Consultation on the Proposal to Reduce Student Numbers at Firs Primary School
Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust is proposing to make a significant change to Firs Primary School, Dreghorn Road, Birmingham B36 8LL, by reducing the number of places offered to EYFS to 30 pupils.
Background
Firs Primary School became part of the Washwood Heath Academy Multi-Academy Trust in May 2018. Washwood Heath Multi-Academy Trust is the Admissions Authority for Firs Primary School. The Trust has a strong community focus and is committed to serving the parents and children of its local area. This includes meeting the demand for pupil places.
Firs Primary School caters for pupils aged 3 to 11. The school is currently a two-form entry school, offering 60 places in each year. In September 2020 it was agreed the school could offer 30 places due to insufficient pupils to fill places based on demand in the local area.
Birmingham City Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children resident in Birmingham, of statutory school age. To achieve this, the council has to keep the number of school places under regular review and to take the appropriate steps to manage the position where necessary. The Academy Trust has developed this proposal in consultation with the Council, with the aim of meeting the needs of families with primary aged pupils in the local area. The proposal will not have a negative impact on other provision within the area.
The Proposal
To make a reduction in the number of schools places offered to EYFS, thus reducing the PAN from 60 to 30 places in September 2023.
Firs Primary School submitted an expression of interest to Birmingham City Council to reduce pupil places due to demand in the local area. Birmingham City Council approved the application in principle.
Admissions Arrangements
The Published Admissions Number for September 2022 is: 60 places.
The Academy has notified the Local Authority that is wishes to reduce the number of school places offered from September 2023 due to the reduction in demand for pupil places within the area. Washwood Heath Multi-Academy Trust are engaged in ongoing discussions with Birmingham Local Authority determining the sufficiency of school places, and the fact that there are growing vacancies in the intake for Firs Primary Academy and the low Reception cohort this year (2022-23). Information gathered from the ‘Surplus Places’ webinar held Thurs 17th November by Birmingham Local Authority the forecasts indicate that the area of Firs Primary Academy is a priority area for the removal of surplus places, and the local authority are in support of the proposal.
The financial impact
The financial impact on the school is best highlighted by calculating part of the General Annual Grant (GAG) funding lost as a result of the 56 vacant places. This is set out in the table below and is calculated using the present AWPU rate of £3,225:
The school’s forecast financial position for the year is set out below. We currently expect the school to overspend by £74k this year and the school does not have reserves from which to fund this overspend:
The Published Admission Number for September 2023 is proposed to be: 30 places.
Objectives
The Academy is passionate about providing a high standard of education for all its students and to the continual development of the Academy provision to achieve this. The proposal will:
- Ensure that the Academy is financially viable in the future
- Enable increased flexibility in the organisation of classes, small groups, and methods of teaching to improve teaching and learning outcomes, whilst balancing the financial implications of lower pupil numbers
- Provide more opportunity for staff to share best practice, which will have a positive impact on pupil’s progress.
School Building Implications
The Academy will work with the local authority to determine the best use of the building, in light of smaller pupil numbers.
Further discussions regarding the provision of a Resource Base will continue and will make use of the additional classrooms that will be vacated due to lower numbers.
Consultation Period
The period of consultation will run from 21 November 2022 until 5pm on 16 December 2022.
Please read this consultation document and tell us what your views are. A consultation response form is available on the Academy website at:
Alternatively, you can write to the Washwood Heath Multi-Academy Trust, in a sealed envelope clearly marked ‘Firs Consultation Response’ on the front. The address is: Washwood Heath Multi-Academy Trust, Burney Lane, Stechford, Birmingham B8 2AS.
Emails should be sent to companysecretary@whmat.academy with the subject ‘Firs Consultation Response’.
A consultation meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 December at 4.00pm at Firs Primary School to discuss any queries you may have and to receive comments on the proposal.
Following consideration of the feedback from the consultation, the Trustees will decide whether to continue with the proposals. If the decision is not to continue, then no further action will be taken. If the decision is to continue with the proposal, then the academy will seek approval from the Secretary of State, through the Regional Director, to make the necessary changes.
