We are seeking your views on the proposal to reduce the pupil admission number (PAN) at Beckfoot Nessfield from 60 to 45. This will reduce the total capacity on roll from 420 to 315 (Reception to Year 6). This would mean that from September 2023, and all subsequent Reception cohorts, the maximum number of pupils admitted into Reception will be 45. For cohorts, and individual children, already in school there will be no change. 

This proposal is made in recognition of a fall in pupil numbers in the Keighley 2 planning district, in which the school is situated, as well as the wider Bradford District. There has been a decrease in the number of younger children registered with the NHS meaning the Local Authority published forecasts for numbers of Reception places needed in Keighley 2 over the next five years have dramatically declined. Currently, in Keighley 2 there are 445 Reception places across 11 schools with an actual intake of 384 as of July 2021. This intake is predicted to fall to 308 by 2025/6. Beckfoot Nessfield currently carries a third of these surplus places.

The school is currently operating on a 45 PAN model up to Year 4 with mixed age group cases in Years 1 and 2 and Years 3 and 4. The current pupil numbers in school and the need to ensure the school is economically viable, means the decision has been made to have a mixed age class in Year 5 and 6 from September 2022. In order to finalise this model the school is therefore consulting to move from a 60 to a 45 PAN.

The purpose of the consultation is therefore to gain your views and comments on the proposal to change the PAN from 60 to 45, as part of the overall consultation prior to any decision being made. Letters of consultation will be sent to all local schools, parents/carers, local community, local authority and all other stakeholders.

The consultation period will run from Monday 29th November 2021 to Monday 24^th January 2022. After which we submit your responses along with a business case to the Department for Education who will make a decision on the reduction in PAN.

There will be a consultation evening at school where you will have the opportunity to share your views and discuss the proposals on Tuesday 7th December 2021 starting at 5.00pm.

Any comments or suggestions on the proposal can be made by emailing panconsultation@beckfootnessfield.org

Finally, we hope that you will be able to support us with this change. It is an important development and it will help us to realise our ambition to create a remarkable school for our community to be proud of.

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