Tao Nan School
A parent's fact-file: P1 competitiveness, programmes, and what to expect.
Tao Nan School is a government-aided SAP primary school in Marine Parade, founded in 1906 by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. It is one of a small number of primary schools that host the Gifted Education Programme.
MOE data last updated: 21 August 2026, 4:29pm SGT
Ballot history
Tao Nan School has required balloting in several recent registration exercises. Admission risk depends on phase, citizenship and home-to-school distance.
- Phase 2C has gone to a ballot in 7 of the last 7 completed years (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019).
- 2026 so far: 162 admitted in Phase 1 (of 330 total places) · Phase 2A had 129 applicants for 108 places (Ballot held (SC>2), 119% demand).
- Phase 2C(S) has closed; results can be checked in the P1 Registration Portal from 8am on 27 August 2026.
Student Care
Tao Nan School has a school-based Student Care Centre operated by YMCA.
- Monthly fee $280 · registered to administer the SCFA subsidy.
- A place at Tao Nan does not guarantee a student-care place. Apply to the centre directly.
School info
Tao Nan School (TNS) at a glance
- Type
- Government-aided, co-educational
- Area
- Marine Parade
- Region
- East
- Mother tongue languages
- Chinese
- Getting there
- Nearest MRT: Marine Parade, Marine Terrace; Buses: 13, 16, 31, 36, 43, 48, 55, 134, 196, 197
- Principal
- Madam Poh Qinyu
- Contact
- 6442 8307 · [email protected]
Details from MOE’s School Directory and Information, checked July 2026. Confirm current details with the school.
School connections
How this school links to the wider system, secondary and preschool, each of which can shape the P1 and later journey.
Tao Nan School has no MOE-affiliated secondary school, so a P1 place here gives no affiliation priority into any particular secondary. Secondary posting follows the normal PSLE and Secondary 1 Posting Exercise. A shared name with a nearby secondary does not by itself mean an affiliation.
Always confirm the latest with the school before relying on it.
Settling in
The practical things once a place is confirmed: orientation, getting to school, and care after school. These vary by school, so confirm the specifics with Tao Nan School.
The school has not published its P1 orientation details for the January 2027 intake yet. Schools usually announce around October to November. Visit the school website.
The appointed school bus operator is F1 Transport; contract 1 Jan 2026-31 Dec 2027. Ask the operator for routes and a fare quote for your address. Up to 2km: $190 a month return, stated as a maximum you negotiate down from. Source: the school's website. See every fare band for this school.
Tao Nan School has a School-Based Student Care Centre operated by YMCA. Monthly fee $280. Registered to administer the SCFA subsidy. Source: the school's website. Read our student care guide.
Details vary by school and year. Always confirm with the school before you rely on them.
Programmes and open house
Tao Nan School's CCAs, its two MOE programmes, and its open house date.
Tao Nan School lists 22 CCAs with MOE, including Badminton, Boys' Brigade, Chinese Dance and Art and Crafts. Not every CCA on the list runs every year, and some have limited places, so confirm with the school before counting on one.
Its Applied Learning Programme is C3@TNS (STEM - Game Design and Making).
See the full CCA list and both programmes →
Source: MOE's school CCA data. Confirm current details with the school.
Tao Nan School has not published an open house date for 2024, 2025 or 2026 in MOE Schoolbag's roundup.
See open house dates for every school →
Source: MOE Schoolbag's open house roundup.
Tao Nan School has 10 top-four finishes recorded across 2 sports, 2 of them first place, the most recent in 2026.
Stage 1 · before you register
Is this school right for us?
Affiliated secondary
None
High-ability
Gifted Education Programme centre
What Tao Nan is known for
A Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school since 1990, teaching both English and Chinese at a high level with a strong bilingual and bicultural focus.
A Gifted Education Programme centre since 1996, hosting the GEP for identified pupils from Primary 4 onwards.
Applied Learning Programme in STEM, built around game design and computational thinking through its C3@TNS framework.
Learning for Life Programme in Sports and Outdoor Education, known as ENRICH@TNS.
Is it a fit for your family? What to weigh
Stage 3 · after you're in
We're in. What happens now?
Visiting
Tao Nan does not appear in the usual MOE open-house roundups, so contact the school through its website to arrange any visit or enquiry.
Common questions
Is Tao Nan School affiliated to a secondary school? +
No. Despite sharing Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan roots with Dunman High and Chung Cheng High, Tao Nan has no affiliated secondary school and gives no secondary-level admission priority.
Does Tao Nan School offer the Gifted Education Programme? +
Yes. Tao Nan has been a GEP centre since 1996 and hosts the programme for pupils who are identified through the national GEP screening from Primary 4.
How hard is it to get a place at Tao Nan School? +
Very competitive. In the 2025 Primary 1 exercise both Phase 2B and Phase 2C were balloted, with Phase 2C drawing 81 applicants for 45 vacancies.
All primary schools in Marine Parade
Places taken by phase, with applicants / vacancies beneath. Ranked by how competitive the open phases were in 2025 (2C first). This school is highlighted; search to pin schools and compare them. Tap any school for its full ballot history, or see every year for Marine Parade schools.
Tip: pin a school, then add another to compare.
| School | Phase 1↕ | 2A↕ | 2A(2)↕ | 2B↕ | 2C↕ | 2C(S)↕ | 3↕ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tao Nan | 162162/27060% | 108129/108SC>2119% | – | 2040/20SC<1200% | 4257/42SC<1136% | full0 places | – | 330of 330(-30)100% |
| Tanjong Katong | 6767/14048% | 7378/73PR<1107% | – | 99/2045% | 5694/56all SC<1 placed168% | full0 places | – | 200of 200100% |
| Ngee Ann | 9797/18054% | 4040/8348% | – | 11/343% | 103114/103PR<1111% | full0 places | – | 240of 240100% |
Find your child's group
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