61 Primary Schools Are Cutting P1 Intake in 2027. Here Is Which Regions Are Hardest Hit.
If you have a child starting Primary 1 in 2027, pay attention to this number: 61.
That is how many primary schools in Singapore are cutting their P1 intake for the 2027 registration exercise. At the same time, 12 schools are increasing their spots. The result is a net decrease of roughly 1,460 vacancies across the island.
The Ministry of Education announced the changes on Wednesday, April 29. The 2026 registration exercise starts on June 30 and runs until October 30.
Here is what every Singapore parent needs to know.
Which Schools Are Cutting The Most
Some schools are cutting deep. Others are actually expanding. Here is the picture.
Biggest drops:
- Clementi Primary School: 80 fewer spaces. The steepest cut in the country this round.
- Nanyang Primary: intake cut by 30, from 390 students to around 360. It held the top spot for most vacancies last year.
- Red Swastika School: minus 30
- Tao Nan School: minus 30
- Both Red Swastika and Tao Nan were oversubscribed in all three phases last year, Phases 2A, 2B and 2C.
Biggest increases:
- Maris Stella High School (Primary): plus 60 spots. Notably, the school starts taking in girls from 2027.
- Gongshang Primary: plus 40. This school was among the most oversubscribed in recent registration exercises.
- Pioneer Primary: plus 30. It now has the most vacancies in Singapore, with 380 spots. It takes over from Nanyang Primary. Because Tengah. Tengah gotta be the next Punggol liao
Which Regions Are Hardest Hit
Here is what the data actually shows when you break it down by region. Some areas are feeling the squeeze far more than others.
The five hardest-hit zones:
- Sengkang: minus 270 spots across 12 schools. Not a single Sengkang school is increasing its intake. Sengkang has been one of Singapore’s fastest-growing estates since its BTO launches in the early 2000s, and young families there are now aging into the P1 cohort.
- Jurong West: minus 230 spots across 10 schools. Same pattern. Every change is a cut. If you are registering in Jurong West this year, read our P1 registration guide for phase-by-phase strategy tips.
- Punggol: minus 210 spots across 11 schools. Five schools cutting, zero increasing. Punggol has grown into one of the most family-friendly estates in Singapore.
- Clementi: minus 120 spots. Clementi Primary School accounts for 80 of those 120 spots on its own.
- Choa Chu Kang: minus 120 spots across 7 schools. Four schools cutting in this zone.
If you live in any of these areas, your local school options just got tighter. Sengkang and Jurong West are the two most affected zones in the country.
What this means:
Sengkang and Jurong West were both built in the early 2000s for young families.
Those cohorts are now aging out. The birth rate in those estates has fallen sharply. MOE is cutting capacity to match actual demand.
The one bright spot:
Tampines is gaining 120 spots across 11 schools. Gongshang Primary leads with a gain of 40, and Tampines Primary is also up 40. Chongzheng Primary adds 40.
If you are near Tampines, your local options are actually improving.
Why This Is Happening
MOE has been clear about the reason. Falling birth cohort sizes in 2027 and the years ahead.
Singapore’s birth rate has been declining for years. That means fewer children entering Primary 1 each year. MOE is adjusting school capacity proactively, before the shortage of children becomes severe enough to force school mergers or relocations.
The ministry said it wants to maintain a good geographical spread of primary schools across Singapore. In plain terms. They do not want to close schools in certain neighbourhoods just because there are not enough kids to fill them.
What This Means For Your Registration Strategy
If your preferred school is on the cut list, your odds of getting in just got tighter. Especially if you are relying on Phases 2B or 2C, where competition is already hottest.
Here is what to do right now.
1. Check the updated vacancy numbers.
MOE updated the vacancies per school on April 29. Go to the MOE website and look up your target schools. Compare last year’s intake to this year’s.
2. Have a backup school ready.
Do not rely on one school. Identify two to three schools in your area that still have healthy vacancy numbers. Pioneer Primary now has 380 spots. Keep that in mind if you are in that zone.
3. Understand the phase rules.
Your child can be rejected at Phases 2A and 2B if the school is oversubscribed. Phase 2C is first-come, first-served but has limited places. Know which phase applies to your family before you start the process.
4. Register early on June 30.
The registration window runs from June 30 to October 30. Do not assume you can come back later. If you have a choice phase, use it.
If you want a deeper look at the full P1 registration process, including the phases and what each one requires, read our complete guide to P1 registration in Singapore.
The June 30 Registration Date
Write this down: June 30, 2026.
The registration exercise opens on this date for the 2027 intake. Do not wait until August. Phases 1 and 2A fill up fast at popular schools, sometimes within hours of the window opening.
If your child was born in 2020, they start in 2027. You have roughly two months from now to prepare your strategy.
MOE has said there are enough spots at the national and regional levels for every child. That is true at the aggregate level. But at specific schools in popular zones, the competition is real.
The Bottom Line
Falling student cohort sizes are reshaping Singapore’s primary school landscape. MOE is managing this proactively, which is the right move. But it means parents need to be more strategic about P1 registration than ever before.
The schools that were already oversubscribed are now cutting spots. That makes them harder to get into, not easier. Sengkang and Jurong West parents are in the hardest position. Tampines parents have the clearest path to more options.
Your job between now and June 30 is simple. Know your phase. Know your school is cutting or expanding. Have a backup plan. The parent who walks in prepared will always do better than the one who assumes Phase 1 is a formality.
Good luck. The race is real.