The application season for September 2027 entry has already begun — the EDB announced the K1 admission arrangements back in June, and primary schools have started publishing their discretionary-places calendars. This guide gathers the key 2027/28 milestones by stage: announced dates are stated as such, unannounced ones are honestly marked as pending.
All dates follow the EDB's official announcements, and this page is updated as they land. Announced central dates also appear on the Admissions Calendar, where you can download them as an .ics file.
Kindergarten K1 (Kindergarten Education Scheme)
The EDB announced the 2027/28 K1 admission arrangements in June 2026:
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Apply for the Registration Certificate (RC) + apply to kindergartens | September – November 2026 |
| Interview peak | November – December 2026 |
| Kindergartens notify results (by) | 11 December 2026 |
| Central registration days | 7 – 9 January 2027 |
| EDB publishes K1–K3 vacancy information | From late January 2027 |
Children entering K1 in 2027/28 must be born on or before 31 December 2024 (aged 2 years 8 months at entry).
Two things to note. First, the RC application and the school application are two separate processes — kindergartens in the Kindergarten Education Scheme may only admit children holding a valid registration document, so start both in September. Second, even with multiple offers, you may register at one kindergarten only during the three central registration days. For the RC itself, see The Kindergarten Registration Certificate (RC), explained.
Primary One (POA — Primary One Admission)
For September 2027 entry, schools have published the discretionary-places dates per the EDB's arrangements (final confirmation rests with the EDB's formal announcement):
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application forms distributed | 1 – 25 September 2026 |
| Online submission (ePOA platform) | 17 – 25 September 2026 (until 23:59) |
| Paper submission (in person at the school) | 21 – 25 September 2026 |
| Discretionary places results | 23 November 2026 |
| Discretionary places registration | 25 – 26 November 2026 |
| Central Allocation school choices (ePOA) | January 2027 (to be announced) |
| Central Allocation results | Early June 2027 (to be announced) |
At the discretionary stage you may apply to one government or aided primary school only (not restricted by school net), and you must not submit both online and on paper — duplicates are voided. For how Central Allocation works and how to order choices, see Primary One admissions, explained.
Secondary One (SSPA — Secondary School Places Allocation)
The EDB usually announces the exact S1 dates for September 2027 entry in December 2026. Based on the 2026/27 cycle, expect:
| Stage | Expected window (to be announced) |
|---|---|
| Discretionary places application | Early January 2027, about two weeks (2 – 16 January in the 2026/27 cycle) |
| Successful discretionary applicants notified | 31 March 2027 (long-standing practice) |
| Discretionary + Central Allocation results | Early July 2027 |
At the discretionary stage each child may apply to at most 2 secondary schools, regardless of district. DSS secondary schools run their own timelines, mostly opening between October and December 2026. For post-results registration and door-knocking strategy, see The S1 allocation guide.
Good to know
- Some Primary One and Secondary One dates are still pending the EDB's formal announcement; this page is updated as they are published.
- "Door-knocking" starts right after results day and some schools close applications fast — prepare the portfolio and documents early: P1 door-knocking strategy.
- For each school's own application window, open days and interview arrangements, see the open days calendar and the individual school profiles.
- Sources: the EDB's June 2026 announcement of 2027/28 K1 admission arrangements; Primary One admission calendars published by participating schools.
Frequently asked questions
When is the K1 central registration for 2027/28?
When do P1 discretionary place applications open for 2027/28?
Have the S1 discretionary place dates for 2027/28 been announced?
This guide is for reference only. Policies, points and dates can change each year — always confirm against the latest EDB and individual school announcements.