A total of 12 primary schools in Cardiff had more applications than places on offer according to the latest data from Cardiff Council
Some primary schools are harder to get into than others(Image: Getty Images)
The most over subscribed primaries in Cardiff to start in this September are revealed in the latest published data from school admissions day in the city.
While some primaries have turned away admissions, there are still 1, 272 English and Welsh medium community primary school places available.
Pontprennau is the city’s most oversubscribed school. It was among 12 city primaries that had more preferences expressed for places than spaces on offer. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
Overall, primary schools in Cardiff have turned down thousands of multiple applications from children hoping to start in their preferred reception class in September.
Letters were sent to families last week telling them whether they had their preferred place. The data shows 64 children did not get a place at the primary school they most wanted to attend.
Pontprennau saw the most preferences expressed to start in its reception class in September. It turned down 24 applications – some of which were part of multiple applications children made to more than one school, as advised by the council.
“The combined total places allocated and total applications refused by the LA of 2,789 represents the number of preferences considered by the council in respect of 2,725 individual children,” the council. said.
Figures released on secondary admissions day in March suggest around half are over subscribed and you can read more about that here.
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Our commitment to making the process of applying for a school place as simple and transparent as possible continues so that every family has the knowledge, support and understanding in order that no-one is at a disadvantage during the application process.
“98.3% of children have secured their first preference for a community primary school place, up from 96.1% in 2025 and 98.8% have secured one of their top three preferences for a community or co-ordinated primary school.
“In Cardiff we have a place for every school age child in the city and, as of today, there are still 1,272 English and Welsh medium community primary school places available.
“This figure will change as families who have also applied for non-coordinated faith schools, decide which they would prefer, meaning that more places may be released into the system and will be reallocated.”
Below are the details of the 12 most over-subscribed primaries and where there are still places available for children to start at reception classes in the city in September. The ‘last qualifying measurement’ is the furthest distance a child lived from the school but still obtained a place there.
Greenway Primary
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 32
- Last qualifying measurement 0.864
- Applications refused 2
Lakeside Primary
- Places 60
- All preferences expressed 66
- Last qualifying measurement 1.848
- Applications refused 6
Llysfaen Primary
- Places 60
- All preferences expressed 73
- Last qualifying measurement 0.611
- Applications refused 13
Pen-Y-Bryn Primary
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 32
- Last qualifying measurement 1.582
- Applications refused 2
Pencaerau Primary
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 35
- Last qualifying measurement 0.718
- Applications refused 5
Pontprennau Primary
- Places 60
- All preferences expressed 84
- Last qualifying measurement 1.150
- Applications refused 24
Rhiwbeina Primary
- Places 75
- All preferences expressed 85
- Last qualifying measurement 0.702
- Applications refused 10
Rhydypenau Primary School
- Places 60
- All preferences expressed 66
- Last qualifying measurement 1.239
- Applications refused 6
St Mellons C.I.W Primary
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 45
- Last qualifying measurement 0.296
- Applications refused 15
Ysgol Groes-Wen Primary(Cymraeg)
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 31
- Last qualifying measurement 12.60
- Applications refused 1
Ysgol Groes-Wen Primary(DualLanguage)
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 41
- Last qualifying measurement 1.808
- Applications refused 11
Ysgol Gwaelod Y Garth(Cymraeg)
- Places 30
- All preferences expressed 32
- Last qualifying measurement 1.226
- Applications refused 2
Places remain in these Cardiff
Adamsdown
Albany
BadenPowell
Birchgrove
BrynCelyn
Bryn Deri
BrynHafod
Coed Glas
Coryton
Creigiau(Cymraeg)
Creigiau (English)
Danescourt
Fairoak
Fairwater
Gabalfa
Glan-Yr-Afon
Glyncoed
Grangetown
Hawthorn
Herbert Thompson
Howardian
Hywel Dda
Kitchener
Lansdowne
Llanedeyrn
Llanishen Fach
Marlborough
Meadowlane
Millbank
Moorland
Mount Stuart
Ninian Park
Oakfield
Pentrebane
Pentyrch
Peter Lea
Radnor
Radyr
Roath Park
Rumney
Severn
Springwood
Stacey
Thornhill
Tongwynlais
Ton-Yr-Ywen
Trelai
Trowbridge
Whitchurch
Willowbrook
Windsor Clive
Ysgol Bro Eirwg
Ysgol Glan Ceubal 30
Ysgol Glan Morfa
Ysgol Coed-Y-Gof
Ysgol MelinGruffydd
Ysgol Nant Caerau
Ysgol PwllCoch
Ysgol Treganna 90 89 89
Ysgol Gwaelod Y Garth(ENGLISH)
Ysgol Hamadryad
Ysgol Pen-y-Groes
Ysgol Mynydd Bychan
Ysgol Pen Y Pil
Ysgol Pencae
Ysgol Y Berllan
Ysgol Y Wer
A child having a place at a nursery in a primary does not automatically mean they get a place there to start in reception.
