Content

Declarations of
interest for this item:
 
None
 
RESOLVED:
 
That Cabinet:
 
1.   
Agreed to consult on the proposed admission arrangements, including
the co-ordinated schemes for admission of children to schools for
the academic year 2027/28.

2.   
Agreed to consult on the proposed fair access protocol which, if
agreed at Cabinet in February 2026, would be come into force from 1
March 2026. 

3.   
Agreed to consult with stakeholders on the proposal to reduce the
PANs at selected primary and secondary schools across the borough.
The list of schools where a reduction is being proposed is provided
in paragraph 6.13 below.

4.   
Noted that following the consultation, a report will be prepared
summarising the representations received and a decision on the
final admission arrangements for 2027/28 will be taken by Cabinet
in February 2026.
 
Reasons for
decision
 
In common with many London authorities,
Haringey has been experiencing a decrease in demand for reception
school places for several years.  The
reasons for Haringey’s declining numbers are multifaceted,
but include a combination of falling birth rates, changes to
welfare benefits, the housing crisis, increases in the cost of
living, the withdrawal of the right of entry and freedom of
movement from EU nationals (Brexit) and as a
result of families leaving London during the Covid-19
pandemic. Many of these factors remain outside the Council’s
control and are at no fault of the schools or their current
leadership.
 
A report on Managing School Places and
Admissions in London published by London Councils in February 2025
provides some wider context and independent analysis of the
issue.
 
While recent focus has largely been on
reducing primary school capacity, forecast demand for secondary
school places is also now declining. Year 7 intake is projected to
fall below the notional capacity of 2,628 places by the end of the
decade. In response, some reductions in secondary capacity have
already been implemented to support the sustainability of the
school estate and ensure provision aligns with projected
demand.
 
From 2026, Year 7 capacity will reduce to
2,544 places, helping to manage surplus provision. This revised
figure reflects permanent reductions at Heartlands High School
(from 240 to 210 in 2025), and planned reductions at Hornsey School
for Girls and Park View in 2026, to 135 and 189 places
respectively. Further reductions may be necessary to maintain a
balanced and efficient secondary school estate.
 
As previously mentioned, several secondary
schools referenced in this report are adjusting their Published
Admission Numbers (PAN) to reflect changes in class size models.
Some are reducing PANs to move from 27 to 30 pupils per class.
These schools have agreed with staff unions to increase class sizes
from 27 to 30 pupils, in line with Department for Education (DfE)
guidance, which recognises 30 as the standard class size in
secondary education. This adjustment supports schools in achieving
greater operational and financial efficiency through more flexible
staffing and improved resource deployment. This approach also
supports schools in aligning their financial and staffing
structures with current and projected pupil numbers, while
continuing to maintain high standards of educational provision.
 
The proposals outlined in this report to
reduce Published Admission Numbers (PAN), including adjustments to
class size models from 27 to 30 pupils per class, are intended to
support schools in planning their staffing and educational
provision more efficiently by aligning capacity with actual and
projected demand. This approach reflects Department for Education
(DfE) guidance, which recognises 30 pupils as the standard class
size in secondary education and enables schools to realise
operational and financial benefits. The consultation process we are
seeking to initiate will gather stakeholder views on these
proposals, with a final decision to be presented to Cabinet in
February 2026.
 
Alternative options
considered
 
We are not proposing any
changes to the oversubscription criteria for community and
voluntary controlled (VC) schools for the 2027/28 academic year.
While the School Admissions Code (2021) allows for various
mechanisms to influence the allocation of places—such as
designated catchment areas, feeder schools, or prioritisation for
children eligible for the early years or pupil premium—no
alternative option is being considered at this
time.
 
Our aim is to support schools in achieving
long-term sustainability and to introduce greater flexibility
across the school estate in response to fluctuating population
demand. Reducing PANs is one of several strategies available to
schools, alongside strengthening partnerships through soft or hard
federations and formal agreements such as memorandums of
understanding.
 
Some neighbouring London boroughs have taken
more radical steps to address surplus capacity, including school
closures and amalgamations. Last year, the Council consulted on the
future of three one-form-entry primary schools and subsequently
approved their closure from 31 August 2025, with pupils
transferring to local schools. These closures do not affect the
consultation or determination of admission arrangements for schools
governed by the local authority.