Golden Square Primary School principal Barry Goode said the school had a record number of prep classes running this year.

“We have had strong enrolments this year, which is very promising,” he said. “Last year we were in the mid-40s and this year we are in the mid-50s.”

Mr Goode attributed the rise in  first-year enrolments to a number of reasons.

“Traditionally we always have a year that is stronger than others,” he said.

“Every two years we usually experience a rise in enrolment numbers.”

Echuca South Primary School similarly recorded a rise in the number of enrolments welcoming 26 preps, three up from last year.

School principal Karl Stenning said the jump was pleasing, but believed it was due to an increased number of positions made available in 2013.

“A lot of it is to do with the prep intake number, so how many preps were available to enrol this year contributed to the increase,” he said.

Heathcote Primary School also recorded an increase in the number of first-year enrolments.

“We got more preps this year than we thought, which is very promising,” Heathcote Primary School principal Cindi Bruechert said.

But they were not alone, with local non-government schools also recording a rise in the number of prep enrolments.

Among them was Charlton’s St Joseph’s Primary School, according to acting principal Melissa Drum.

“We also saw the same thing last year with our preps,” she said. “We are a smaller school and I think people find that a real benefit.”