Potters Bar’s most popular primary school received more than four times as many applications as its least applied for school.
The town was Hertfordshire’s worst area for children being allocated a preferred choice, with only 85.77 per cent of 246 applicants getting a spot – compared to 96 per cent county-wide.
However, a county council spokesman claimed there was no shortage of places in the town – instead putting the figure down to large numbers of parents applying for the same few schools.
Following the first round of applications, Cranborne received 207 compared to Oakmere’s 46, while Ladbrooke JMI had 158, Wroxham 149, and Pope Paul Catholic 87.
Overall it meant 35 children were not allocated a chosen school, and were all offered a spot at Oakmere instead.
The council spokesman said more spaces at preferred schools would become available during the second round of applications next month.
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