By Lynette Tan
If you’ve only got a minute:
- Home prices aren't always dictated by nearby popular primary schools.
- Priority admission for Primary 1 requires a 30-month residency period for parents.
- Consider your budget, lifestyle, and long-term living plans when buying property, amidst other factors.
The journey of parenthood presents a continuous stream of challenges. Once the hurdles of infancy and toddlerhood are cleared, a new challenge looms…primary one school registration. This pivotal moment, usually starting in July before a child's seventh birthday, often brings a new set of worries.
For parents aiming for specific schools, the pursuit of a desired spot can begin years ahead, even shaping choices regarding property, be it buying or renting strategically near the preferred school.
Such strategic planning often comes at a cost. Families grapple with the financial burden of moving versus the perceived advantages of a particular school. The societal pressure to secure a place in a highly-regarded institution is substantial, driven by the desire to provide the best educational start for their child.
This leads to a difficult balancing act. Families juggle their educational ambitions with their financial constraints and lifestyle preferences. The pressure is intense, and the perceived consequences significant. This begs the question: do the benefits truly outweigh the costs?
Primary One registration exercise
The Primary One Registration Exercise allocates placements based on a multi-phase system.
When applications exceed available vacancies in Phases 2A to 2C Supplementary, balloting is conducted. Priority admission is granted based on the child’s citizenship status and proximity of the home to the school, with the aim of reducing time for commute and managing oversubscription. The order of priority is as follows:
- Singapore Citizens (SC) living within 1km of the school
- SCs living between 1km and 2km of the school
- SCs living outside 2km of the school
- Permanent Residents (PR) living within 1km of the school
- PRs living between 1km and 2km of the school
- PRs living outside 2km of the school
For many popular (i.e., oversubscribed) primary schools, Singapore Citizens residing beyond 2km often face balloting during the Primary 1 registration process. As a result, being located within a 1km radius of such schools is considered advantageous, as it significantly improves the child’s chances of securing a place. This proximity advantage could make nearby properties more attractive to parents seeking to maximise their admission priority.
Home-School Distance
The Home-School Distance (HSD) of a residential address is determined by the shortest distance between the school's boundary and the registered address, using the building outline from submitted building development plans. Because HSD can vary annually due to updated building plans or school boundary changes, parents should verify their address's HSD category for the relevant year's P1 Registration Exercise.
For parents looking to move into a property for priority admission, do note that there is a 30-month stay requirement. The “start” of this 30-month stay requirement differs according to the below criteria,
- Resale property - at least 30 months from the start of the child’s P1 school term.
- New property - the vacant or delivery possession date of the new property you are moving into must be within 2 years of your child's entry into P1.
For those who will be using a caregiver’s address, you’ll need to make a declaration of alternative child-care arrangement for your child's P1 registration if you want to use the NRIC address of a caregiver living within 2km of your preferred school.
You can make a declaration if you meet both conditions:
- You and your spouse are both working full-time at the time the declaration is made.
- your child is under the care of a grandparent or a parent's sibling.
It is important that parents do not try to “game the system” as MOE will transfer your child to any school in its sole discretion should they find out that the information provided during P1 registration was untrue.
Does proximity to a popular school give surrounding property price a boost?
While we genuinely believe that all primary schools are good schools, especially since they follow a centralised curriculum, certain schools may be more popular due to specific programmes, school culture, or historical performance of their primary 6 students excelling at their Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). As such, parents may prefer particular schools that align with their aspirations or logistical needs.
Thus, there is a common belief that the proximity to popular schools is a significant factor that can influence property price. But is this true or just a misconception?
Property prices surrounding “Popular” primary schools
The DBS Group Research ran an analysis, comparing the price appreciation of select properties located within the 1km and 2km radius of popular primary schools against that of private non-landed residences in the same district over the past decade, to provide an indication of the implied relationship.
Price appreciation of homes located within 1km and 2km of popular primary schools vs district
Based on the sample data, the findings are inconclusive in demonstrating that properties within 1km or 2km of a popular primary school consistently outperform its district in terms of price appreciation. While this may hold true for some schools, it does not appear to be a uniform trend across all.
It is also difficult to pinpoint a single factor that affect home price as there are multiple considerations like entry timing/price, proximity to MRT station, lease tenure (e.g., leasehold vs freehold), project age, proximity to multiple primary schools, and other development attributes. As such, it is challenging to isolate the effect of school proximity as a singular driver of price appreciation.
Assessing your needs and priorities for a property purchase
While it is easy to understand that parents want the best for their child, purchasing a property is a huge decision and parents may want to consider more than just the proximity factor to guide their purchase decision:
Family's lifestyle: What are your priorities in terms of commute time and access to amenities? How about the priorities of other family members?
Child's learning style and needs: Does your child thrive in a competitive environment? Are there specific programmes offered by certain schools that align with your child's strengths and interests?
Long-term residency plans: How long do you plan to live in the property? This impacts the importance of resale value.
Financial capacity: Be realistic about your budget and explore the long-term financial implications.
Ultimately, navigating the Singaporean primary school landscape requires careful consideration of various factors beyond the proximity to a desired school. By weighing lifestyle preferences, financial implications and future needs, families can make informed decisions that prioritise their child's overall well-being and set them up for success. Remember, the "best" school is the one that best fits your child and family.
