Admissions Policy Consultation
As a foundation school, the governors of Fir Ends School are the admissions authority.
Schools are required under the School Admissions Code 2021 to review their admissions policies annually and to consult on admission arrangements from time to time. The code requires consultation in the following circumstances:
- When changes are proposed to admission arrangements, all admission authorities must consult on their admission arrangements (including any supplementary information form) that will apply for admission applications the following school year.
- Where the admission arrangements have not changed from the previous year there is no requirement to consult, subject to the requirement that admission authorities must consult on their admission arrangements at least once every 7 years, even if there have been no changes during that period.
To provide comment or response to any of the documents or information here, please email clerk@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk
CONSULTATION ON ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2027/28
FIR ENDS PRIMARY SCHOOL
Admissions Arrangement Consultation for Admission Year 2027-2028
Fir Ends School is a foundation school, managed by the Governors of Fir Ends School, who are also its Admissions Authority.
As the Admissions Authority, we are required under the School Admissions Code 2021 to review our admissions policies annually and to consult on our arrangements from time to time, and where any changes are proposed.
Proposed changes to the 2027 – 2028 Admissions Policy
Fir Ends School is consulting on a proposal to make the following changes:
- To reduce the school’s published admission number (PAN) to 12 from September 2027.
- Minor changes to the oversubscription criteria, to include giving priority for children from out of the school catchment who attend our nursery provision.
- Alongside these changes, the wording of policy has been updated to reflect the content of the latest Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme and School Admission Arrangements for Cumberland, including details regarding delayed, deferred and out of year admission for clarity of application and ease of reference.
Context for change to PAN
The proposed change to PAN reflects consecutive years in which Fir Ends’ Reception intakes have been significantly below the current PAN of 15 and forecasts for future rolls found in the latest Cumberland School Organisation Plan.
Reducing the PAN to 12 will retain adequate capacity to accept additional pupils in current and future cohorts whilst enabling the school to structure its curriculum, staffing and classes in a strategic and sustainable way.
Please find the full proposed policy and admissions arrangements below or download it here.
The consultation offers our community an opportunity to offer input or insights to future admission arrangements. If you wish to comment on the policy, please email clerk@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk
This consultation will run from 15th December 2025 to 26th January 2026 and any comments or questions relating to the policy must be received by 26th January 2026.
The Governing Body will meet soon after the closure of the admissions consultation to consider any comments and the adoption of the proposed policy. The final copy will be published by 28th February 2026 and apply to applications for admission to Fir Ends in September 2027.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Daryl Spencer
Headteacher
