Decision details

Minute No.44/23 of Cabinet held on 15 March 2023 approved publication of statutory proposals for Cape Primary School and Uplands Manor Primary School to reduce the PAN at each school by a form of entry.
Following the Cabinet decision, the statutory proposals were published for each school and a six-week representation period closed on 5 May 2023.
The proposal is to reduce the PAN for each school by 30 places with Cape Primary School operating at a PAN of 60 places, and Uplands Manor Primary School at 90 places.
No representations were received in response to the publications.
The schools have requested the reduction in PAN is introduced from September 2023. The status of both schools is community maintained. Minute No.6/22 of Cabinet at its meeting on 12 January 2022 determined the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2023/24. Advice from the Office of the Regional Schools Commissioner is that where the Local Authority has already determined its admission arrangements for a particular school and then proposes to reduce the PAN post decision, the Schools Adjudicator must be requested to make a final decision on the proposal. The Local Authority must follow the statutory process for a prescribed alteration before requesting the Schools Adjudicator to make a final decision.
Both schools approached the Authority to pursue a reduction in their respective PAN. Initial consultation and now a formal statutory proposal has been published, with no representations received. The Director is recommended to approve the recommendations within this report to enable a referral to the Schools Adjudicator

In accordance with Cabinet Minute No. 44/23, resolution 1(2), and following completion of the statutory consultation period, the Director - Children and Education approves:-
i) the proposed prescribed alteration to reduce the Pupil Admission Numbers for both Cape Primary School and Uplands Manor Primary School by a form of entry, and
ii) a request to the Schools Adjudicator to make a final decision on the proposals.

Minute No. 44/23 of Cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director – Children and Education to publish the appropriate statutory proposals for Cape Primary School, Cape Hill, Durban Road, Smethwick, B66 4SH and Uplands Manor Primary School, Addenbrooke Road, Smethwick, B67 6HT, to reduce the published admission number (PAN) by a form of entry for each school.
The final decision on the proposal was also delegated to the Director following completion of the statutory consultation period.
As the Authority has already determined its admission arrangements for those maintained schools for 2023/24 academic year, a request to the School Adjudicator to make a final decision on the proposals is required.
Following completion of the statutory consultation period the Authority is now in a position to make a final decision.

As reported to Cabinet on 15 March 2023, to do nothing is not an option. To leave both schools with the higher PAN is not financially viable.
Following National Offer Day and the allocation of Reception places for September 2023, Cape Primary School had 46 offers allocated, and Uplands Manor Primary School had 72. As at 16 May 2023 no new or late applications have been received for Reception places at either school.