When Does Secondary School Start 2026 and Application Dates

When does school start?

As per the MOE’s official site, “The school year for 2026 for all MOE primary schools (including MOE Kindergartens) and secondary schools will start on Tuesday, 2 January 2026 and end on Friday, 15 November 2026”. 

When to register for secondary school

There are a few secondary school admission schemes, refer to the following for the scheme that best fits your entry requirements and the dates.

Local Singaporean Student 

S1 posting process

Local students are able to apply via the S1 posting process, which takes place once the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results are released. Learn about the process and how to prepare.

1. You can submit your child’s school choices from 11.30am on Wednesday, 22 November 2023 to 3pm on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.
   
2. If you miss the deadline, you will have to submit the school choices in person at your child’s primary school from 9am to 12pm on Wednesday, 29 November 2023. This is for new submission of school choices only, and not for amendments to earlier submissions.
   

Returning Singaporeans 

SPERS-Sec

SPERS-Sec is a centralised merit-based placement exercise conducted for Returning Singaporeans (RS) who wish to join a secondary school at Secondary 1, 2 or 3 at the beginning of the next academic year.

1. Create an account in the Candidates Portal and submit the applications by July.  
2. Receive the entry prove and take the tests for English and Mathematics in Singapore in September 2026.
3. You will receive a an email on Thursday, 16 November 2023 with the list of schools that they are eligible for. Submit your child’s school choices using the SPERS-Sec Internet System (SPERS-Sec IS) by 5pm on Tuesday, 21 November 2023.
4. View your child’s posting results by logging in to the SPERS-Sec IS. Your child has to report to school by Friday, 29 December 2023.

SPE

Alternatively, if you would like to enter a secondary school in 2026 but will not be able to take the  Spers-Sec tests in September. You can instead take the tests in December, under the Supplementary Placement Exercise (SPE).

How to choose secondary school

PSLE results for the year of 2023 will be released on 22 November 2023, if you or your child are lost for options in picking a suitable school, refer to the link above for a few criterias to consider. 

Access to the list of schools can be found here.