Birmingham’s most oversubscribed school has been hit by a space crisis with children only able to play by rota and plans for temporary classrooms hanging in the balance.

Al-Hijrah secondary school in Bordesley Green is the top choice school for parents across the city, with nearly 20 children battling it out for every available Year 7 place this year.

Despite its good reputation, the school says it is at breaking point – and needs a new site because it can’t cope with the number of pupils it already has, let alone the children who want to come to the school.

The voluntary-aided secondary occupies an ageing Edwardian building just off the Bordesley Green Road, along with the Al-Hijrah Primary School. The building, which is run by the Al-Hijrah School Trust, can cope with a maximum of 780 pupils.

Staff have banned break-time games because they say the playground is too cramped, while lessons are taught in leaking classrooms.

But despite staff complaining some pupils feel like “third class citizens” Al-Hijrah secondary school is one of the most oversubscribed schools in the country.

The Bordesley Green school is by far the top choice secondary school for Birmingham parents, with nearly 20 children battling it out for every available place.

The voluntary-aided Islamic secondary school was deluged with 1,101 applications for just 60 places for the 2012-13 intake.

Classrooms and corridors are congested, and the trust said it was working with the local authority to find a new site.

Until a suitable alternative is found, staff and students are making the best of what limited space they have.

Deputy head Mohammed Nawaz said the schools had “outgrown” their existing building.

“Our main, and only, hall is used at lunchtime hall, and has little dining facilities,” he said.

“We are in a situation where children have just minutes to eat their meals sitting on the floor.

“Girls and boys eat separately, and they have a few minutes to get their lunch, eat it and then tidy up for the next group to come in.

“The playground is a small open space and there are just too many pupils to fit on the playground. We’ve had to ban any football games or ball games to stop accidents.

“All the children can do is stand in packs, which isn’t conducive to the idea that every child matters.

“How can children be healthy when they have little choice in what they can eat, have to rush their food and have limited access to an outdoor playing area?”

Nearly 240 pupils from Al-Hijrah primary school are being taught at Nansen Road School in Saltley because they can’t be taught at the Bordesley Green site.

It is hoped a number of temporary classrooms installed at the front of the site could ease the crowded conditions.

But planning permission could be rejected after it was found that the cabins were in a “hazardous zone” as they were constructed next to a factory.

But until a decision is made, the cabins remain empty and the pupils are taught in two classrooms which have been partitioned off due to ceiling damage.

“I know the local authority is trying their best to help us bridge the gaps, but there is no money for a new site,” said Mr Nawaz.

‘‘The difficulty we have here is that we are successful and popular school that is not being given access to a bigger building or a bigger city.

‘‘We are city-wide, we didn’t have catchment areas so we could be placed elsewhere.

Birmingham City Council said it was “offering support” to the Al-Hijrah School Trust ‘‘as they seek solutions to their current accommodation issues”.