Consultation on admission arrangements and co-ordinated admission schemes 2025-26

Overview

What is Southwark Council consulting on?

• The proposed reductions in the Published Admission Numbers [“PAN”] at two Southwark community primary schools for September 2025 intake onwards (see section 1)
• Southwark Council’s proposed admission arrangements 2025-26 for community primary schools in the borough (see section 2)
• Southwark Council’s proposed co-ordinated schemes for admission of children to Reception, Junior, Year 7 and Year 10 (see section 3)
• Southwark Council’s ‘relevant area’ (see section 4)

1. Proposed reductions in the Published Admission Numbers [“PAN”] at Southwark community primary schools for September 2025 intake onwards

We are seeking your views on the proposed reductions to the PAN at the following schools:

• Grange Primary School from 60 to 30 places
• Bessemer Grange Primary School from 90 to 60 places

The proposal to reduce the PANs by 30 reception places each is to more closely match demand for places at each school and also ensures their organisational and financial viability for the future.

This is in line with our Cabinet approved “Keeping Education Strong” programme of right-sizing our provision to match long term demand in schools.

A full list of the proposed PANs at all primary schools in Southwark for the September 2025 intake can be viewed at Document B with the proposed changes highlighted in yellow.

2. Southwark Council’s proposed admission arrangements 2025-26 for community primary schools in the borough

There are no changes to Southwark Council’s proposed admission arrangements 2025-26, which can be viewed at Document A .

3. Southwark Council’s proposed co-ordinated schemes for admission of children to Reception, Junior, Year 7 and Year 10

There are no changes to Southwark Council’s proposed co-ordinated schemes for admission of children to Reception, Junior, Year 7 and Year 10. The proposed schemes can be viewed at Documents D, E, F and G.

4. Southwark Council's 'relevant area'

All local authorities must establish a ‘relevant area’ for admission policy consultation and review this every two years.  It is proposed that Southwark’s ‘relevant area’ remains the same as the administrative area for the Council. This will provide the most efficient and effective way of fulfilling the statutory requirements for co-ordinated planned admissions and school place planning.

Your views and comments

We would welcome your comments and views by no later than 1.00 pm on Thursday 25 January 2024.

Any comments on the proposals should be sent by: 

• completing our online survey below; or 
• email to schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk under the title ‘Response to admissions consultation '2025-26’

What Happens Next?

We will collate and consider all the responses that we receive to this consultation before finalising our admission arrangements and co-ordinated admission schemes.

We will publish Southwark’s determined admission arrangements on our website by 28 February 2024, which will then be implemented for the September 2025 entry.