Private schools are continuing to receive an influx of applications as public school reform is in full swing.

And heads of the Island's six tuition-paying learning institutions expect the situation to remain the same for years to come.

Montessori Academy principal Dennis Smith told The Royal Gazette the school remained full to capacity and it was therefore planning to double its size.

"We're full,'' Mr. Smith said. The school, on the National Trust's Tivoli property off Middle Road, Warwick has more than 120 students on its waiting list and 132 students enrolled.

"And that's pushing it,'' he stressed. "We're actively looking for another location. We have found a piece of property which we have made a bid on and are negotiating a contract.'' Mr. Smith declined to reveal details about the potential property, he said: "We should know within a month whether we will have that.'' "While it may not change our situation for next year, it will help in the long-term,'' he added.

"A lot will depend on planning and fund raising. But if all things go well, our plans are to double our size. We would be able to offer twice as many spaces.'' Mr. Smith attributed the interest in Montessori to a "variety of reasons''.

"Some people simply like the Montessori philosophy,'' he said. "Some see our school as more complementary to the US type. It's interesting when you talk to people. Some people see us as more strict, others see us as less stringent.'' Montessori currently teaches students between the ages of three and 12 years old.

But if the school adds on a middle school, as planned, it will take students as old as 14.

Meanwhile, Warwick Academy -- which has primary and secondary students -- reported enrolment as "very healthy''.

"I think the numbers are much higher than they have been in many years,'' principal Robert Lennox said. "We have students on the waiting list for every level.'' He attributed the attraction to the school's high standards.

With 625 students and plans to expand, Warwick has informed parents that it cannot consider anymore applications for Primary One. "We have received more than 200 applicants for 50 spaces in Primary One,'' Mr. Lennox said. "We advised people to stop applying about a fortnight before the deadline.'' The school has also received 39 applicants for 25 spaces in Primary Six and 72 applicants for 50 spaces in Primary Seven. However, parents have until January 30 to apply to both levels.

Mr. Lennox said: "We would not discourage anyone from applying to these levels because after the deadline students are chosen based on interviews and evaluations.'' Bermuda High School for Girls headmistress Eleanor Kingsbury said the school had more than twice the number of applications it has room for in Primary One.

"There are 60 spaces and some 115 to 120 applications,'' she noted.

However, she pointed out that parents often applied to all private schools at the same time.

"The picture has not changed,'' Mrs. Kingsbury said. "I'm confident that we will certainly fill the class of 60.'' There were also no spaces in BHS' primary years two, three and four, she added.

BHS is also considering expanding its premises.

"There's a lot of wasted space behind the main building,'' Mrs. Kingsbury said about the property off Serpentine Road, Pembroke. "We can have 11 or 12 more classrooms if necessary or if we can raise the money.'' Saltus, Bermuda Institute, and Mount St. Agnes Academy also reported that while they did not have the exact figures at hand, the demand for spaces at their schools had not eased.

"The number of people seeking entry into the school remains much the same and so does the waiting list,'' said Saltus principal Trevor Rowell.

"And we anticipate there will be some growth,'' Mr. Rowell added. "An additional 60 places will be provided with the school's building development.

"The greatest demand is in Primary One. There are considerably more people applying. We will do our best to place them.'' Bermuda Institute's principal Sheila Holder noted: "Because we don't have the middle school system, we probably have more students trying to get in earlier.

"There's always a waiting list for the first two years of secondary. And there are not very many spaces available there.''