Question re. school expansion

[Belinda]

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[Etienne]

The main thing, as far as I can see, Mystery, is to ensure that any rules relating to determining or varying the PAN are followed.

1.2 Published Admission Number (PAN) - As part of determining their
admission arrangements, all admission authorities must set an admission
number for each relevant age group.
1.3 Own admission authorities are not required to consult on their PAN
where they propose either to increase or keep the same PAN. For a
community or voluntary controlled school, the local authority (as admission
authority) must consult at least the governing body of the school where it
proposes either to increase or keep the same PAN. All admission authorities
must consult in accordance with paragraph 1.42 below where they propose a
decrease to the PAN. Community and voluntary controlled schools have the
right to object to the Schools Adjudicator if the PAN set for them is lower than
they would wish. There is a strong presumption in favour of an increase to the
PAN to which the Schools Adjudicator must have regard when considering
any such objection.
1.4 Admission authorities must notify their local authority of their intention
to increase the school’s PAN and reference to the change should be made on
the school’s website. If, at any time following determination of the PAN, an
admission authority decides that it is able to admit above its PAN, it must
notify the local authority in good time to allow the local authority to deliver its
co-ordination responsibilities effectively. Admission authorities may also admit
above their PAN in-year.
1.5 Any admissions above the PAN as set out in paragraph 1.4 above will
not constitute an increase to the PAN. Information on variations to the PAN
in-year is set out in paragraph 3.6 of this Code.

3.6 Variations - Once admission arrangements have been determined for
a particular academic year, they cannot be revised by the admission authority
unless such revision is necessary to give effect to a mandatory requirement of
this Code, admissions law, a determination of the Adjudicator or any misprint
in the admission arrangements. Admission authorities may propose other
variations where they consider such changes to be necessary in view of a
major change in circumstances. Such proposals must be referred to the
Schools Adjudicator for approval, and the appropriate bodies notified. Where
the local authority is the admission authority for a community or voluntary
controlled school, it must consult the governing body of the school before
making any reference. A variation to increase a school’s PAN is not required
to be referred to the Schools Adjudicator.

3.7 Admission authorities must notify the appropriate bodies of all
variations and must display a copy of the full varied admission arrangements
on their website until they are replaced by different admission arrangements.
Local authorities must display the varied admission arrangements on their
website where an admission authority has raised its PAN.

[mystery]

Thanks Etienne. So if I have read that correctly there is really nothing that a VA school has to do to increase its PAN each year other than let the LA know. And there is no need to consult with anyone either. So the only limiting factors might be planning permission, and whatever restrictions there are on the number of children one can pack into a specific classroom.

What are the controls over how densely you can pack children into a classroom?

[Etienne]

Hi Mystery

I can confirm that the rules about increasing the PAN are more relaxed now, compared with earlier Codes.

Don't ask me about building regulations or 'elf & safety', though ......