Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A

SINGAPORE - Children hoping to secure spots at 38 primary schools will be facing a ballot during the second phase of the Primary 1 registration exercise in 2025.

After Phase 2A of the exercise took place from July 10 to July 11, the most oversubscribed school is Gongshang Primary School in Tampines, with 203 applicants vying for 67 spots.

It is followed by South View Primary School in Choa Chu Kang with 66 vacancies for 191 applicants, and Princess Elizabeth Primary School in Bukit Batok with 52 vacancies for 145 applicants.

The three most oversubscribed schools will be conducting balloting for children who are Singapore citizens residing within 1km of their premises.

The results will be out on July 18.

Phase 2A is reserved for children with a parent or sibling who is a former pupil of the school, or those with a parent who is a member of the school advisory or management committee, or is a staff member.

Children from the MOE kindergartens under the primary school of their choice also qualify for this phase.

At the same phase in 2024, 35 primary schools conducted balloting.

The Ministry of Education said on its website on July 16 that about 77.1 per cent of schools will not be conducting balloting in 2025 and have enough vacancies to admit all Phase 2A registrants.

Schools conducting a ballot for Singapore citizen children residing outside 2km of their locations include Ai Tong School, which had 134 applicants and 109 vacancies, and Nanyang Primary School, which had 177 applicants for 144 vacancies.

There were also schools conducting ballots for Singapore citizen children residing between 1km and 2km of their locations, such as Nan Hua Primary School and Rosyth School.

Three schools – Pasir Ris Primary School, Riverside Primary School and North View Primary School – are oversubscribed but will not be conducting a ballot.

North View Primary School has 74 applicants vying for 71 spots, but it has places for all Singapore citizen children.

Pasir Ris Primary School and Riverside Primary School have places only for Singapore citizen children residing within 2km of the school.

Pasir Ris Primary School has 47 applicants trying for 42 spots, while Riverside Primary School has 69 applicants vying for 50 spots.

There are 182 primary schools in Singapore, with 179 open for registration in 2025. 

Kranji Primary will not be admitting Primary 1 pupils from 2024 to 2026 ahead of its planned move to Tengah in 2028.

Townsville Primary and Damai Primary will also stop Primary 1 admissions from 2025 to 2027, as they prepare to relocate in 2029 to Sembawang and Tampines North, respectively.

There will be vacancies in all 179 schools for Phase 2B, according to MOE’s website. The number of spots will be updated on July 18.

Registration for Phase 2B starts on July 21 at 9am and ends on July 22 at 4.30pm. The results will be out on July 28.

This phase is reserved for children who have a parent who volunteered at the school or is endorsed by the church or clan directly connected with the primary school, or who is an active community leader.