Decision details

Proposed decision

To determine the primary and secondary school co-ordinated admissions schemes for 2027 intake year and the admission arrangements for Kent community and voluntary controlled primary schools and the admission arrangements for Kent community and voluntary controlled secondary schools for 2027 intake year.

Reason for the decision

Admission authorities are legally required to determine admissions arrangements for their schools each year. It is intended that admissions arrangements for schools where KCC is the admissions authority are to remain broadly unchanged. It is proposed, however, to make changes to the Published Admissions Number of the following schools, which are proposed as a result of reduced forecasted demand in the locality around the school:

·         Broadwater Down Primary School – reduce PAN from 30 to 15

·         Eastry Church of England Primary School – reduce PAN from 30 to 15

·         Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School – reduce PAN from 20 to 15

·         Hythe Bay CofE Primary School – reduce PAN from 45 to 30

·         St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Aylesford – increase PAN from 24 to 30

·         St Saviour’s Church of England Junior School – reduce PAN from 96 to 64

Each consultation ran between 17 November 2025 and 2 January 2026.

Local Authorities are also required to consult with all schools within their geographical boundaries on an Admissions Scheme, which details how the co-ordinated and in year admissions processes will operate for the forthcoming year. This consultation ran between 25 November 2025 and 9 January 2026. 

Following the completion of all consultations, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills is requested to approve the proposed admission arrangements and scheme.

Financial Implications

Following the outcomes of the consultation there may be changes to school provision in identified areas in order to fulfil the intent of the admissions schemes and arrangements.  Where these costs result in additional capital costs these will be funded from either the School’s own resources or, in the case of the delivery of additional basic need places, potentially from the Council’s Schools Basic Need Programme. Additional costs to the Council will be considered through the appropriate governance route. Related administration functions are fully funded from the Central Services for Schools Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and not a cost to the General Fund.     

Legal Implications  

Section 13A of the Education Act 1996 states every admission authority must, before the beginning of each school year determine the admission arrangements which are to apply for that year 7. Local authorities are required by Section 92 of the School Standards and Framework Act and the Education (School Information) (England) Regulations 2008 to publish admission arrangements for all maintained schools in their area. Under section 88(1A) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (as inserted by section 42 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006) it is the duty of a governing body of a community or voluntary controlled school, for which a local authority is the admissions authority, to implement any decision relating to the admission of pupils taken by the admission authority. Similarly, under section 89(3A) of the 1998 Act and regulations, the governing body of a voluntary aided or foundation school must implement a decision of the local authority, made under the relevant co-ordinated admission arrangements, whether a child should be granted or refused admission to the school.  Failure to do so would amount to a breach of the admission authority’s statutory duty.     

As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to:

a)    The Coordinated Primary Admissions Scheme 2027/28 incorporating the In Year admissions process as detailed in Appendix A

b)    The Co-ordinated Secondary Admissions Scheme 2027/28 incorporating the In Year admissions process and Kent Test process as detailed in Appendix B

c)    The oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools in Kent 2027/28 as detailed in Appendix C

d)    The oversubscription criteria relating to Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary Schools in Kent 2027/28 as detailed in Appendix D

e)    The Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2027/28 as set out in Appendix C

f)     The Published Admissions Number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Secondary Schools 2027/28 as set out in Appendix D

g)    The relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Infant, Junior and Primary Schools 2027/28 as detailed in Appendix A and the relevant statutory consultation areas for Kent Secondary Schools 2027/28 as set out in Appendix B