Decision details

Following the outcome of the consultation agreed at the October 2024 meeting, the Lead Member is asked to determine the admission arrangements for 2026-27 for schools for which East Sussex County Council is the admission authority.

45.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children's Services.

DECISIONS

45.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) approve the proposed admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools for the 2026-27 academic year as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

2) approve the proposed published admission numbers (PANs) for Community and Voluntary Community schools for 2026-27 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, specifically the proposed PAN reductions at Motcombe Infant school and Wadhurst CE Primary School, but not Pashley Down Infant School; and

3) approve the proposed co-ordinated schemes of admissions as set out in Appendices 3-6 of the report.

REASONS

45.3     The School Admissions Code 2021 (‘the Code’) states that admission authorities must determine (set) their admission arrangements annually.

45.4     Forecasts show that reduced PANs at Motcombe and Pashley Down Infant Schools, and Wadhurst CE Primary School will be sufficient to meet in area demand for the foreseeable future.

45.5     The headteacher and governing body of Pashley Down Primary School requested a reduction in PAN to reflect the falling numbers of primary school aged children in their local areas, however, the headteacher and governing body of Pashley Down Infant School have since withdrawn their request to reduce the PAN and have advised that they would like to retain the PAN of 90 for 2026-27.

45.6     The determined admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Community schools in 2026-27 will be published on the East Sussex County Council website by 15 March 2025 as required under current legislation. Any objection to these arrangements can then be made to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator until 15 May 2025. The final arrangements will be published in the composite prospectus online (and available in hard copy on demand) by 12 September 2025 as required by the School Admissions Code 2021.