Pupil admission numbers at nine York primary schools could be cut ahead of a forecast decline in the city’s birth rates.
Five primary schools maintained by City of York Council and four run by academy trusts would see their published admission numbers reduce under proposals for the 2026-7 academic year.
A report on the plans says this will help schools which are under-subscribed organise classes more efficiently amid financial pressure.
The plans were drawn up after a consultation with the affected schools and others between October and November.
Published admission numbers (PAN) are the maximum number of children that a school intends to admit in their years of entry, reception, year one and year three in infant, junior and primary schools.
The proposals have taken forecast birth rates and current trends in pupils numbers into account.
They also factor in any anticipated increases in pupil numbers from housing developments currently being built or set for construction in the near future.
The plans will be decided at next Tuesday’s decision session of the executive member for education.
Those downsizing
Under the proposals which would take effect from September next year, Clifton Green Primary School would see its PAN cut from 60 to 45 pupils.
Copmanthorpe Primary School would have its PAN halved from the current 60 to 30.
The council’s report stated that both schools have been significantly undersubscribed in recent years.
The number of pupils starting reception is forecast to be 40 at Clifton Green and 26 at Copmanthorpe from September 2027.
A total of 45 and 34 respectively were on roll at the schools at the start of 2024.
Haxby’s Ralph Butterfield Primary School would see its anticipated number of admissions fall from 50 to 45 pupils.
Forecasts put the number of pupils starting reception at the school at 31 from the start of the 2027-8 academic year, down from the 41 on roll in January 2024.
The PAN at St Barnabas’ CE Primary School, in Leeman Road, would be halved from 30 to 15 pupils after filling less than half of its places in recent years.
The number of pupils on roll in reception was 17 at the start of last year and the total is expected to fall to 10 by September 2027.
Westfield Primary Community School’s PAN would be reduced from 80 to 60 under the proposals.
It comes as the Acomb school is forecast to take 48 pupils into reception in September 2027, down from the 67 on roll as of 2024.
Hob Moor Community Primary Academy would see its PAN cut from 45 to 30 pupils under proposals lodged by the Ebor Academy Trust responsible for setting it.
A total of 30 reception pupils were on roll at the start of 2024 but forecasts predict that the number of those starting will fall to 26 by 2027.
Huntington Primary Academy’s PAN would be reduced from 60 to 45 pupils under plans from its trust.
The Pathfinder Trust’s proposals come as forecasts put the number of pupils starting reception from September 2027 at 37, compared to the 52 on roll last year.
Holgate’s Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School, run by the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, would have its PAN lowered from 60 to 45 pupils from September 2026.
St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School, which is also run by the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, would have its PAN reduced from 40 to 30.
The number of pupils currently on roll in reception at the schools in January 2024 was 42 and 22 respectively.
Forecasts for future reception intake at both schools was unavailable.