Primary schools in Birmingham are proposing to cut pupil admissions at Reception Year by over 300 places, it has been announced.
The cuts are largely due to a surplus amount of places available at thirteen primary schools across the city. The plans are set to come into effect during the 2024/25 academic year.
A total of 315 places at receptions in Birmingham will be axed, with another four removed at Year 7 level. The proposals come as Birmingham City Council plan a new admissions scheme for community and voluntary controlled schools.
Leader of the Council Ian Ward has encouraged parents to have their say on the plans. One school, Kings Heath Boys, is set to accept an additional 48 pupils in Year 7, taking its total admissions from 129 to 168. This will be to support the local demand for school places.
Other arrangements outlined in the plans for 2024/25 look at how pupils will be prioritised in the admissions process. Documents claim children will primarily be admitted to schools chosen by their parents, but where this isn’t possible, priority will be given to pupils in this order:
- A child who is looked after or has previously been looked after by the council, or a child who has been adopted from state care outside of England
- Children with a sibling already at the school in question
- Regarding voluntary controlled Church of England schools, children whose parents have applied on denominational grounds
- Children who live nearest the school
Each of the above criteria will be prioritised by the distance between the child’s home and the school measured in a straight line
Priority will also be given to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) – a legal document showing the specific needs of a child or young person. The pupil will be given first access to the school named within their plan.
Admissions at community schools are run by the local authority, which in this case is Birmingham City Council. Voluntary controlled schools are set up by voluntary organisations such as churches or foundations and control their own admissions apart from places in Year 7.
These proposals are still in the consultation stage which will run from January 9 until January 23, 2023. Parents can take a closer look at how the 2024/25 admissions will work and submit feedback via: Birmingham City Council Consultation 2024-2025
The schools included in the admissions cuts are as follows:
1. Benson Community School, Hockley, admissions cut from 60 to 45 (15)
2. Clifton Primary School, Sparkbrook – admissions cut from 120 to 90 (30)
3. Elms Farm Community Primary School, Sheldon - admissions cut from 60 to 45 (15)
4. George Dixon Primary School, Edgbaston – admissions cut from 60 to 30 (30)