P1 Registration 2027: Phase 2C Changes and the 12 Two-Track Schools

17 hours ago

4 min read

Short answer

From the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise (children starting P1 in 2028), Phase 2C gets more reserved places, and 12 schools split Phase 2C places by distance. MOE confirmed this in Parliament on 3 Nov 2026.

At a glance

What	Detail
Starts	2027 P1 Registration Exercise
Affects	Children starting P1 in 2028
Phase 2C reserved places	60, up from 40
Smaller schools	Stay at 40 (P1 intake under 180)
Two-Track Scheme	12 schools only
Phases 1, 2A, 2B	No change

Source: MOE, Changes to the P1 Registration Framework (last updated 11 Sep 2026)

What did MOE say in Parliament?

On 3 Nov 2026, MOE answered a batch of parliamentary questions on the P1 changes announced on 10 Sep. The reply confirms the plan is going ahead as announced.

MOE said it decided to focus on Phase 2C and "not make changes to Phases 2A and 2B for now". It also said the changes apply from the 2027 exercise, not earlier.

Points parents asked about most:

Parent Volunteer Scheme: no changes; each school still decides whether and how to run it.
MOE Kindergarten children: no change to their Phase 2A priority at the primary school where the MK is located.
Rental or smaller flats: no separate priority is given to any socio-economic group.
Getting to school: MOE said many of the 12 schools are near MRT stations or major bus routes.
Fare help: Singapore Citizen students in need can get public transport and school bus fare subsidies if required.

Source: MOE, Parliamentary reply on P1 registration (3 Nov 2026)

What changes for every primary school?

Phase 2C is open to all children, with no prior connection to the school needed. From 2027, most schools will reserve more places for it.

Here is how the main phases compare.

Phase	From 2027
Phase 1 (siblings)	No change
Phase 2A	No change
Phase 2B	No change; 20 reserved places
Phase 2C	60 reserved places (was 40)
Phase 2C, intake under 180	Stays at 40
Phase 2C Supplementary	No change

MOE says the extra 20 Phase 2C places come from earlier phases. Spare places at the end of Phase 2A still go one-third to Phase 2B and two-thirds to Phase 2C.

Source: MOE, Overview of the Revised P1 Registration Framework (Annex B) (10 Sep 2026)

Which 12 schools use the Two-Track Scheme?

These schools have less than 40% public housing within 2km. MOE will review the list periodically but does not expect frequent changes.

School	Road
Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)	Winstedt Road
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)	Barker Road
CHIJ (Katong) Primary	Martia Road
Methodist Girls' School (Primary)	Blackmore Drive
Nanyang Primary School	King's Road
Ngee Ann Primary School	Marine Terrace
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School	Pei Wah Avenue
Raffles Girls' Primary School	Hillcrest Road
Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School	Dunearn Road
St. Margaret's School (Primary)	Sophia Road
Tanjong Katong Primary School	Seraya Road
Tao Nan School	Marine Crescent

Source: MOE, List of schools implementing the Two-Track Scheme (Annex A) (10 Sep 2026)

How does the Two-Track Scheme work?

At these 12 schools, Phase 2C places are split equally into two tracks. There is no distance priority inside each track.

Rule	What happens
Track 1	Children living within 2km
Track 2	Children living beyond 2km
Odd number of places	Extra place goes to the within-2km track
Too many applicants	Ballot within that track
Unused places	Go to Citizens in the other track
PR applicants	Considered after all Citizens in both tracks

MOE's own example: 60 places become 30 and 30. If 40 Citizens apply within 2km and 25 beyond, all 25 get places, and the 5 spare places move to the within-2km track, where 35 places are balloted among 40 applicants.

Source: MOE, Changes to the P1 Registration Framework (last updated 11 Sep 2026)

What should parents do now?

If your child starts P1 in 2028, these steps help you plan.

Check distance: use OneMap's school search to see how far you live from each school you are considering.
Check the list: if a school you like is one of the 12, plan for balloting by track, not by distance.
Know your phase: Phase 1, 2A and 2B rules are unchanged, so earlier plans for those still hold.
Watch for dates: MOE will announce the 2027 exercise dates; do not rely on unofficial timelines.
Ask about help: if fares are a concern, ask the school about MOE financial assistance; MOE says applications are online and handled discreetly.

Source: OneMap school search; MOE, Parliamentary reply on Two-Track schools (4 Nov 2026)

Frequently asked questions

When do the P1 registration changes start?

From the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise, for children starting Primary 1 in 2028.

Is the Parent Volunteer Scheme being removed?

No. MOE said there are no changes to the Parent Volunteer Scheme, and each school decides how to run it.

Does my MOE Kindergarten child still get Phase 2A priority?

Yes. MOE said there is no change to the Phase 2A priority for children in an MOE Kindergarten located within the primary school.

Does living within 1km still help at the 12 Two-Track schools?

Not in Phase 2C. Within each track there is no distance priority, so places are balloted if a track is oversubscribed.

Do Singapore Citizens still get priority over PRs?

Yes. At the 12 schools, PR children are considered only after all Citizen applicants in both tracks are admitted.

Source: MOE, Enhancing the P1 Registration Framework (10 Sep 2026)

Sources

Last verified: 10 Nov 2026. Written by Overmugged.

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