'Anxious wait paid off for my boy and girl'

There have been 67 applications for the 20 places available this September at Monken Hadley CofE Primary School in Barnet.

That makes it the most over-subscribed faith school in our survey - but the level of demand is by no means unique.

Regular churchgoer Janet Clarke, 41, was determined her two children should get a good CofE education. But she and her husband faced an anxious wait before learning they had been given places at Monken Hadley.

"It was well worth it," she said. "The school is very oversubscribed, and I know of a lot of people who haven't got their children in. But my daughter, now 12, did very well here, and my son is blossoming. They've been academically successful - and very happy, too."

Headteacher Steve Adams admits some parents exaggerate religious beliefs to get their children in. "There are people who play the system," he said. "We are also aware of people moving into the area in order to get into our school, which

affects house prices nearby." But he said parental interest created a virtuous circle of improvement, with new parents keen to support their children's education. "We rather like it when parents are keen," he said. "Our partnership gets off to a better start. Parents are conscientious about their children's futures, which means education gets better and better."