Six children are fighting for every place in some of Bradford’s most popular new free schools.

The figures, released yesterday, show how popular the new type of school is with parents, the Department for Education has claimed. Free schools, introduced by the Government, are run independently of local authorities.

The figures show The Kings Science Academy is Bradford’s most popular free school, despite having been ordered to improve in all areas by Ofsted inspectors last month.

The school, in Lidget Green, received 1,197 applications for just 180 places available this September, meaning there are more than six children applying for each place.

There are also six applications per place at Dixons Trinity Academy, in Trinity Road, which has received 676 applications for 112 places.

At Dixons Music Academy, also in Trinity Road, 172 parents have applied for 60 places, meaning there were nearly three applicants per place.

Schools Minister Lord John Nash said: “It goes to show that if you give local communities the freedom to establish high-quality and innovative schools that raise standards, parents will want a place for their child.”

But Councillor Ralph Berry, executive member for children’s services at Bradford Council, said Bingley Grammar and Ilkley Grammar, which aren’t free schools, enjoyed similarly high numbers of applicants. He said many parents were looking to send their children to a school close to home.

He added: “Popularity is not the only indication of whether a school is delivering a quality education.”