A significant number of parents of private school pupils are applying to state secondaries in Edinburgh, The Scotsman has reported.

There have been 144 applications for places at council-run schools in the city since June from parents of children in private schools, of which 120 were for secondary school and 24 for primary.

A further 32 general enquiries have been made about high school places in Edinburgh from parents of pupils in the independent sector, and six enquiries about places in primary school.

Edinburgh City Council earlier reported it had received around 150 enquiries between June and September, with about half expected to become applications. New data from the local authority show far more are now translating into applications.

Lorraine Davidson, chief executive of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, said: “The illogical and flawed plan to tax children’s education is already adding to the strain on state schools, increasing teacher workload and leaving children unable to get a place at their local school.

“Taxpayers are having to foot the bill to educate more pupils in the state sector, and in many cases pay significant transport costs to ferry them to schools miles from where they live.”