Gulf emerges in schools' popularity

The most popular primary schools in Sandwell can be revealed today – with some of them hugely over-subscribed.

The Express & Star has obtained admissions data for schools in the Black Country and Staffordshire which shows the large gulf between applications.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, relate to the number of parents who picked each school as their first choice for their children starting this September.

Schools and education chiefs say the figures do not necessarily represent popularity, as some numbers of applications are dependent on how big the catchment area is.

In Wolverhampton, the most popular was Villiers Primary, Bilston – the largest primary in the city. A total of 115 families scrambled for 75 places at the outstanding Ofsted school. In contrast, 14 parents placed much smaller Palmers Cross Primary in Tettenhall as first choice.

In Walsall, the most popular was Park Hall Infants, with 114 parents putting it down as their first choice. The school, which recently became one of the region's first primary academies, was oversubscribed by 24 places but at Brownhills West Primary, 12 parents listed it as their first choice. It had just 13 places available.

Dudley's most popular was Roberts Primary, Gornal, with 95 parents clamouring for places. But Manor Way Primary in Halesowen had 14 first choice applications.

In Sandwell, Moat Farm Infant in Oldbury came out on top. A total of 107 parents put it down as their first choice, making it oversubscribed by 17 places. Sacred Heart Primary in Tipton was 13 parents' top choice. It is one of the smallest in Sandwell and only has 16 places per year group and around 130 pupils in total on the roll.

In Staffordshire, the most popular schools were Five Ways Primary in Cannock and Violet Lane Infants in Burton-on-Trent. Both schools were put down as first choice schools by 89 parents. Three parents picked St Bartholomew's CE Primary in Leek.

SANDWELL

Reception 2011 - Bottom 20 schools - number of 1st preferences
School Name	No of 1st Preferences	No of places offered
Sacred Heart Primary	13	15
Grace Mary Primary	15	19
Brickhouse Primary	16	20
King George V Primary	18	18
Timbertree Primary	20	23
St John's C.E. Primary	21	25
Holyhead Primary	23	30
Christ Church C.E. Primary	25	30
Reddal Hill Primary	25	29
Burnt Tree Primary	26	30
Jubilee Park Primary	26	28
Lyng Primary	27	33
St Matthew's C.E. Primary	28	30
St Paul's C.E. Primary	28	30
Moorlands Primary	30	30
St John Bosco R.C. Primary	30	30
St Margaret's C.E. Primary	30	30
St Mary's R.C. Primary	30	30
The Priory Primary	30	30
Brandhall Primary	31	53

Reception 2011 - Top 20 schools - number of 1st preferences


School Name	No 1st Preferences	No of places offered
Moat Farm Infant	107	90
Devonshire Infant	97	90
Old Park Primary	93	60
Abbey Infant	91	90
Victoria Infant	86	90
Galton Valley Primary	83	60
Pennyhill Primary School	79	83
Ocker Hill Infant	75	60
Guns Village Primary	74	60
St Gregory's R.C. Primary	74	30
Ferndale Primary	72	60
Crocketts Community Primary	71	30
Uplands Manor Primary	71	118
Blackheath Primary	70	60
Cape Primary	66	77
Highfields Primary	66	60
Tividale Hall Primary	66	60
Albert Pritchard Infant	63	60
Yew Tree Primary	63	71
Summerhill Primary	62	60

		Total 1st Preferences	Total Places Offered Q5
1	Park Hall Infant	114	90
2	Alumwell Infant	101	90
3	New Invention Infant	100	90
4	Delves Infant	94	90
5	Pheasey Park Farm Primary	85	87
6	Palfrey Infant	80	85
7	Blackwood	75	79
8	Blue Coat CE Infant	75	79
9	Fibbersley Park Primary	69	60
10	Bentley West Primary	66	60
11	Cooper and Jordan CE Primary	66	60
12	Leighswood	63	67
13	Hatherton Primary	62	60
14	Lindens Primary	61	45
15	Elmore Green Primary	58	45
16	Sunshine Infant	53	55
17	Chuckery Primary	51	53
18	Rosedale CE Infant	51	56
19	Hillary Primary	50	52
20	Bentley Drive Primary	48	49

WOLVERHAMPTON

School Name	No. of 1st prefences expressed	No. of places allocated as of 10/05/11	Admission Limit
Q.1 The leading 20 schools for first preferences
Villiers Primary School	115	75	75
East Park Primary School	103	90	90
St Luke's Church of England Aided Primary School	85	60	60
Manor Primary School	83	60	60
Woodfield Infant School	79	90	90
St Mary's Catholic Primary School	76	45	45
Westacre Infant School	74	75	75
Christ Church CE Infant School (TW)	71	60	60
Stow Heath Infant School	70	60	60
Wodensfield Primary School	70	60	60
St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School	68	45	45
Trinity Church of England Primary School	68	60	60
Claregate Primary School	62	60	60
Woodthorne Primary School	61	60	60
Dunstall Hill Primary School	59	30	30
Northwood Park Primary School	59	60	60
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School	58	45	45
Warstones Primary School	58	60	60
Elston Hall Primary School	56	81	90
St Jude's Church of England Primary School	56	60	60

Q.2 The final 20 primary schools for first preferences
Spring Vale Primary School	28	30	30
St Thomas' Church of England Primary School	28	30	30
Field View Primary School	27	60	60
Oxley Primary School	27	30	30
Berrybrook Primary School	26	30	30
Bilston Church of England Primary School	26	30	30
St Paul's Church of England (Aided) Primary School	26	29	30
Edward The Elder Primary School	25	30	30
Hill Avenue Primary School	25	45	45
SS Mary and John Catholic Primary School	25	30	30
Dovecotes Primary School	24	24	30
Loxdale Primary School	23	30	30
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School	19	30	30
Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School	18	30	30
The Giffard Catholic Primary School	18	30	30
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School	17	18	30
Graiseley Primary School	16	30	30
St Michael's Church of England Primary School	16	30	30
St Alban's Church of England Primary School	15	18	30
Palmers Cross Primary School	14	18	30

WALSALL

Total 1st Preferences Total Places Offered Q5

1 Park Hall Infant 114 90

2 Alumwell Infant 101 90

3 New Invention Infant 100 90

4 Delves Infant 94 90

5 Pheasey Park Farm Primary 85 87

6 Palfrey Infant 80 85

7 Blackwood 75 79

8 Blue Coat CE Infant 75 79

9 Fibbersley Park Primary 69 60

10 Bentley West Primary 66 60

11 Cooper and Jordan CE Primary 66 60

12 Leighswood 63 67

13 Hatherton Primary 62 60

14 Lindens Primary 61 45

15 Elmore Green Primary 58 45

16 Sunshine Infant 53 55

17 Chuckery Primary 51 53

18 Rosedale CE Infant 51 56

19 Hillary Primary 50 52

20 Bentley Drive Primary 48 49

Total 1st Preferences Total Places Offered Q5

1 Brownhills West Primary 12 13

2 Croft Community Primary 13 13

3 Lodge Farm JMI 34 36

4 County Bridge Primary 18 21

5 Beacon Primary 19 19

6 Harden Primary 21 21

7 Castlefort JMI 22 21

8 Leamore Primary 22 23

9 Abbey Primary 24 24

10 Green Rock Primary 24 23

11 Caldmore Primary 25 25

12 North Walsall Primary 25 25

13 Millfield Primary 25 26

14 King Charles Primary 25 28

15 King's Hill Primary 26 30

16 Little Bloxwich CE Primary 26 26

17 Moorcroft Wood Primary 26 27

18 Mossley Primary 27 27

19 Christ Church CE JMI 29 29

20 Holy Trinity CE Primary 29 29