What is the Admissions Consultation?

We are consulting to reduce the current published admission number (PAN) for both Raleigh Infant Academy and Admirals Junior Academy from 90 to 60. The PAN was originally set at 90 to reflect planned growth in housing to the north of Thetford, however the level of growth has not been realised, and the intake is typically around between 40 and 60. Further to this there is a national decline in birth rate, which means that there are fewer children requiring school places. Reducing the PAN would aid our longer-term strategic planning for both academies.

We do not intend to amend the existing admission arrangements for Raleigh and Admirals Academy other than the Published Admission Number and will continue to work closely with Norfolk LA and other local admissions authorities to ensure that there are sufficient pupil places in Thetford should the need arise.

The admission arrangements outline:

• how our academies will manage applications for Reception, Year 3 (Eastgate and Admirals) and Year 7 (KLA). This is known as “the schemes of coordination”;
• the admission numbers for schools within Eastern Multi Academy Trust, often referred to as the PAN or Published Admissions Number, which relates to the number of places each academy will offer
• how academies decide which pupils obtain priority for school places. This is known as “the oversubscription criteria”.

Following the conclusion of a robust process, the Trust Board is pleased to confirm the appointment of Paul Shanks as Acting Chief Executive with effect from the 1^st April 2021.

Paul, as many of you aware is currently the Director of Primary Education at the Trust and we have witnessed at first hand his dedication and motivation in transforming outcomes for children. Over the next month Paul will work closely with Alan on handover and transition arrangements.

We are confident that Paul is best placed to lead the Trust forward and one of the first actions will be engaging with you all on the strategy work that the Board has been leading on in recent months.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees I remain resolute that together we are stronger as we continue to face into the pandemic and achieve our strategic aims of continuous school improvement, having a positive impact in the communities that we operate, being an employer of choice and doing the right thing for our people and ultimately the children that we serve.

You have all worked relentlessly to this end in a difficult and uncertain time, there is a faint light at the end of the tunnel to this uncertainty, we would like to thank everyone for their terrific support and hard work over the last 12 months. It has been an incredible year and the dedication of the teams at each academy and centrally has been outstanding.

Julie Perry, Chair Board of Trustees, EMAT

22^nd February 2021