Can Academies increase their PAN without notice?

[nucleardusters]

Our local schools are in big demand and most are over-subscribed. This year some of the secondaries (all academies) have apparently increased their PAN, either shortly before or shortly after National Offer Day, with, at most, only a letter to existing parents as an announcement, so it's not yet clear how many of them have done it.

Anyone know what the rules are around this? Is it allowed for temporary PAN increases without consultation? Presumably it's just the equivalent of adding a bulge class which Local Authorities coordinate all the time.

DD's school, a convertor academy, chooses to take over PAN sometimes.

At secondary I don't see much problem with it if the school thinks it can accommodate. It means they get extra funding as they have more pupils, which means e.g. they can have an additional set for maths so strugglers can be in smaller classes.

Do you have a particular concern?

My understanding that a change to PAN would require a consultation exercise under the Admissions Code.

A couple of our secondary academies increased their PAN after allocation day last year. I'm under the impression that academies can do this.

The admission authority for any school can increase PAN after the admission arrangements have been finalised provided they notify the appropriate bodies. There is no need for any consultation.

Kids need to go to school somewhere. Sometimes LEAs ask academies to increase their PAN as a way of providing enough places. Having too much consulation just slows down the process of making sure that every child has a place SOMEWHERE!! There is often a lot of nimbys when it comes to bulge classes or much needed expansion of popular schools.

Provided the school carries on providing a safe and good quality education to existing kids then it isn't really any of the existing parents' business.