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Reduction to Published Admission Number for academy school

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:59 am
by legaraal
Does anyone have any advice re the following.

I have a 6 year old son currently in Year 2. I put an application in last December (all on time and correct) for his junior school place and our first choice school was our local C of E primary school which converted to academy status in Dec 2012. At the time, its PAN was 60. Its PAN is still 60 according to its website. The LEA tells me that as far as the LEA is concerned, its PAN is still 60, although the LEA say they are "aware" that it is intending to seek to reduce its PAN to 30. The school is now verbally telling parents who have applications in for Sept 2013 year 3 entry, that it will only be taking in 30 children.

Is this lawful? As an academy, isn't it subject to the same rules as other non academy schools, i.e. it cannot reduce its PAN without going through some kind of consultation procedure, presumably involving consulting people like me who are parents of prospective pupils? (We haven't been consulted at all, we have only heard this via other parents)

From the figures which the LEA have given to me about applications to this school, it is oversubscribed if the number to be admitted is 30, but not oversubscribed if the PAN stays at 60.

Any advice much appreciated.

Re: Reduction to Published Admission Number for academy scho

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:59 am
by Okanagan
From the 2012 School Admissions Code:

"Academies, by which we mean Academy Schools, (including those that are Free Schools), University Technical Colleges and Studio Schools, are state-funded, non fee-paying independent schools set up under a Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State and the proprietor of an Academy (most commonly, and hereafter, referred to as an Academy Trust). Academies are required by their funding agreements to comply with the Code and the law relating to admissions, though the Secretary of State has the power to vary this requirement where there is demonstrable need."

and

"Admission authorities must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually. Where changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the admission authority must first publicly consult on those arrangements. If no changes are made to admission arrangements, they must be consulted on at least every 7 years. Consultation must be for a minimum of 8 weeks and must take place between 1 November and 1 March of the year before those arrangements are to apply. For example: for arrangements which are to apply to applications in 2012 (entry in September 2013), consultation must be completed by 1 March 2012. This consultation period allows parents, other schools, religious authorities and the local community to raise any concerns about proposed admission arrangements."

So unless there are exceptional circumstances (a change in physical capacity due to fire might come into this category for example) they can't just change the number without consulting on it.

Re: Reduction to Published Admission Number for academy scho

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:01 pm
by legaraal
Thank you Okanagan, I thought that must be the case, but I appreciate having "chapter and verse" on it!