Another Bradford District school will reduce the number of reception children it takes due to birth rates “falling significantly.”
Long Lee Primary School will reduce its “pupil admission number” – the number of children it takes on in reception each year, from 45 to 30 from September 2027.
It comes after plummeting birth rates in the District have led to 850 primary spaces being removed from District schools since 2021.
A consultation on the Long Lee PAN was held late last year, and the reduced number was approved by Bradford Council’s Executive at its last meeting.
A report to members said: “Birth rates have fallen significantly in recent years nationally, which has meant fewer Reception places are required.
“Consequently, from 2021 through to 2026, more than 850 Reception places have been or will be removed through PAN reductions.”
Funding received by schools is related to the number of pupils attending them. Unfilled school spaces can mean that a school does not receive the maximum revenue, which can lead to the school facing financial difficulty.
Recent figures show that there were 1,000 fewer births in Bradford in 2023 than there were in 2015 – meaning fewer children are approaching reception age.
Last year changes were approved that would see All Saints’ C of E Primary School in Ilkley, Ley Top Primary School in Allerton and St Matthew’s C of E Primary School in South Bradford taking on fewer reception children from this September.
Referring to the plans for Long Lee Primary, the report says: “The consultation includes a proposed reduction in PAN from 45 to 30 for Long Lee Primary School, which the school supports due to falling rolls and to enable them to optimise their budget moving forward.”
There had been one response to the consultation from a parent who said: “As an inquisitive resident of the Bradford District, one can’t help but think this consultation isn’t solely about birth rates, but the appalling financial situation of the Labour run council.
“I’d be very keen to know how much of this decision will be based on funding.
“I realise that funding is allocated according the admissions, however, I can’t help but wonder if this consultation would be taking place were the council run better than it currently is, and has been for some time.”
A response from the Council said: “The financial consideration of running classes with too many vacancies is at the heart of the proposal to reduce PAN.
“However, schools are funded by central government, rather than local government, so the Council’s financial situation has no bearing on this proposal.”
