Consultation on proposed admission arrangements 2027/28, for Barnet community schools

Background

All schools must have admission arrangements that clearly set out:

• how many children will be admitted into the school, known as the ‘Published Admission Number (PAN)
• the oversubscription criteria to be used to decide the order of priority, if there are more applications than places available.

The admission authority for the school must determine the admission arrangements annually, even if there are no changes. Where changes are being proposed, the admission authority is required to carry out a formal consultation.

Barnet Council is the admissions authority for 37 community primary schools in Barnet. There are no proposed changes to the oversubscription criteria for Barnet community schools. However, the governing bodies for Garden Suburb Infant and Junior Schools have asked the council to consult on a proposed reduction to their School’s Published Admission Number (PAN), as laid out below:

• Garden Suburb Infant School - from 90 to 60 places
• Garden Suburb Junior School - from 90 to 60 places.

What we are proposing

Garden Suburb Infant is the main feeder school for Garden Suburb Junior School. The infant school has seen a decrease in the demand for school places and have been undersubscribed for several consecutive years. The reduced number of children in the infant cohort will be moving up to the junior school from the academic year 2027/28. We are therefore proposing a reduction in the PAN for these schools, to reflect the anticipated lower demand which has already been observed in the link infant school.

This request is supported by the changing population trends in the borough. Barnet’s primary school forecast indicates a continuation of falling demand for places across schools in the area where these schools are situated. The demand is expected to continue to fall through to the end of the decade. The projections also show that there will be sufficient places for local children even if the PANs for Garden Suburb Infant / Junior Schools are reduced, as proposed. However, if demand for places unexpectedly increases in the future, the admission numbers will be reviewed, and existing capacity will be reutilised without the need for a formal consultation. No other changes to the admission arrangements for community schools are being proposed for 2027/28.

How to have your say

We want to hear from all our residents as our schools service the community and have an influence on the surrounding areas. We are also keen to hear from voluntary and community groups.

This consultation is an opportunity for you to give your views and contribute to the decision-making process of the council.

Complete our online questionnaire

We are keen to hear your views on our proposals and encourage you to have your say by completing our online questionnaire

If you would like to request a paper questionnaire or another format, please:

• email nick.burr@barnet.gov.uk or telephone 020 8359 7288

If you would like someone to help you complete the questionnaire or need more information, please contact us using one of the above methods

What happens after the consultation closes?

When the consultation closes, your views will be shared with the schools' governors who will take them into account and decide whether they wish the council to consider the next steps towards the reduction of the PAN.

Consultation Regulations

In accordance with the School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2012, admission authorities (in this case London Borough of Barnet) are required to consult on any proposed changes to admission arrangements. A consultation on arrangements for the year 2027/28 must run for a period of six consecutive weeks between 8 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.

Document library

Contact

Ferzana Arif
Admissions Team Manager & School Place Planner
Telephone: 020 8359 3151
Email: Ferzana.arif@barnet.gov.uk