Pupil intake is cut (From Gazette Series)

Pupil intake is cut

PUPIL numbers at Charfield Primary School are to be cut by 25 percent, despite objections from parents and school governors.

Following months of uncertainty, parents learned this week that the intake (the number of new pupils admitted each year) would be cut from 40, which parents had been fighting for, to the 30 suggested by South Gloucestershire Council.

The Independent Schools Adjudicator - an independent body, which decides on school issues and admission arrangements that cannot be dealt with locally - has sided with the council.

It announced that the school would only be able to enrol 30 pupils next September, a reduction of 25 percent on the current intake.

However, in September this year only 21 students enrolled, creating 19 empty spaces.

The decision by the ISA went against the arguments put forward by the school governors, parents and local parish councillors.

According to the ISA's report, the main objections to the lower intake figure were: * The number of pupils admitted each year has varied widely over recent years and might continue to do so, in which case the admission number would be too low to accommodate all the children from the village. * The village forms a very distinct community and all the children from the village should be able to attend the village school. * Travel to a school in a neighbouring village or town would be difficult and it was not clear how places at other schools would be decided.

Charfield parish councillor John Acton told the Gazette: "Although the recent intakes were below 30 we've heard it could go above this figure.

"With a lower intake figure there was the possibility that our children would not be able to go to the school and have to be bussed to other schools in the area.

"This seemed silly when the buildings at the school are sufficient for the higher intake figure."

Council spokeswoman Sarah Hudspith said: "Each year the local authority has a legal responsibility to set admission numbers for schools in its area.

"This number is intended to meet the needs of local children wishing to come to each school based on how many live in the area, while ensuring that there are not too many surplus places.

"For September 2006, the council set an admission number of 30 for Charfield Primary School.

"The school governors disagreed with this figure and exercised their right to refer the issue to the Independent Schools Adjudicator for review and a final decision.

"The adjudicator ruled in favour of the council."

No-one from the school was available for comment this week.

Copies of the adjudicator's decision can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator at www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk or by calling 0870 001 2468.