More than 400 school places set to go after review

More than 400 school places could be cut across Hampshire under proposed changes to admission policies and catchment areas.

Hampshire County Council's plan to reduce published admission numbers (PANs) at 20 schools for the 2027-28 academic year is currently open to public consultation.

The council said it reflected "falling birth rates nationally," which are now leading to reduced demand for school places.

If approved, the changes would result in a net loss of 411 infant, junior and primary school places, with five new places created elsewhere.

The authority said: "Surplus places can have negative impacts on schools for various reasons, including both financially and educationally.

"The county council continues to monitor these trends closely and has well-established processes to carefully manage surpluses, including by reducing PANs where appropriate."

According to the council, each of the affected schools' governing bodies requested the PAN reductions, presenting financial and educational reasons supported by the council's own pupil forecasts.

The review also includes updates to admission criteria and catchment areas to better reflect local housing growth.

The public consultation is open until 26 December. Final admission arrangements are expected to be published on the county council's website by 15 March.

Proposed admission reductions:

Kings' School, Winchester – from 357 to 300

The Clere School, Basingstoke – from 145 to 100

Cherbourg Primary, Eastleigh – from 53 to 45

Church Crookham Junior, Hart – from 150 to 120

Denmead Junior, Havant – from 75 to 60

Freegrounds Junior, Eastleigh – from 90 to 64

Knights Enham Junior, Test Valley – from 60 to 45

Liss Infant, East Hants – from 60 to 45

Liss Junior, East Hants – from 60 to 45

Lydlynch Infant, New Forest – from 60 to 40

New Milton Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 60

New Milton Junior, New Forest – from 96 to 66

Northern Junior, Fareham – from 60 to 50

Norwood Primary, Eastleigh – from 60 to 30

Ringwood CofE Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 75

Shipton Bellinger Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 17

South Baddesley Primary, New Forest – from 22 to 15

St John the Baptist, Titchfield Common, Fareham – from 60 to 45

Wallop Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 15

Proposed admission increases:

Bishopswood Junior, Basingstoke – from 60 to 62

Sarisbury Junior, Fareham – from 90 to 93

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