Six primary schools in Singapore have filled at least 50 percent of their total vacancies following the conclusion of Phase 1 of the Primary 1 registration exercise. According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), this initial stage, reserved for children with older siblings already enrolled in a school, ran from June 30 to July 2, with results officially released on July 8.
The schools reaching this 50 percent threshold are Admiralty Primary School, Canossa Catholic Primary School, Nan Hua Primary School, North View Primary School, Red Swastika School, and Valour Primary School. This marks a slight decrease in high-demand early registration compared to the 2025 exercise, during which eight schools had filled at least half of their spots at the same stage.
Did You Know?
Since 2022, the Ministry of Education has reserved 60 places at each primary school for Phases 2B and 2C to ensure that schools remain accessible to as many children as possible, regardless of their family connections to the school.
Current Enrollment Trends by School
Red Swastika School in Bedok currently leads the intake list for the 2026 exercise, having filled approximately 60 percent of its total vacancies. The school now has 24 places remaining for Phase 2A, which is open to children whose parents or siblings are former students, or whose parents are staff members or serve on the school’s advisory or management committees.
Valour Primary School in Punggol follows, with nearly 51 percent of its vacancies filled and 43 spots available for Phase 2A. In contrast, Canossa Catholic Primary School has filled about half of its 120-place capacity. According to the MOE, Canossa will not offer any spots during Phase 2A, as its remaining 59 places have been reserved for the later Phases 2B and 2C.
Expert Insight:
The reduction in the number of schools hitting the 50 percent threshold—dropping from eight in 2025 to six in 2026—appears to align with the ministry’s long-term strategy to calibrate intake based on declining birth cohort sizes. While the total number of primary school pupils has remained relatively stable at approximately 38,200 for 2026, the systemic reduction of intake capacity suggests a proactive effort to prevent school mergers while maintaining a consistent geographical distribution of education services across the country.
What Happens Next in the Registration Process
Phase 2A of the registration process is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on July 9 and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on July 10. This phase also includes children from the 56 MOE kindergartens located within the primary schools of their choice. Results for Phase 2A are expected to be released on July 17.
Looking further ahead, the Ministry of Education has indicated that the Primary 1 intake for most schools will continue to see reductions over the next few years. This policy shift is intended to manage the impact of smaller birth cohorts, ensuring that schools remain viable and well-distributed. Projections suggest that approximately 36,800 children are expected to register for primary school admission in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for Phase 2A registration?
Phase 2A is open to children whose parent or sibling is a former pupil, whose parent is a member of the school advisory or management committee, whose parent is a staff member, or children from the 56 MOE kindergartens under the primary school of their choice.
Why are some schools, like Canossa Catholic Primary School, not offering places in Phase 2A?
According to the MOE, the school has already filled approximately half of its total built capacity of 120, and the remaining 59 places have been specifically reserved for Phases 2B and 2C.
How is the Ministry of Education managing the declining birth cohort sizes?
The ministry is reducing the Primary 1 intake for most schools over the next few years to minimize the need for school mergers or relocations and to maintain a good geographical spread of schools for students across Singapore.
How do these shifting registration numbers impact your planning for the upcoming school year?
