THE most oversubscribed primary and secondary schools in Evesham have been revealed.
The new data from the Department for Education (DfE) is the first data of its kind to be published since the pandemic, and also provides information on undersubscribed schools.
The data reveals Honeybourne First School in Evesham is the most oversubscribed primary school in the area with 168 pupils but only 140 official places. A school is 'overcrowded' when it is in excess of capacity as the number of pupils enrolled is greater than the number of places.
The most under capacity school in Evesham - when the number of potential places at a school is greater than number of pupils enrolled - is Cleeve Prior CofE in Evesham which had 105 places but a total of 35 pupils.
The DfE figures show the most oversubscribed secondary school, which also includes middles schools, in Evesham was Prince Henry's High School, with 1,273 pupils but 1,232 places.
Meanwhile the highest undersubscribed Evesham secondary school was Blackminster Middle School, which had 205 pupils for its 390 places.
Worcestershire County Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for education, said: “There are a number of factors behind the increase in school numbers across the county.
"Growth of pupil numbers has been felt across some urban areas of Worcestershire. The county is also seeing a significant level of new housing either being built or planned as the popularity of the county grows.
READ MORE: Number of overcrowded secondary schools in Worcestershire revealed
READ MORE: These are the most undersubscribed secondary schools in Worcestershire
READ MORE: More than 5,000 primary places were unfilled at Worcestershire schools
"We support where possible parental preference for choice of school and we work closely with primary, first, middle and secondary schools in Worcestershire to ensure they are able to sufficiently support higher numbers of pupils where needed.
"Higher primary pupil numbers from previous years have now begun to reach secondary transfer age, and those schools in three-tier systems are already experiencing higher numbers transferring through to middle schools.
"The last two years saw the effects of lower birth rates on primary and first schools, which is expected to continue over the next few years.
"The number of children in primary year groups in Worcestershire is likely to continue to increase to peak numbers by 2023.
"The number of pupils in secondary schools has begun to increase in recent years after several years of lower numbers.”
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