Plans to cut pupil admission numbers in Wrexham consultation

The plans to consult the reduction in pupil numbers at Acton CP, Wats Dyke CP and Barkers Lane CP were approved by Wrexham Council's Executive Board on Tuesday (November 12). 

The consultation is set to take place between November 25, 2024 and January 17, 2025, with requirements for it to take place for at least 42 days, with at least 20 of these days being school days.

Cllr Phil Wynn Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, stated that it was not yet a done deal, merely a consultation, acting on the wishes of the three schools involved. 

He added that none of the schools were anywhere near their current admission numbers and they all felt there is a "clear need" to reduce them. 

In May of this year, the local authority wrote to all schools in Wrexham to ask if they would be interested in reducing their Published Admission Number (PAN).

Only three responded with interest, and are the three included in the proposed consultation. 

The council say there is currently 20.9% surplus capacity in Wrexham primary schools and 12.2% surplus capacity in Wrexham secondary schools, according to Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC) data 2024.

With pupil numbers across Wrexham projected to decrease overall in the coming years, the proportion of surplus places across the county will continue to increase, according to a council report. 

The proposed changes would see admission numbers drop from 60 to 30 at Acton CP and from 45 to 30 at Barkers Lane and Wat's Dyke. 

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The council say the reduction in numbers would assist in addressing the issue of reducing pupil numbers at the schools concerned, reducing the council's overall surplus capacity in Wrexham’s primary schools, providing an appropriate solution to meet local demand for school places in the areas where the schools are located and improving standards of education and in the longer term be to the benefit of all pupils in the area.

Cllr Stella Matthews queried whether future housing developments were taken into account ahead of the proposal, stating that a major development could change the picture "quickly". 

To which Cllr Wynn said: "That is in the mix when schools are considering these issues. Some schools will have to increase PAN numbers in the future.

"To my knowledge, there’s no significant houses being built in the Acton area."

A report will be presented to the Executive Board in April next year, revealing the findings of the consultation.