Six primary schools have already filled at least half their vacancies before Phase 2A even opens. If you're planning a move around a specific school, these results are worth paying attention to now, not after balloting starts.
Six schools filled at least half their total vacancies in Phase 1 of P1 registration 2026 — fewer than the eight that did so at this stage in 2025, but still a signal of which schools remain in high demand.
The Ministry of Education released Phase 1 results for Primary 1 registration on 8 July, and six schools have already filled at least half their total vacancies — before Phase 2A, the stage most families actually rely on, even opens.
Phase 1 covers children with older siblings already enrolled at the school. The six schools that crossed the 50% mark are Admiralty Primary School, Canossa Catholic Primary School, Nan Hua Primary School, North View Primary School, Red Swastika School, and Valour Primary School.
| School | Fill Rate | Phase 2A Places Left |
|---|---|---|
| Red Swastika School (Bedok) | ~60% | 24 |
| Valour Primary School (Punggol) | ~51% | 43 |
| Canossa Catholic Primary School | ~50% | Not offered in 2A |
Canossa Catholic Primary is a notable case — with a total built capacity of just 120, it won't offer any places in Phase 2A at all this year; its remaining 59 places are reserved entirely for Phases 2B and 2C. For context, this is fewer schools hitting the 50% mark than in 2025, when eight schools had reached that threshold at the same stage — a useful reminder that year-on-year comparisons matter more than any single year's numbers in isolation.
Why this matters even if your child isn't registering this year: these figures are a genuine proxy for which schools are consistently in high demand. If you're planning a move with a future P1 registration in mind — even one 2 or 3 years out — schools that fill quickly through sibling priority tend to stay competitive across cycles, not just this one.
This year's registration exercise is also happening against a backdrop of declining birth cohorts. MOE confirmed in April that Primary 1 intake across most schools would be gradually reduced starting with the 2026 exercise, aiming to minimise the need for school mergers or relocations while maintaining a good geographical spread of schools islandwide. Primary 1 pupil numbers were roughly 38,100 in 2024, 37,800 in 2025, and 38,200 in 2026 — relatively stable for now, though about 36,800 children are expected to register for 2027, continuing a gradual decline.
Phase 2A — for children whose parent or sibling is a former pupil, or whose parent sits on the school's advisory or management committee, or is a staff member — runs from 9am on 9 July to 4.30pm on 10 July, with results out on 17 July.
I get this question a lot from parents of younger children who aren't registering yet but are already thinking ahead: does living near a popular school actually matter? The honest answer is yes, more than most people realise. Phase 2A and 2B priority is partly distance-based — proximity within 1km or 2km of the school genuinely shifts your odds in the phases most families end up relying on.
If a specific school matters to your family's plans, the right time to think about your address isn't the year your child turns 6 — it's 2 to 3 years earlier, while you still have flexibility on timing and pricing. Happy to map out which nearby estates fall within priority distance of a specific school if that's something you're weighing.
Thinking about moving near a specific primary school before your child's registration year? Let's map out your options.
WhatsApp Bryan → More guides →Source: The Straits Times, 9 July 2026, "Six schools fill at least half of spots after first phase of P1 registration" by Gabrielle Chan. Data from the Ministry of Education. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
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