When planning primary school places in Bradford, the District is split into 26 primary school planning areas. Coop Academy Parkland sits in the Bradford East 1 planning area.
The population growth in Bradford over the last decade increased pressure on primary school places, resulting in a large-scale expansion programme to meet the growth in demand. Due to an increase in demand in the East 1 planning area, Parkland Primary School
increased PAN in reception from 30 to 60 in September 2017. In that year there were 28 children who started in September. This number changed to 39 by the end of the academic year. In September 2018 the reception intake was 29 and increased to 33. In September
2019 there were 29 children who started in reception.
In 2018 there were 420 places available in Bradford East 1 planning area for reception with the total number of places allocated at National Offer Day being 390.
Whilst there are still small areas of population growth, overall across the Bradford District, there is a decrease in the number of younger children registered with the NHS. This has led to a high level of surplus places in some of the primary school planning
areas. Recent information published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that the number of births in 2018 was the lowest recorded both nationally and in Bradford, since 2005. Current health data shows that, as of 2nd September 2019,
there were no more than 407 pupils in any one-year group, with the number dropping to 357 for Year One.
There is also evidence from studies in 2017 and 2018 that significant numbers of children have left the country. Planned building work in the planning area has been slow and improved predictions for numbers show a reduction in places required over the next
five years; therefore, the Trust does not anticipate that the numbers of children requiring school places in the Bradford East 1 planning area will increase significantly in the near future.
Current published forecasts indicate that the number of reception places required for reception for the next four intake years are:
2019/20: 390
2020/21: 380
2021/22: 372
2022/23: 354
2023/24: 354
This means that, if Co-op Academy Parkland reduce their PAN to 30 there will still be enough space for all pupils in the local area. The predictions indicates that there will be 36 spare places by 23/24
The School Admissions Code requires that all admission authorities consult where they propose to reduce a PAN. The Co-op Academies Trust, as the Admission Authority, is therefore seeking representations on the proposed change to the PAN for Co-op Academy
Parkland in the Bradford East 1 planning area.
In accordance with the School Admissions Code (2014), the Co-op Academies Trust is consulting with key stakeholders, including;
- Co-op Academy Parkland – Head/Governing Body/ Staff
- Parents/carers of current pupils and prospective parents of pupils
- All other Admission Authorities within the District
- Schools within the Bradford East One area
- Other local schools
- Neighbouring Local Authorities
- Councillors and MPs
- Trade Unions
- Anyone else who has an interest in the proposed changes
The school will publish the proposal on their website.
This consultation will run for six weeks from 11th November to 23rd December, after which time any representations received will be considered and a decision made on the PAN for Coop Academy Parkland.
Specific Proposal
The Coop Academies Trust proposes to reduce the PAN at Coop Academy Parkland from 60 to 30 from September 2021.
This means that the maximum number of pupils intended to be admitted in Reception in 2020, and all subsequent Reception cohorts, will be 30. For children who already have a place at the school in other year groups there will be no change but the admission
number for all other year groups will reduce to 30 from 2020 onwards.
Factors that have been considered by the Trust when deciding to consult on this proposal include:
- A large portion of funding received by schools is directly related to the number of pupils attending the school. Too many vacancies mean that schools will not receive the maximum possible revenue. Therefore, the Trust is proposing to reduce the number of
available places to enable the school to operate more efficiently and cost effectively.
- The school is located in East 1 planning area where there continues to be a falling demand for primary school places, resulting in a significant surplus across the area. This has meant that the reception class has not filled in the last three years.
- The total number of pupils from reception to Year 6 recorded by the school is 199 and is well below the current PAN of 420.
- Due to the lower numbers of younger children registered with the NHS who will require a school place in the coming years, the Trust expects that there will be sufficient school places available for local children if the PAN is reduced. If agreed, the overall
PAN for the Bradford East 1 planning area will be 390 from 2020.
The Coop Academies Trust believes that reducing the PAN will assist the school to provide stability in their long-term planning and allow them to deliver high quality educational outcomes for the pupils currently on roll. The reduction in PAN will ensure
that an appropriate number of places are provided for future pupils, in line with forecasts.
Any representations should be made on the attached form and forwarded by email to
office@parkland.bradford.sch.uk quoting Co-op Academy Parkland Consultation or posted to Coop Academies Trust Consultation ? Co-op Academy Parkland, Old Park Road, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, BD10 9BG.
Alternatively, the paperwork can be found on the school website
https://parkland.coopacademies.co.uk/