Latest school admissions figures show 38% of school children would still prefer to be educated outside the borough. Jon Hartley, Lead councillor for education, said: "There has been a big increase in the popularity of Reading secondary schools - a huge 7% up from last year, but this might be because pupils are finding it more and more difficult to get to school on time as they travel longer distances out of the borough for a better education, what with the traffic and all that."

Parents however are more realistic about the reason for the increase. One of them told us: "What's the point of being ambitious? If we apply for good schools like Maiden Erleigh, Reading residents are only going to be turned down anyway. Might as well get the kids used to a life of under-achieving right from the start."