Last updated 7 November 2026. Sources: Ministry of Education (MOE) P1 registration pages and the 10 September 2026 press release; MOE General Information of Schools dataset (data.gov.sg). Always confirm your own case on moe.gov.sg before you commit to a property.
The short answer: From the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise (children starting Primary 1 in 2028), MOE reserves 60 Phase 2C places instead of 40 in most schools. At 12 popular schools, Phase 2C also splits into a ≤2km track and a >2km track, with no 1km priority within either track. If you are moving home mainly to live within 1km of one of those 12 schools, that address now buys less in Phase 2C than it did. For every other primary school, home-school distance priority works as before. Whichever school you target, you must live at the registered address for at least 30 months.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for parents of children born between 2 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 who are thinking about buying, selling or right-sizing a home before Primary 1 registration. Children born in that window register in the 2027 exercise, assuming MOE keeps its usual birth-date cut-off. Check the exact window on MOE’s site when it is published. You may also be planning further ahead for a younger child.
If you need the basics first, start with our guide to the P1 registration phases and how to use the MOE school distance checker. This article covers what’s new, and what it means if you’re about to move.
What changed in September 2026
On 10 September 2026, MOE announced two changes to the P1 framework, both effective from the 2027 exercise. MOE gave the aim as “to improve access for children without prior connections to a school, and encourage greater mixing among students from different backgrounds.”
1. More reserved places in Phase 2C
- Phase 2C reserved places rise from 40 to 60 in every school except smaller-intake schools, which MOE defines as schools with a P1 intake of fewer than 180 students.
- Phase 2B stays at 20 reserved places.
- MOE says the extra places come from the earlier registration phases. Our reading: families with sibling, alumni or affiliation links get slightly less room, and families with no prior connection get more.
2. A Two-Track Scheme in Phase 2C at 12 schools
MOE picked these 12 schools because public housing makes up less than 40% of the homes within 2km of each. At these schools, Phase 2C places are “equally distributed across two tracks”:
- Phase 2C (≤2km) for families living within 2km of the school
- Phase 2C (>2km) for families living beyond 2km
The rules that matter for movers, all from MOE:
- “There will be no home-school distance priority within each track.” A family 300m from the gate and a family 1.9km away get the same ballot odds in the ≤2km track.
- Singapore Citizens are still admitted before Permanent Residents, across both tracks.
- If one track has places left after every citizen applicant in it is admitted, those places move to citizen applicants in the other track.
- If the total can’t be split evenly, the extra place goes to the ≤2km track.
- MOE says it “will review the list periodically”, so the list can change.
The 12 Two-Track schools (from the 2027 exercise)
| School | Planning area | Postal district | Neighbourhood & local agents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) | Central | D09 | District 9 agents |
| St. Margaret’s School (Primary) | Central | D09 | District 9 agents |
| Nanyang Primary School | Bukit Timah | D10 | Bukit Timah guide |
| Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) | Novena | D11 | Novena guide |
| Raffles Girls’ Primary School | Bukit Timah | D11 | District 11 agents |
| Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School | Novena | D11 | District 11 agents |
| CHIJ (Katong) Primary | Bedok | D15 | Katong guide |
| Ngee Ann Primary School | Marine Parade | D15 | Marine Parade guide |
| Tanjong Katong Primary School | Marine Parade | D15 | Marine Parade guide |
| Tao Nan School | Marine Parade | D15 | Marine Parade guide |
| Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) | Bukit Timah | D21 | District 21 agents |
| Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School | Bukit Timah | D21 | District 21 agents |
Source: MOE press release, 10 September 2026, Annex A. Planning area and postal district are from the school’s address in MOE’s General Information of Schools dataset.
What our data shows: the 12 schools sit in just five postal districts, and four of them are in District 15 alone. All three primary schools in the Marine Parade planning area are on the list. So are four of the six in Bukit Timah, and two of the three in each of Novena and the Central area. This is the part of Singapore where “buy within 1km” has been a selling point for years.
Who wins and who loses: our reading of the new rules
MOE describes the rules. What follows is Skoolopedia’s analysis of how they change things for families planning a move. It is not MOE guidance.
| Your situation (Singapore Citizen, no sibling or alumni link, applying in Phase 2C at a Two-Track school) | Before (up to 2026 exercise) | From the 2027 exercise |
|---|---|---|
| Living within 1km | First claim on all 40 reserved places, ahead of everyone further away | Shares at least 30 places (half of 60+) equally with everyone within 2km. Relative position weakens. |
| Living 1–2km away | Behind every within-1km applicant; often squeezed out at popular schools | Same odds as within-1km families in the ≤2km track. Relative position improves. |
| Living beyond 2km | Last in line; realistically very few places at these schools | A dedicated track of at least 30 places. Biggest improvement. |
Three practical consequences follow:
- The 1km premium near these 12 schools is now harder to justify on Phase 2C grounds. Within 2km, being 300m away or 1.9km away gives the same odds. If you were paying extra for the closer unit only to win Phase 2C, that reason has largely gone. Our earlier analysis, Bukit Timah education district: is it worth the premium?, should now be read with this change in mind.
- Distance still matters in other phases. The Two-Track Scheme applies only to Phase 2C at these 12 schools. MOE’s distance priority still applies when Phases 2A and 2B are oversubscribed, and at every other primary school in Singapore.
- The 1–2km ring becomes the value zone. A home 1.5km from a Two-Track school now competes on equal terms with homes next to the school gate. Those homes are often cheaper, and in some cases they sit within 1km of a different school too.
Where the school choice actually is: primary schools by planning area
If you’re open on location, count your options before choosing an estate. We mapped all 182 schools that offer Primary 1 in MOE’s dataset, including three mixed-level P1–S4 schools, to their planning area and postal district.
| Planning area | Primary schools | SAP | GEP centres | Two-Track (2027) | Postal district(s) | Area guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sengkang | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D19, D28 | Sengkang |
| Woodlands | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D25 | Woodlands |
| Bedok | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | D15, D16 | Bedok |
| Punggol | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D19 | Punggol |
| Tampines | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | D18 | Tampines |
| Jurong West | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D22 | Jurong West |
| Yishun | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D27 | Yishun |
| Hougang | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | D19 | Hougang |
| Choa Chu Kang | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D23 | Choa Chu Kang |
| Toa Payoh | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | D11, D12, D13 | Toa Payoh |
| Ang Mo Kio | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | D20 | Ang Mo Kio |
| Bukit Merah | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D02, D03, D04 | — |
| Bukit Panjang | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D23 | Bukit Panjang |
| Bukit Batok | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D23 | — |
| Bukit Timah | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | D10, D11, D21 | Bukit Timah |
| Pasir Ris | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D18 | Pasir Ris |
| Geylang | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | D14, D15 | Geylang |
| Sembawang | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D27 | Sembawang |
| Serangoon | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | D19 | Serangoon |
| Clementi | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | D05 | Clementi |
| Bishan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | D20 | Bishan |
| Central | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | D09 | — |
| Jurong East | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D22 | Jurong East |
| Kallang | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | D08, D12 | Kallang |
| Marine Parade | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | D15 | Marine Parade |
| Novena | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | D11 | Novena |
| Queenstown | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D03, D05 | Queenstown |
| Tengah | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D24 | Tengah |
Source: MOE General Information of Schools dataset (data.gov.sg), 182 schools offering P1. Planning area is MOE’s own field. Postal district is derived from each school’s postal sector. Total: 15 SAP schools and 9 GEP centres. Download the full school-level data (CSV).
How to read this table (and what it can’t tell you)
- School count is not demand. Sengkang and Punggol have many schools because they have many young families. A high count tells you how many options you have, not how competitive each school is. Check each school’s recent results in our balloting history guide.
- Planning areas are not 1km circles. A block on a planning-area boundary can be within 1km of schools in two areas. The only distance that counts is MOE’s home-school distance for your exact address, which you can check on OneMap School Query.
- Dense north-east and north towns give you more fallbacks. Postal District 19 (Sengkang, Punggol, Hougang, Serangoon) has 34 primary schools. District 10 has 2. More schools within 2km means a missed ballot is less likely to send your child somewhere far away. See what happens if you don’t get a place in Phase 2C.
The 30-month rule: the part that catches movers out
MOE’s rule is that a child who gets in through distance priority “must reside at the address used for registration… for at least 30 months from the start of the P1 Registration Exercise.” For the 2026 exercise, that start was 30 June 2026.
MOE sets different start points for a newly bought home:
- New property address: “From the time your family moves into your new property.”
- Resale property address: “From the start of your child’s P1 school term.”
If the requirement isn’t met, MOE says it “will transfer the child to any school in its sole discretion and parents will have no say in the choice of such school.” The same applies if MOE finds “an intention to abuse the system”. It is also an offence to give false information to a public officer.
What this means for planning a move:
- Your registration address is the official address on your NRIC. MOE says you may use a new or resale property address you have bought or are buying “if you meet the required conditions”. Check the documents MOE lists for your case before you sign anything.
- Don’t sell too early. If you register at your current home and plan to upgrade, the 30 months still applies. Selling and moving out during that period puts your child’s place at risk.
- Distance can change. MOE says home-school distance “can change from year to year”. Re-check your category on OneMap in the year you register (June 2027 for the 2027 exercise), not just when you view the flat.
- Distance is measured from building outlines, not postal codes. MOE measures “the shortest distance from any point on the boundary around the school” to the building outline of your address. Two blocks in the same estate can fall into different categories. Our distance measurement guide explains how.
Three moves, three strategies
1. Upgrading within the same HDB town
This is the lowest-risk move. In towns like Woodlands, Sengkang, Tampines or Bedok, which have 11 or 12 schools each, a move of a few hundred metres can put you within 1km of two or three schools instead of one. Check the specific blocks, not the town. If you are buying resale, remember the 30-month clock starts at the beginning of your child’s P1 term, so plan the timing of your next move around it.
2. Moving across towns for a specific school
First, check whether your target is one of the 12 Two-Track schools. If it is, being right next to the school doesn’t help in Phase 2C. Compare homes anywhere within 2km on price, commute and space. If it isn’t, normal distance priority applies, and within 1km is still the strongest Phase 2C position for a family with no other connection to the school. Check the school’s recent Phase 2C results in our most competitive primary schools guide before paying extra.
3. Buying private property near the central schools
Nine of the 12 Two-Track schools are in Districts 9, 10, 11 and 21. Families buying there for schools should recalculate. The 1–2km ring now gives the same Phase 2C odds as the streets around the school, and there are more homes to choose from in it. Talk to agents who actually transact in these districts. Districtpedia’s agent directory lists CEA-registered agents by district along with their transaction records. Before you rely on any school claim, check it against the official rules above.
Questions to ask your property agent before you commit
Agents know the market. They aren’t P1 experts, and no agent can guarantee a school place. Ask these questions and verify the answers yourself:
- “What is the home-school distance for this exact block?” Then check it yourself on OneMap. Distance is measured to the building outline, so an estate name or postal code isn’t enough.
- “Is the target school one of MOE’s 12 Two-Track schools?” If it is, the price premium for being within 1km needs a reason other than Phase 2C.
- “When can we move in, and can our NRIC address be updated before registration opens?” For a new property, MOE starts the 30-month clock when you move in.
- “Does our timeline fit 30 months at this address?” Include any plans to sell, decant, rent out or move overseas.
- “Which other primary schools is this address within 1km and 2km of?” A good second option is your protection if the first-choice ballot doesn’t go your way.
- “How many transactions have you handled in this district?” Check the answer against the agent’s public CEA record.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new P1 registration changes start?
From the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise, for children starting Primary 1 in 2028. The 2026 exercise, for 2027 intake, used the old rules.
Which schools are in the Two-Track Scheme?
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 and Tao Nan School. MOE says it will review the list periodically.
Does living within 1km still matter at Two-Track schools?
Not in Phase 2C. There is no distance priority within each track, so every family within 2km has the same ballot odds. Distance priority still applies when Phases 2A or 2B are oversubscribed.
How many Phase 2C places are there from 2027?
MOE reserves 60 places in Phase 2C, up from 40, in all schools except those with a P1 intake below 180. There can be more if earlier phases leave places unfilled. Phase 2B stays at 20 reserved places.
Do PRs benefit from the Two-Track Scheme?
Citizens in both tracks are admitted before any PR. Places left after that are split equally between the two tracks for PR applicants.
What happens if I move out before 30 months?
MOE may transfer your child to another school of its choosing, and parents have no say in which school.
Can I register using a home I've just bought?
MOE allows a new or resale property address if you meet its conditions and can meet the 30-month stay requirement. Check MOE’s document requirements for your situation before the exercise opens.
Which towns have the most primary schools?
Sengkang and Woodlands have 12 each. Bedok, Punggol and Tampines have 11 each, and Jurong West and Yishun have 10 each. Postal District 19 has 34 schools in total.
Download the data
Every number in this article comes from public MOE data. Download primary schools by planning area (CSV) and the school-level list with postal district and Two-Track flag (CSV). You’re welcome to reuse them with credit to Skoolopedia.
Districtpedia, linked throughout for neighbourhood guides and agent records, is {{DISCLOSURE: e.g. a sister platform of Skoolopedia}}. It does not sell rankings or listings. Skoolopedia does not receive payment for any agent mentioned.
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