The Governors at Holy Trinity Primary School made a Variation of Number request to the Office of Schools Adjudicator for September 2026. On 2 December 2025 this was granted. Our published number for September 2026 is now 30, and will be for 2027/28 as well. We believe this will allow us to focus on giving each of our students the best education in an enriched learning environment with first-class teaching.
What is the Published Admission Number (PAN)?
The Published Admission Number (PAN) is the maximum number of children the school intends to admit into a specific year group (usually the normal point of entry, such as Reception). This number is determined as part of our annual admission arrangements. We have moved from 60 to 30.
Why did the school vary its admission number?
As there are widely documented falling rolls across the area, we have chosen to take pre-emptive action rather than “reactive” action. The decision aims to balance the needs of the school with the demand for places in the local area. In all of this, the needs of the children at Holy Trinity are our first priority.
Has this variation been approved by the local authority/Department for Education?
The school followed a formal process to vary admission arrangements, which involved approval by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA). The school sought the support of Richmond Borough Council for this change and notified other admission authorities in the area.
How does this change affect current pupils?
The variation in admission numbers primarily affects new admissions for the specified intake year, September 2026. We do not foresee this making a negative impact on the enrolment or class placement of pupils already attending the school, though it may influence the overall school population in the long term.
Will the class sizes change?
For infant classes (Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 in England), there is a legal maximum of 30 pupils per single teacher. This limit is a key consideration in determining the PAN. While the school aims to maintain manageable class sizes across all year groups, only infant class sizes are capped by law.
How will this change affect the school’s funding or resources?
School funding is linked to the number of pupils on roll. A decrease in pupil numbers may influence funding, but the school is committed to managing its resources effectively to maintain a high standard of education. If the school is required to admit a number of pupils over its capacity, the local authority may provide additional resources or funding to support this.
