In a meeting on 23 September 2025, Councillor Jonathan Hulley, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, approved a consultation on proposed changes to school admission arrangements for 2027 and noted the deficits of maintained schools. The consultation will address proposed reductions in published admission numbers for some primary schools and a proposal to link infant schools with junior schools. Councillor Hulley also approved licensed deficits for two state schools.

Consultation on Admission Arrangements for 2027

Councillor Jonathan Hulley authorised a statutory consultation on proposed changes to admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2027. The consultation will last for six weeks, running from the beginning of October into November.

The proposed changes include:

• A reduction of the Reception Published Admission Number¹ (PAN) at Cranmere Primary School from 60 to 30.
• A reduction of the Reception PAN at The Grange Community Infant School from 90 to 60.
• A reduction of the Year 3 PAN at Chennestone Primary School from 40 to 30.
• An introduction of a sibling link between Manby Lodge Infant School and Oatlands School with Cleves School.
• An introduction of a feeder link from Fetcham Village Infant School to Oakfield Junior School.
• An introduction of a reciprocal sibling link between Fetcham Village Infant School and Oakfield Junior School.
• A change to the date waiting lists close for the normal year of entry, from the end of the summer term to the end of December of the year of admission.

[Claire, the Service Manager for School Admissions], explained the rationale for the six-week consultation period:

The school admissions code sets out that consultation must be for at least six weeks. We tend to stick to that six-week period. We target schools directly. So we will send communications to each of our Surrey schools and ask them to share details of that consultation.

She added that the consultation would also be shared with borough and district councillors, and early years providers.

Maintained Schools Deficits

Councillor Jonathan Hulley approved licensed deficits for two state schools and noted the level of balances held by Surrey's maintained schools. The report reviewed was a summary of the details of Surrey's maintained schools total balance as of 31 March 2025. The report sought approval for two schools that are projecting deficits of more than 50% of their budget at 31 March 2026.