There are almost 400 empty desks at secondary schools across Bath and north east Somerset with some schools struggling to fill even half of their places for this term.
Broadlands School, in Keynsham, and St Mark's CE School, in Larkhall, are two of the worst affected, with parents seemingly put off by the fact that both of these had been earmarked for closure during a recent council review.
And the head teacher of St Mark's Raymond Friel has said some of the blame must be placed on other heads who have increased their admission numbers and turned the city's education system into a "hyper-competitive free-for-all".
Bath and North East Somerset Council officials have said for a long time that there may be too many secondary schools in the area, and three years ago Tories launched a consultation looking at closing some of them.
However, that came to an end with a change of administration, and the Liberal Democrats opted to keep all schools open.
This year Broadlands has 178 empty places out of 217 in Year 7, and St Mark's has managed to fill only 40 spaces out of its 102 admission number.
The council's current leadership says many of the excess spaces will be filled in the future as the population grows.
Councillor Dine Romero (Lib Dem, Southdown), the cabinet member for early years, children and youth, said: "The council recognises that there are currently a number of surplus places in some of the local secondary schools.
"Although the majority are academies and outside council control, the council still has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient school places.
"Having undertaken a detailed review of current provision, the council has assessed that the current number and pattern of schools is appropriate to meet existing and projected demand from new housing and/or underlying population growth.
"This pattern also helps to ensure parental choice and to avoid excessive home to school travel."
Mr Friel, who is also in charge of St Gregory's Catholic College, said small schools were an important part of the city's education system.
However, he also said the actions of some other secondary schools, namely Beechen Cliff, Hayesfield, Oldfield and Wellsway, had actually increased the number of places across B&NES by 82.
"There is clearly a lack of effective partnership across the authority, with some schools acting solely out of their own interests," he said.
"This has led to a hyper-competitive free-for-all which is not good for our young people.
"Some may argue it is market economics but I don't think that's a good model for planning an effective education system which serves the needs of the community."
Beechen Cliff head teacher Andrew Davies has defended the situation, saying the Government was encouraging successful schools to increase their numbers.
He said: "We do have more pupils than we have ever had, but that in itself is fine. A free market is being created."
Mr Davies also pointed out that St Gregory's had recently expanded to offer a sixth form.
