FIGURES have revealed the most in-demand primary schools in the Colchester area for children starting this September.

The data, from Essex County Council, also shows which schools had the least amount of applicants for the upcoming academic year.

The volume of applications can vary depending on a number of factors.

The most popular four schools out of the 58 listed for the area were Hamilton Primary, St John’s Green Primary, Home Farm Primary and Myland Community Primary.

In 2021 the same three schools topped the list. 

Hamilton Primary School was at the top of the list.

A total of 260 children applied for the school with 119 putting it as their first choice.

It was also the most oversubscribed school as it could only offer places to 60 children.

St John’s Green Primary School received 241 applications, with 89 children putting it as their top preference.

A total of 200 applied to Home Farm Primary School, with 64 selecting it as their first choice.

But the school could only offer 60 places.

The school places data showed Myland Community Primary School was fourth on the list.

The data shows 168 children applied in total to the school.

Fifth on the list was Stanway Primary School where 166 people applied and 47 people put it as their first choice.

Across Essex out of a total of 16,067 applications that were received on time, 14,382 pupils who are due to start in reception year in September 2022 have been offered their parent or carer's first preference of primary school.

This equates to 89.51 per cent of the total eligible cohort and is equivalent to the 89.75 per cent who obtained their first preference last year.

Another 6.45 per cent of children were offered their parent's second preference of school.

Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education excellence, lifelong learning and employability, said: “We continue to invest in creating additional primary school capacity so that as many parents and carers as possible receive their first preference of school for their child.

“I am pleased that this year we have again been able to offer thousands of first preference places. I would like to wish every child starting primary school this year the very best of luck for an exciting school year ahead.”