Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) will be relocating to Tengah, more than 12km from its current home on Barker Road.
For parents who have bought or rented a property within 1km of ACS (Primary) at Barker Road to secure a place for their sons, don’t worry too much about this, as the move will only take place in 2030. Plus, there’s another ACS in Bukit Timah, ACS (Junior), on nearby Winstedt Road.
Given the long distance to the new location, boys admitted in ACS (Primary) until 2029 will remain at the Barker Road campus until Primary 6. On top of that, the Barker Road campus will still accept new Primary 1 students as long as they have older brothers studying there.
As the cohort size falls, the school will eventually be consolidated with ACS (Junior) at Winstedt Road tentatively in 2033. The school will operate under ACS (Junior) from both campuses before shifting to the Barker Road campus in 2039.
Higher property prices in Tengah
Meanwhile, this is good news for those who have secured a unit in Tengah, mainly from the BTO projects or Copen Grand EC, which is now fully sold. Given the popularity and “elite” status of ACS (Primary), property owners can expect an increase in property value and higher rental demand after the five-year MOP (huat ah!).
As living within a 1km radius gives priority in balloting for a place, demand for homes near popular schools has increased property prices.
Wong Siew Ying, Head of Research and Content at PropNex Realty, noted that the average price of non-landed private homes within 1km of ACS (Primary) in Barker Road was S$2,451 psf in 2022. This is about 13.3% higher than the District 11 average of S$2,164 psf.
The relocation of a good school can also affect property prices nearby. An NUS study found that private home prices within 1km of the relocated good school have declined as high as 8.5% and 12.2% within 1-2km. At the same time, the relocations led to price increases in the new area.
Nevertheless, home prices near the Barker Road campus shouldn’t be too affected since ACS (Junior) will eventually move there.
It will also take some time to see the impact on property prices in Tengah since the area is still under development. Most residential projects are also HDB flats, with Copen Grand currently the only EC launched for sale in the new estate.
Not the first time a good school was moved to a new housing estate
While it’s said that the move to Tengah is to serve the wider community, it could also be a way to attract more families to set up a home in the new housing estate.
ACS (Primary) isn’t the first good school to move to a new HDB town.
“It was observed that the Government will relocate good schools to a new HDB town. For example, Nan Chiau Primary School was relocated to Sengkang in 2000, and Mee Toh School moved to Punggol in 2004,” Lee Sze Teck, Senior Director of Research at Huttons Asia, commented.
Additional reading: Why living within 1km of a primary school is such a big deal in Singapore
A Business Times article also pointed out that in the 1990s, Raffles Institution and Catholic High School (Primary and Secondary) were relocated to Bishan when the town was still being built up. Raffles Junior College later moved there in 2004, followed by Raffles Girls’ School in 2019 (remember the RGS spokesman’s comment about the move “to reach out more to the ordinary Singaporean”?).
(Given the announcement’s timing, this may divert some demand from Farrer Park’s Kallang/ Whampoa BTO. 🤔 After all, we’re in the BTO season, and the February 2023 BTO sales exercise should be launching anytime now.
Or is the relocation a way to boost the declining birth rate, especially for young couples setting up a home in Tengah? 🤔 We note that next year will be the Year of the Dragon, when more babies tend to be born in Singapore. 2030 will also be the year these kids are registered for Primary One.)
With the relocation, which properties will be within 1km of the new ACS (Primary) campus in Tengah?
From the 2022 Primary One Registration onwards, the home-school distance is now calculated based on the school boundary instead of the centre of the school.
However, this will also depend on the design of the school. According to MOE’s press release, the distance will be confirmed and available on the OneMap SchoolQuery function.
In the meantime, based on MOE’s press release, the URA master plan and OneMap, we’ve figured out some of the properties in Tengah that fall within the 1km radius. Aside from Copen Grand, these are all BTO.
- Parc Glen (TOP: 2024)
- Parc Clover (TOP: 2024)
- Parc Residences (TOP: 2025)
- Plantation Village (TOP: 2024)
- Plantation Grove (TOP: 2024)
- Plantation Grange (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2023)
- Plantation Acres (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2023)
- Parc Woods (TOP: 2025)
- Parc Flora (TOP: 2025)
- Garden Vale (TOP: 2024)
- Garden Vines (TOP: 2024)
- Garden Terrace (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2024)
- Garden Court (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2024)
- Garden Bloom (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2025)
- Copen Grand (TOP: 2027)
- February 2023 BTO (some blocks fall within 1-2km)
It’s not just properties in Tengah within a 1km radius of the school. There are a few projects in Bukit Batok that are within the radius as well.
- West Scape (TOP: 2022)
- West Edge (TOP: 2019)
- West Ridges (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2019)
- West Plains (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2020)
- West Hill (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2026)
- Le Quest (some blocks fall within 1-2km) (TOP: 2020)
- Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 EC
- Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 EC
Looking for HDB flats that MOP-ed recently? Check out our article here: Full list of BTO projects hitting MOP in 2024/2025 & Our top picks near the MRT
Updated details on ACS (Primary) relocation to Tengah
Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) (ACS Primary), a prestigious educational institution in Singapore, is set to make a significant move in 2030. The school will relocate from its current location at Barker Road to the developing town of Tengah. This move is a strategic step by the Ministry of Education to meet the growing demand for schools in Singapore’s newer towns and provide better access to nationwide mainstream and special needs education.
Impact on current and future Students
In response to concerns from the ACS community, the Ministry of Education has announced that students currently enrolled at the Barker Road campus will not be required to relocate to the new Tengah campus. This ensures minimal disruption to the student’s educational journey. Additionally, the school will continue to admit younger male siblings of existing students into Primary 1 at the Barker Road campus starting in 2030, provided their older sibling is still studying there. This policy aims to maintain family continuity in the school’s community.
Co-educational shift and consolidation with ACS (Junior)
A significant change accompanying the relocation is that the new ACS (Primary) campus in Tengah will become co-educational, beginning to admit girls and boys. This shift aims to offer a more inclusive and well-rounded primary school education, reflecting the diverse population of the new residential estate. Post-relocation, the Barker Road campus of ACS (Primary) will consolidate with Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) at Winstedt Road around 2033, with the reconfigured ACS (Junior) eventually shifting all operations to the Barker Road campus by 2039. This consolidation is planned to ensure students have continued access to various educational programs and activities.
Rather look at condos that will MOP this year? Have a read here: Upcoming Executive Condos (ECs) that will MOP in 2024 & 2025
Broader development in Tengah
Tengah’s development as a new housing estate is further underscored by the opening of two additional primary schools by 2030 and a new special education school focusing on students with an autism spectrum disorder. These educational developments are part of the government’s broader initiative to cater to the needs of growing families in emerging residential areas and to ensure a good geographical spread of schools across Singapore.
Properties for sale in Bukit Batok
2
1
3
2
3
2
5
2
3
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
4
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
4
2
3
2
4
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
0
1
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
4
3
3
3
1
1
3
2
3
3
3
2
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
4
1
2
2
2
2
2
FAQs about Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) relocation to Tengah
1. What will happen to the students currently enrolled at ACS (Primary) Barker Road campus after relocating to Tengah in 2030?
Students currently enrolled at the Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) Barker Road campus will not be required to move to the new Tengah campus. The school will implement a “teach-out” model, allowing existing students to continue their education at the Barker Road campus until they complete Primary 6. Moreover, from 2030 onwards, ACS (Primary) will still admit younger male siblings into Primary 1 at the Barker Road campus as long as they have an older sibling studying there.
2. How will relocating ACS (Primary) to Tengah in 2030 affect the school’s admission policy and student demographic?
With its relocation to Tengah, the Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) will undergo a significant change by becoming co-educational, starting to admit girls alongside boys. This shift is part of ACS’ initiative to offer more inclusive and diverse educational opportunities in the new residential area of Tengah. The school will begin admitting students to the co-educational Primary 1 cohort in 2030.
3. What impact is the relocation of ACS (Primary) expected on property prices in Tengah and the current Barker Road area?
The relocation of ACS (Primary) to Tengah is anticipated to increase property prices in the new town, with estimates suggesting a potential rise of about 10-to-15% within a 1km radius of the school. However, the impact may not be immediate, as Tengah is still under development. Conversely, property prices in the Newton Road area around the current Barker Road campus may face downward pressure due to the school’s relocation.
What do you think of ACS (Primary) moving to Tengah? Let us know in the comments section below.
If you found this article helpful, 99.co recommends How the new home-school distance rule kept Princess Elizabeth Primary School oversubscribed 5:1 in Phase 2C this year and 12 new launch condos within 1km of popular schools.
About 99.co
We are a property search engine with the overarching goal of building a more transparent and efficient property market. We are working towards that future by empowering people with the tools and information needed to find a place to live in the best way possible.
Looking to sell your property?
Whether your HDB apartment is reaching the end of its Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) or your condo has crossed its Seller Stamp Duty (SSD) window, it is always good to know how much you can potentially gain if you were to list and sell your property. Not only that, you’ll also need to know whether your gains would allow you to right-size to the dream home in the neighbourhood you and your family have been eyeing.
One easy way is to send us a request for a credible and trusted property consultant to reach out to you.
Alternatively, you can jump onto 99.co’s Property Value Tool to get an estimate for free.
If you’re looking for your dream home, be it as a first-time or seasoned homebuyer or seller – say, to upgrade or right-size – you will find it on Singapore’s fastest-growing property portal 99.co.
Meanwhile, if you have an interesting property-related story to share with us, drop us a message here — and we’ll review it and get back to you.
Join our social media communities!
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Telegram | YouTube | Twitter
Pavilion park, the only FH estate and landed will benefit from the EC upgraders in the future?
Is Pavilion Park is within 2km?
Yes, Pavilion Park is within 2km. On the other hand, we just checked on the URA master plan that it’s not the only FH and landed estate within the 2km radius. Comfort Garden at Hong San Walk falls within this radius as well.
i see. this is helpful .thanks.
Hi, can i check are the blocks within the red cicrle all within 1km of the new ACS?
Hi alvin, you’ll need to wait till the final perimeter plan for the new ACS (P) is out as that will then determine the <1km and <2km zone for home-school distance. You'll also need for this to be updated on OneMap's SchoolQuery (which demarcates the <1km and <2km zones).
This is because the new home-school distance rule is based on the perimeter of the primary school, not its centre (https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/home-school-distance-new-rule-greater-competition-some-neighbourhoods/).
For the purpose of this article, the current red circle is just an approximation. Hope this helps!
How about Brickland Weave?