Different Types of Primary Schools in Singapore

Singapore's educational landscape is diverse, offering several types of primary schools to cater to different needs and aspirations. In this article, we explore the different types of primary schools in Singapore and provide insights on what factors you should consider to choose the best fit for your child's unique needs and aspirations.

Group of primary school children sitting together on the grass and having fun.

A mother with her daughter going through a list of best primary schools to enrol in.

Nurturing Every Student: Government-Aided and Autonomous Schools

Government-aided schools in Singapore provide a robust curriculum supported by the government. Learn how these schools, including autonomous ones, offer a balanced education that caters to the masses while maintaining high educational standards.

Cultural Richness in Learning: Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Schools

The SAP schools are known for their emphasis on bilingualism and biculturalism, particularly focusing on the Chinese language and culture. These schools offer an enriched curriculum for students keen on deepening their linguistic and cultural prowess.

As of 2024, there are 15 SAP schools, namely:

Ai Tong School
Catholic High School
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
Holy Innocents’ Primary School
Hong Wen School
Kong Hwa School
Maha Bodhi School
Maris Stella High School (Primary)
Nan Hua Primary School
Nanyang Primary School
Pei Chun Public School
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
Poi Ching School
Red Swastika School
Tao Nan School

Tailoring Education for the Gifted: GEP Schools

GEP schools can provide a nurturing environment for intellectually gifted students, offering an enriched curriculum designed to challenge and stimulate young minds.

As of 2024, there are 9 GEP schools, namely:

Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
Catholic High School (Primary)
Henry Park Primary School
Nan Hua Primary School
Nanyang Primary School
Raffles Girls’ Primary School
Rosyth School
St. Hilda’s Primary School
Tao Nan School

Best Primary Schools Based on Popularity Score

We derived our insights on popular schools from the MOE's Phase 2B registration data. Our popularity score is calculated based on Phase 2B’s Applicants / Vacancies.

However, it's important to remember that popularity doesn't necessarily equate to quality or fit. Each school's suitability varies depending on the individual child's needs.

School Name	Phase 2B Total Vacancies	Phase 2B Total Applicants	Popularity (Applicants / Vacancies)
Methodist Girls' School (Primary)	20	79	3.95
Tao Nan School	23	61	2.65
Ai Tong School	20	48	2.40
Holy Innocents' Primary School	21	50	2.38
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School	20	46	2.30
Admiralty Primary School	22	49	2.23
St. Joseph's Institution Junior	38	84	2.21
Catholic High School	20	43	2.15
Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)	27	57	2.11
Chongfu School	25	51	2.04
Kong Hwa School	32	65	2.03
St. Hilda's Primary School	20	40	2.00
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)	28	55	1.96
Nan Chiau Primary School	41	79	1.93
Nan Hua Primary School	20	38	1.90
Nanyang Primary School	20	37	1.85
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School	20	37	1.85
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School	31	54	1.74
Rulang Primary School	20	34	1.70
Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School	20	34	1.70
Maris Stella High School	27	45	1.67
Fairfield Methodist School (Primary)	20	33	1.65
South View Primary School	20	30	1.50
CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)	27	40	1.48
Henry Park Primary School	21	29	1.38
Pei Chun Public School	20	27	1.35
Xinmin Primary School	24	32	1.33
Red Swastika School	20	26	1.30
St. Anthony's Primary School	32	39	1.22
Rosyth School	20	24	1.20
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary)	41	47	1.15
Northland Primary School	20	22	1.10
Pasir Ris Primary School	21	22	1.05
Mee Toh School	50	50	1.00
Radin Mas Primary School	20	20	1.00
CHIJ Our Lady Of The Nativity	54	53	0.98
Horizon Primary School	20	19	0.95
Sengkang Green Primary School	23	21	0.91
Raffles Girls' Primary School	43	39	0.91
Maha Bodhi School	37	33	0.89
St. Andrew's Junior School	37	31	0.84
Keming Primary School	24	19	0.79
Chua Chu Kang Primary School	32	25	0.78
River Valley Primary School	26	20	0.77
Anderson Primary School	28	21	0.75
Gongshang Primary School	20	15	0.75
Hong Wen School	36	27	0.75
Bukit Panjang Primary School	29	21	0.72
St. Gabriel's Primary School	34	24	0.71
Frontier Primary School	20	14	0.70
Poi Ching School	43	27	0.63
CHIJ Our Lady Of Good Counsel	32	20	0.63
Canossa Catholic Primary School	27	16	0.59
Hougang Primary School	32	18	0.56
Westwood Primary School	20	11	0.55
Qifa Primary School	44	22	0.50
Temasek Primary School	20	10	0.50
Yu Neng Primary School	20	10	0.50
St. Margaret's School (Primary)	40	19	0.48
Tanjong Katong Primary School	30	14	0.47
Canberra Primary School	43	19	0.44
Innova Primary School	33	14	0.42
Woodlands Primary School	31	13	0.42
Yangzheng Primary School	22	9	0.41
White Sands Primary School	35	14	0.40
Montfort Junior School	38	15	0.39
Rivervale Primary School	31	12	0.39
Compassvale Primary School	44	17	0.39
CHIJ (Katong) Primary	43	16	0.37
St. Stephen's School	62	23	0.37
Shuqun Primary School	30	11	0.37
Chongzheng Primary School	20	7	0.35
CHIJ (Kellock)	46	16	0.35
CHIJ Our Lady Queen Of Peace	46	12	0.26
De La Salle School	48	12	0.25
Princess Elizabeth Primary School	20	5	0.25
Punggol Primary School	28	6	0.21
Punggol Green Primary School	20	4	0.20
Wellington Primary School	20	4	0.20
Woodgrove Primary School	25	5	0.20
Marymount Convent School	67	13	0.19
West Grove Primary School	52	8	0.15
Jurong West Primary School	27	4	0.15
Teck Ghee Primary School	41	6	0.15
Alexandra Primary School	39	4	0.10
Riverside Primary School	20	2	0.10
Ngee Ann Primary School	42	4	0.10
Qihua Primary School	54	5	0.09
Geylang Methodist School (Primary)	44	4	0.09
St. Anthony's Canossian Primary School	67	6	0.09
Kheng Cheng School	48	4	0.08
Fern Green Primary School	25	2	0.08
Concord Primary School	39	3	0.08
Tampines Primary School	28	2	0.07
Telok Kurau Primary School	28	2	0.07
Townsville Primary School	43	3	0.07
Elias Park Primary School	30	2	0.07
Huamin Primary School	32	2	0.06
Valour Primary School	33	2	0.06
Endeavour Primary School	52	3	0.06
Jing Shan Primary School	24	1	0.04
Fengshan Primary School	25	1	0.04
Jiemin Primary School	28	1	0.04
Waterway Primary School	28	1	0.04
Punggol Cove Primary School	31	1	0.03
Zhangde Primary School	31	1	0.03
Naval Base Primary School	35	1	0.03
Sembawang Primary School	35	1	0.03
Opera Estate Primary School	36	1	0.03
Park View Primary School	36	1	0.03
Xishan Primary School	37	1	0.03
Fernvale Primary School	38	1	0.03
Zhonghua Primary School	39	1	0.03
Bukit Timah Primary School	42	1	0.02
Farrer Park Primary School	42	1	0.02
Haig Girls' School	43	1	0.02
Greenwood Primary School	46	1	0.02
Palm View Primary School	46	1	0.02
Yew Tee Primary School	46	1	0.02
Fuchun Primary School	49	1	0.02
Corporation Primary School	51	1	0.02
Northshore Primary School	59	1	0.02
Xingnan Primary School	63	1	0.02
Lianhua Primary School	79	1	0.01
Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School	43	0	0.00
Anchor Green Primary School	40	0	0.00
Ang Mo Kio Primary School	50	0	0.00
Angsana Primary School	67	0	0.00
Beacon Primary School	45	0	0.00
Bedok Green Primary School	51	0	0.00
Bendemeer Primary School	44	0	0.00
Blangah Rise Primary School	32	0	0.00
Boon Lay Garden Primary School	75	0	0.00
Bukit View Primary School	77	0	0.00
Cantonment Primary School	45	0	0.00
Casuarina Primary School	28	0	0.00
Cedar Primary School	62	0	0.00
Changkat Primary School	48	0	0.00
Clementi Primary School	60	0	0.00
Damai Primary School	59	0	0.00
Dazhong Primary School	24	0	0.00
East Spring Primary School	38	0	0.00
Edgefield Primary School	46	0	0.00
Evergreen Primary School	42	0	0.00
First Toa Payoh Primary School	42	0	0.00
Fuhua Primary School	27	0	0.00
Gan Eng Seng Primary School	37	0	0.00
Greendale Primary School	44	0	0.00
Greenridge Primary School	39	0	0.00
Junyuan Primary School	37	0	0.00
Jurong Primary School	26	0	0.00
Kranji Primary School	33	0	0.00
Lakeside Primary School	38	0	0.00
Marsiling Primary School	46	0	0.00
Mayflower Primary School	38	0	0.00
Meridian Primary School	35	0	0.00
New Town Primary School	58	0	0.00
North Spring Primary School	46	0	0.00
North View Primary School	48	0	0.00
North Vista Primary School	39	0	0.00
Northoaks Primary School	62	0	0.00
Oasis Primary School	20	0	0.00
Pei Tong Primary School	58	0	0.00
Peiying Primary School	36	0	0.00
Punggol View Primary School	20	0	0.00
Queenstown Primary School	40	0	0.00
Seng Kang Primary School	49	0	0.00
Si Ling Primary School	32	0	0.00
Springdale Primary School	29	0	0.00
Tampines North Primary School	49	0	0.00
Teck Whye Primary School	57	0	0.00
Unity Primary School	41	0	0.00
West Spring Primary School	20	0	0.00
West View Primary School	28	0	0.00
Woodlands Ring Primary School	47	0	0.00
Xinghua Primary School	77	0	0.00
Yio Chu Kang Primary School	47	0	0.00
Yishun Primary School	33	0	0.00
Yuhua Primary School	50	0	0.00
Yumin Primary School	36	0	0.00
Zhenghua Primary School	30	0	0.00

How to Choose a Primary School for Your Child?

The early years of education are crucial, laying the groundwork for your child's future learning journey. Consider these five essential aspects when selecting the right primary school for your child's growth and development.

1. Aligning Your Child’s Interests With School Programmes

Tailor your choice to your child's passions, whether in sports, arts, or music, by selecting a school with programmes that nurture and develop their talents.

2. Proximity and Ease of Commute

Consider the distance of a school's location, aiming for minimal travel time to enhance your child's rest and focus on extracurricular activities.

3. Embracing Cultural Heritage Through Mother Tongue Languages

Choose a school that offers robust Mother Tongue Language programmes to deepen your child's cultural connections and linguistic skills.

4. Understanding School Culture

Explore the school's ethos and environment through visits and interactions to ensure it aligns with your child's learning style and your family's values.

5. Catering to Special Educational Needs

Ensure your child's educational success by selecting a school with the necessary support structures and programmes for any special learning needs they might have.

You may also use MOE’s SchoolFinder to understand more about each school.

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