27/28 Admissions Consultation

 Across Manchester, falling birth rates have led to a reduction in the number of children starting Reception in recent years. In addition, a new two-form entry primary school has also recently opened nearby, increasing the number of school places available in the local area. As a result, there are now surplus primary school places locally and our Reception admissions have been below 60 for the previous two years, with no indication of a significant increase in demand in the near future. This letter provides further details and contact information to support the statutory consultation notice and email circulated to stakeholders. 

As this is the year in which Cheetham Church of England Community Academy, as the admission authority, is required to review its admission arrangements for 2027/28, we have been working with the Local Authority to consider the needs of our school and the wider local community. In line with our commitment to a fair, transparent and compliant admissions process, we are now inviting comments, in accordance with the School Admissions Code, on the following proposal.

Our current Published Admission Number (PAN) is 90, meaning we can admit up to 90 children into Reception each year. The academy therefore proposes to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) for new Reception pupils from 90 to 60, with effect from September 2027.  No other changes to the school’s admission arrangements are proposed as part of this consultation. 

We believe that this proposed change would better reflect actual demand and enable the school to organise staffing, accommodation and resources more effectively. It would also support the school’s financial sustainability during a period of falling birth rates and associated funding pressures, providing a more secure basis for long-term planning and helping to ensure the best possible outcomes for both current and future pupils.

The consultation will run from Monday, 15th December until Tuesday, 27th January 2026 and we warmly welcome your feedback during this period. Your thoughts are very important to us, and all responses will be carefully considered before any final decisions are made.

Thank you for taking the time to engage with this consultation. We value your views and would like to reassure you that our commitment to providing a caring, inclusive environment and high-quality education for every child remains at the heart of everything we do.

Please use the form below to share any comments you may have:

 https://forms.gle/NzV3B4APeVd1F9AdA

Or email consultation@cheetham.manchester.sch.uk by the closing date.