Consultation on the Reduction of Pupil Admissions at
East Ardsley Primary Academy and Westerton Primary Academy 2026/2027
In accordance with the School Admissions Code, Leodis Academies Trust is undertaking a consultation to seek the views of the stakeholders of both East Ardsley Primary Academy and Westerton Primary Academy about:
- Reducing the published admission numbers (PAN) at East Ardsley Primary Academy from 60 to 45 effective from 1st September 2026.
- Reducing the published admission numbers (PAN) at Westerton Primary Academy from 90 to 60 effective from 1st September 2026.
This consultation will run for six weeks from Wednesday 11 December 2024 and Wednesday 22 January 2025, after which time any representations received will be considered by the Trust Board of Leodis Academies Trust.
They will approve the 2026/27 Admissions Policy for both East Ardsley Primary Academy and Westerton Primary Academy no later than Friday 28 February 2025.
The Trust has updated its Admissions Policy 2026/27 (for each Academy) to reflect this change which can be found here:
- EAPA Admissions Policy 2026-27 Draft for Consultation
- WPA Admissions Policy 2026-27 Draft for Consultation
Background
Leodis Academies Trust is the admissions authority for both East Ardsley Primary Academy and Westerton Primary Academy:
- The current Published Admission Number (PAN) at East Ardsley Primary is 60.
- The current Published Admission Number (PAN) at Westerton Primary Academy is 90.
- This means that the number of children admitted each year is a maximum of 60 a East Ardsley and 90 at Westerton (excluding any additional admissions due to appeals for each academy).
The Local Authority’s projections are that the population in the Leodis Academies Trust area will decrease over the next few years. Working with Sufficiency and Planning at the Local Authority, we are consulting on:
- A PAN decrease of 30 pupils per year for the Trust by bringing year groups at Westerton Primary Academy to 60.
- A PAN decrease of 15 pupils per year for the Trust by bringing year groups at East Ardsley Academy to 45.
Leodis Academies Trust believes that reducing the PAN will assist not only East Ardsley and Westerton, but all schools in the Trust academy to provide stability in long-term planning and allow them to deliver high quality educational outcomes for the pupils currently on our roll.
The reduction in PAN will ensure that an appropriate number of places are provided for future pupils, in line with forecasts of a decline in birth rates in the local area.
Specific Proposal
What will change:
Leodis Academies Trust proposes to:
- Reduce the PAN at Westerton Primary Academy from 90 to 60 with effect from September 2026. This means that the maximum number of pupils intended to be admitted in Reception in 2026 will be 60.
-
Reduce the PAN at East Ardsley Primary Academy from 60 to 45 with effect from September 2026. This means that the maximum number of pupils intended to be admitted in Reception in 2026 will be 45.
What will not change:
With the reduction of published admission numbers to 45 (East Ardsley), 60 (Westerton), and it is important to state that some things will not change. From a pupil’s or parent’s perspective, there will be:
- No material change to the admissions criteria caused by the reduced published admission numbers.
- No change to the curriculum of the school, caused by the reduced published admission numbers.
- No change to leadership.
- No change to school hours or term times.
- East Ardsley Primary and Academy and Westerton Primary Academy will continue as part of Leodis Academies Trust .
Who will be affected?
- Parent/carers.
- Staff.
- The local community.
- Local authority.
- Other local schools.
Consultation
We wish to invite interested parties to take part in this consultation on the proposal. The consultation will take place for six weeks between Wednesday 11 December 2024 and Wednesday 22 January 2025.
There is one element to the consultation for East Ardsley Primary Academy:
- Reducing the published admission numbers (PAN) at East Ardsley Primary Academy from 60 to 45.
There is one element to the consultation for Westerton Primary Academy:
- Reducing the published admission numbers (PAN) at Westerton Primary Academy from 90 to 60.
All responses received by the end of the consultation period will be carefully considered by the Trust Board of Leodis Academies Trust.
We invite you, therefore, to take part in this consultation. Comments may be submitted in the following ways by Wednesday 22 January 2025:
- By email to: info@leodis.org.uk
- By completing an online response form:
- In writing via post to: Katy Stringer, COO, Leodis Academies Trust, c/o Blackgates Primary Academy, Smithy Lane, Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF3 1QQ
Paper copies of the consultation and response form are available from the East Ardsley Primary Academy and Westerton Primary Academy reception.
What happens next?
Following the end of the consultation period we will provide an update on our website.
