PAN Consultation
Proposed reduction in the Published Admission Number (PAN) from 45 to 30 for Gateway Primary Academy with effect from September 2024.
Background
The current PAN for Gateway Academy is 45, which means no more than 45 children can be admitted into Reception each year. Currently admissions are below PAN and figures from Blackpool Council show that the birth rate for future years is reducing significantly.
As a result, Fylde Coast Academy Trust and Gateway Academy are seeking to consult and reduce the PAN from 45 to 30. This reduction in PAN will not affect the ethos, values and success of Gateway Academy. Reducing the PAN will assist the school and the Trust to provide stability in its long-term planning and allow the school to continue to secure high quality education for the pupils currently on roll, whilst continuing to provide an appropriate number of places for future pupils in line with local demand.
Be assured that Fylde Coast Academy Trust will continue to review local demand and if there is a lack of school places in the future, increasing the PAN back to 45 may be considered.
Impact
The proposal means that the number of places available for children in Reception in 2024, and all subsequent Reception cohorts will be 30. This change will have no effect on children already attending Gateway Academy.
Factors that have been considered by Fylde Coast Academy Trust, in consultation with the Local Academy Council and Blackpool Council Admissions team, are:
- The continued ability of Gateway Academy to provide sufficient places for local children
- The provision of the most appropriate learning environment for all pupils, thus facilitating continuing school improvement
- Future resource planning and management.
How to respond
This consultation will run from Monday 7th November 2022 until Friday 16th December 2022.
You are invited to submit comments in writing about the proposal either by:
Email – ciara.gregson@fcat.org.uk
Post – FAO Ciara Gregson, Fylde Coast Academy Trust, Mereside Primary Academy, Langdale Road, Blackpool, FY4 4RR.
Following the consultation period, Fylde Coast Academy Trust, in consultation with the Local Academy Council will consider any comments received and how to proceed. Admission arrangements for September 2024 will be determined by 28th February 2023.
