Statutory consultation on proposed admission arrangements for Holy Trinity CE Primary School for September 2027

The Local Authority would like your views on one proposed change to the admission arrangements for Holy Trinity CE Primary School from September 2027. The proposed change is to reduce the Published Admission Number from 60 to 15 in the academic year 2027/28. This reduced number will continue to be the Published Admission Number for all subsequent admission years thereafter (unless and until it is legally increased). The reasons for this change are that pupil numbers within the school have significantly decreased and forecasting tells us that this will continue, due to the falling birth rate across the borough.  A decrease of the published admission number will enable the School’s Leadership Team and the Governors to improve the financial stability of the school.

How to respond

The consultation will run from 5^th November 2025 to 17^th December 2025 (a period of six term time weeks).

You are invited to submit responses about the proposal above to the Admission Authority (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council) in any of the following ways:

• Online survey - Consultation Response Form  – Fill in form
• Email – childcareandeducation@blackburn.gov.uk
• Post – Children’s and Education, 10 Duke Street, Ground Floor, Blackburn BB2 1DH

Responses must be received no later than 5pm on 17^th December 2025. Responses received after this time and date may not be considered.

For more information

Please see the ‘Consultation Proposal’ letter and ‘Consultation Response Form’ below for further details. If you would like to discuss the proposal or would like more information, please contact childcareandeducation@blackburn.gov.uk

Admission to Holy Trinity CE Primary School

Children are admitted at the start of the school year (1st September to 31st August) in which they become 5. The law does not require any child to receive a suitable education until the start of the term following the fifth birthday. In Blackburn with Darwen we operate a single start date of September for all children who will become 5 during that school year. For admission next academic year, all children who have their fifth birthday between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026 may start school in the Autumn Term 2025.

Holy Trinity CE Primary School provides for the maximum total of

420 children and accepts an intake of 60, in September, to the reception class.

Parent(s)/carer(s) seeking admission of their child outside their normal age group must send their written request to the Local Authority. It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/carer(s) to provide the Local Authority with all relevant information relating to this request, including the parent(s)/carer(s) views; information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development; medical history and views of a medical professional (where relevant); whether the child would naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not for being born prematurely; and whether the child has previously been educated out of their normal age group.
The Local Authority is required to take into account the views of the Head Teacher on the application as well as the information from the parent(s)/carer(s). The Local Authority will make their decision on the basis of the circumstances of each individual case, and in the best interests of the child concerned.
The Local Authority will then inform the parent/carer of their decision on the year group the child should be admitted to and will provide the reasons for their decision.

Prospective parents are very welcome to visit the school at anytime. Please ring the school to make an appointment on 01254 702119.

Admissions Policy