Ranelagh school in Bracknell Forest has been officially classified as ‘overcapacity,’ figures from the Department of Education (DfE) show. 

A school is deemed at or in excess of capacity when the number of pupils enrolled is greater than or equal to its number of places. 

The data indicates that the school had 1,062 places available, however, there are 1,064 children enrolled on its register as of May 1 last year. 

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The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has said that overcrowding increases the average class size which places additional demands on teachers and has implications for admissions. 

Ranelagh School did not respond when approached for comment. 

The figures also reveal that more than 1,000 pupils in Bracknell Forest are in a secondary school which is full or overcapacity 

1,064 pupils in the area were affected by overcrowded schools last year, among around 880,000 nationwide. In 2018-19, the most recent comparable year due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, there were no overcrowded schools. 

Across England, 22 per cent of secondary schools reached this threshold last year - up from 17 per cent in 2018-19, and the highest proportion in a decade. 

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The general secretary of The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Geoff Barton, said: “The increasing demand for secondary places is complicated by perceptions linked to Ofsted reports, with higher-rated schools often heavily oversubscribed and significant spare capacity at lower-rated schools. 

“It drives a vicious cycle with improvement harder to secure in schools which face the greatest challenges. 

More pupils mean schools are more likely to be oversubscribed, leaving some at less preferred schools or having to go through the appeals and waiting list systems. 

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A DfE spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of pupils will be offered a place at one of their preferred schools this coming year.  

"Pupils are also now more likely to have a place at a good school now, with 87% of schools rated good or outstanding now compared to 68% in 2010.” 

Despite the increase in overcrowded secondary schools, just 17 per cent of English primaries were at or over capacity last year, the lowest rate since records began in 2009-10.  

This included four in Bracknell Forest, up from two in 2018-19. 

The head of analysis at the EPI, Jon Andrews, said: “The number of pupils attending primary schools peaked in 2019 and is expected to continue to decline.” 

However, Andrews said this could have implications for their long-term viability as most funding is determined on a per-pupil basis.