Issue details

The DfE Guidance, published in the School Admissions Code (2021) requires the local authority to agree the school admission arrangements for primary schools and infant/junior transfers (for whom the Local Authority is the admission authority). As well as the co-ordinated schemes for; primary, secondary and in-year for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Due to a drop in birth rates in Bristol and the resulting falling demand for primary places the following proposed changes to the admissions policy documents were proposed:
•Formatting of document for clarity
•Co-ordinated scheme: dates and deadline
•Establishment changes, where schools had converted to become an academy:
oTwo Mile Hill Primary joining The Leaf Trust
oNova Primary joining Trust in Learning Academies (TiLA) (Feb 2025)
•Published Admission Numbers (PAN) reductions:
oAir Balloon Hill Primary from 120 to 90
oBishop Road Primary from 120 to 90
The documents went to public consultation between 18th December 2024 and 31st January 2025, with information sent to all relevant stakeholders as well as being published on the Bristol City Council website and consultation hub. Clarification and suggestions were put forward and will considered for future years.