Class size over 30 in KS2

[Hollyhocks7]

Quick question: does anyone know whether the decision to allow a child into a year 4 class - if it meant pushing class size up to 31 - is a decision that would be made solely by the head teacher or whether it would be a matter for the governors (in a VA school)?

Neither.

The decision can only be made by an appeals panel. If the school does not put up a strong case why the pupil should not be admitted, then the panel is likely to find in the appellant's favour and direct the school to admit.

The relative weight of the views of the head and those of the governors will depend on the individual school.

Actually in any school, it is possible to admit pupils over and above the PAN if the school believes that it is able to admit above its PAN without causing any educational issues (para 1.4 of the school admission regs). That decision in a VA school (as their own admission authority) rests with the admission committee of the school or the governing body as a whole.

However in many schools they do not want to go above the PAN as it clearly sets a precedent that could mean having to accept more and more pupils. In that case you have the right having been turned down to go to an an independent appeal and argue your case for admission. In year 3 and above that would mean showing that the prejudice to your child was greater than the prejudice to the school and other pupils.

Thank you, that's interesting. A friend relocated recently and the primary school had space for one child but not the sibling, but the headteacher was happy to go over 30 so as not to turn the sibling away (KS2), so I assumed the decision has been made by the head

The head alone. Though I suppose she might have spoken to the governors first.

it is not an appeals panel decision. At least it isn't for a mid year application.

We had same situation as your friend Hollyhocks, we moved 2 weeks before end of summer term. Place was available for dd in year 1, but no place for ds is year 3. We told council we would send dd in, put ds on waiting list and home ed him until place came up. Within 24 hours we had a call back from the council, the head had agreed to take him into year 3 and go over PAN.

This school has a movement in its classes, within a couple of months his class was back to 30.

Same school, but new head, similar situation 3 years later, they accepted younger child into year 2, but refused to accept her brother into year 3. He had to wait until someone left. He went to another school and it took a whole year for place to come up.

Technically there isn't a national limit on class size in KS2 so each school will have different numbers based on individual situations.