
- Ngee Ann Primary School
- Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
- Raffles Girls’ Primary School
- Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School
- St. Margaret’s School (Primary)
- Tanjong Katong Primary School
- Tao Nan School
Most of these schools are located in areas such as Bukit Timah and Marine Parade, where the proportion of public housing within a 2km radius is relatively low.
Why Is Singapore Changing the Rules?
The changes are designed to tackle a long-standing concern surrounding access to popular primary schools.
Under the existing system, home-school distance can become a major deciding factor when balloting is required.
As a result, schools located in neighbourhoods with relatively narrow housing profiles can end up drawing students largely from similar social and economic backgrounds.
The new system aims to preserve access for families living nearby while creating meaningful opportunities for families living farther away.
In short, living near a popular school will still matter — but it will no longer mean families living farther away are competing against everyone in the same pool.
What Happens if One Track Has Empty Places?
The system will also include flexibility.
If one track does not receive enough applications to fill its allocated places, the unused vacancies can be transferred to eligible applicants in the other track.
For example, if fewer children living beyond 2km apply than the number of available places, the remaining vacancies can go to children in the within-2km track.
Singapore citizens will continue to receive priority over permanent residents.
Balloting will take place when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of available places within a particular track.
Will Children Living Near the School Lose Their Advantage?
Not entirely.
Families living within 2km of one of the 12 schools will still have a dedicated track for them.
However, they will no longer receive additional priority based on whether they live within 1km or between 1km and 2km.
Instead, all applicants within the designated track will be considered together.
The same principle applies to applicants living beyond 2km.
The change could make the competition more balanced while preserving a clear pathway for children who live near the school.
Changes Come as Primary School Cohorts Shrink
The latest changes also come as Singapore adjusts to changing demographics.
The number of children entering Primary 1 is expected to decline, prompting a gradual reduction in intake sizes at many schools.
Education authorities have said these adjustments are intended to respond to changing population patterns and new housing developments while reducing the need for unnecessary school mergers or relocations.
The government is now trying to balance two increasingly important goals:
Keeping schools close to families — while also ensuring popular schools remain open and accessible to children from a wider range of backgrounds.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents should take note that the changes apply to the 2027 Primary 1 registration exercise, for children expected to begin Primary 1 in January 2028.
The changes do not affect children who have already gone through the 2026 registration exercise for Primary 1 entry in 2027.
The 2027 registration dates have yet to be announced.
The Bottom Line
Singapore is opening the door wider for children without prior school connections — and shaking up how some of the country’s most sought-after primary schools admit students.
Most schools will reserve 60 Phase 2C places instead of 40, while 12 schools will introduce a new two-track system separating applicants who live within 2km from those living farther away.
The goal is clear: give more families a realistic chance at popular schools while encouraging classrooms to better reflect Singapore’s wider social mix.
For parents eyeing some of Singapore’s most competitive primary schools, however, the new rules could change the game completely — because from 2027, living closest may no longer be the biggest advantage.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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