Colchester's five most subscribed primary schools revealed

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

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

Hamilton Primary School was at the top of the list.

A total of 252 children applied for the school with 87 putting it as their first choice.

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

Home Farm Primary was in second place with 241applications received and 83 of these being a top preference. 

A total of 213 applied to Home Farm Primary School, with 64 selecting it as their first choice.

St John’s Green Primary School, Stanway Fiveways Primary School and Montgomery Infant and Nursery (Colchester) had 73, 70, and 68 first-place preferences respectively.

Highwoods Community Primary, Lakelands Primary, Monkwick Infant School, Heathlands Primary School and Brinkley Grove rounded out the top ten. 

Nick Hutchings, Hamilton Primary School’s headteacher said he was very proud of the work his school does. 

He said: "Hamilton Primary School is very proud of the work that it undertakes with its children and families.

“We continually strive to do our best and provide an exciting and fulfilling learning experience. 

"The team works incredibly hard, and we are pleased that so many families wish to join our community.”

Headteacher - Nick Hutchings Headteacher of Hamilton Primary School which had the most first-place preferences this year (Image: Hamilton Primary School)

Richard Potter, headteacher of Home Farm primary which was the second most popular primary school in Colchester, said: “I am proud of our school, our staff, our families and our pupils but am also proud of the fact that every school in Colchester works together. 

“For us, it is not a popularity contest. It is the school’s ethos that every child develops holistically: both academically and as a person in their own right.”

Mr Potter added: “We invite parents to share the responsibility for their children’s education by working together with us so that, by the time pupils leave us, they are fully prepared for the next step in their educational lives.”

This year Essex County Council received 15,862 primary school applications and out of these 91.27 per cent received their first choice while a record 96.8 per cent of parents have been offered either their first or second preference.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “We are delighted that we’ve been able to offer a higher percentage of parents one of their named preferences of primary school than ever before.

“This includes also offering a higher percentage of parents their first preference than ever before as well.

“Starting school for the first time is a hugely important milestone in any child’s life. We wish all children in Essex starting their academic journeys in September every success.”