How 2024 P1 Registration Unfolded
The 2024 Primary 1 registration exercise was one of the most competitive in recent years, with several schools reporting balloting across multiple phases. Understanding the 2024 results helps parents gauge what to expect in 2025 and 2026, especially for the most sought-after schools.
Data shows that popular schools in the Central region continued to dominate the oversubscription rankings, while newer housing estates in the North-East saw increased demand driven by growing residential populations in Sengkang and Punggol.
Schools That Balloted in Phase 2C in 2024
Phase 2C is the open ballot phase — any Singapore citizen or PR can apply. Schools that ballot here are the most competitive, as demand from unaffiliated families alone exceeds supply. Notable schools that went to ballot in Phase 2C in 2024 include:
- Nanyang Primary School (Central) — one of Singapore's most competitive SAP schools, with balloting in Phase 2C and 2B. Offers GEP and Higher Chinese.
- Ai Tong School (Central) — long-standing SAP school in Bishan with consistently high demand across all phases.
- Rosyth School (North-East) — popular GEP-centre school in Hougang that regularly sees Phase 2C balloting.
- Henry Park Primary (West) — GEP centre school in Buona Vista, extremely popular with families in the Holland/Clementi corridor.
- Tao Nan School (East) — well-regarded SAP school in Marine Parade with strong Phase 2A demand.
Regional Breakdown
Central Region
The Central region continued to have the highest concentration of oversubscribed schools. SAP schools like Nanyang Primary, Ai Tong, and Catholic High (Primary) drew heavy demand. For families without existing ties to these schools, Phase 2C was highly competitive, with some schools reserving only a handful of vacancies for the open phase.
North-East Region
Rosyth School and Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary remained consistently popular. Sengkang and Punggol continued to attract young families, increasing competition at Anchor Green Primary, Fern Green Primary, and Springdale Primary.
East Region
East Coast schools like Tao Nan and CHIJ (Katong) Primary maintained strong demand in the 2A phases. Temasek Primary and Ngee Ann Primary also saw competitive Phase 2C rounds.
West Region
Henry Park Primary remained the standout school in the West, with long queues outside the school even in Phase 2A. Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) and Nan Hua Primary also reported balloting in later phases.
What This Means for 2026 Applicants
If you are planning for the 2026 P1 registration exercise, here are the key takeaways from 2024 data:
- Start volunteering now. For schools that ballot in Phase 2B, getting your 40 volunteer hours in before registration opens is the most reliable way to secure a place at a popular school.
- Distance is a real advantage. In Phase 2C, living within 1 km of the school provides a significant edge. If you are house-hunting, factor in school proximity.
- Consider less popular alternatives. Many excellent schools do not ballot at all. Use SGSchool's balloting history to find high-quality schools with manageable competition.
- SAP and GEP schools are the hardest. If your priority is an SAP or GEP centre school, assume high competition from Phase 2A onwards and plan your strategy accordingly.
Using SGSchool's Balloting Data
SGSchool provides year-by-year balloting data for every primary school in Singapore. You can see exactly how many vacancies were available in each phase, how many applicants there were, and whether balloting occurred. Use this data to make an evidence-based decision about your child's school registration strategy.
Browse the full balloting history for any school on SGSchool's school pages, or use the P1 Registration Data section to compare schools across years.