Residents have just days left to submit their views on Hampshire County Council’s proposal to cut more than 400 school places across the county.
The consultation, which closes on December 26, outlines the plan to reduce Published Admission Numbers (PAN) at 20 schools for the 2027/28 academic year.
Due to proposed changes on schools’ admission policies and catchment area changes the council is now required to consult residents on their plans.
The biggest reduction will be at Kings' secondary school in Winchester which would see a cut from 357 to 300.
Dr James Adams, kings' headteacher declined to comment, referring the Chronicle to the county council press office.
A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said this kind of consultation is “generally” carried out every year, adding that this year’s proposals reflect “falling birth rates nationally,” which are now leading to reduced demand for school places.
The spokesperson said: “Surplus places can have negative impacts on schools for various reasons, including both financially and educationally.
“The county council continues to monitor these trends closely and has well-established processes to carefully manage surpluses, including by reducing PANs where appropriate.”
According to the authority, each of the affected schools’ governing bodies requested the PAN reductions, presenting financial and educational reasons supported by the council’s own pupil forecasts.
If approved, the changes would result in a net loss of 411 infant, junior and primary school places, with five new places created elsewhere.
Residents can share their views by emailing admissions.team@hants.gov.uk.
All responses will be reviewed by Hampshire’s Admissions Forum on January 12, 2026, which will make recommendations to the executive member for education ahead of the final decision on February 24, 2026.
The final admission arrangements are expected to be published on the county council’s website by March 15, 2026.
Proposed admission reductions:
- Kings’ School, Winchester – from 357 to 300
- The Clere School, Basingstoke – from 145 to 100
- Cherbourg Primary, Eastleigh – from 53 to 45
- Church Crookham Junior, Hart – from 150 to 120
- Denmead Junior, Havant – from 75 to 60
- Freegrounds Junior, Eastleigh – from 90 to 64
- Knights Enham Junior, Test Valley – from 60 to 45
- Liss Infant, East Hants – from 60 to 45
- Liss Junior, East Hants – from 60 to 45
- Lydlynch Infant, New Forest – from 60 to 40
- New Milton Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 60
- New Milton Junior, New Forest – from 96 to 66
- Northern Junior, Fareham – from 60 to 50
- Norwood Primary, Eastleigh – from 60 to 30
- Ringwood CofE Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 75
- Shipton Bellinger Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 17
- South Baddesley Primary, New Forest – from 22 to 15
- St John the Baptist, Titchfield Common, Fareham – from 60 to 45
- Wallop Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 15
Proposed admission increases:
- Bishopswood Junior, Basingstoke – from 60 to 62
- Sarisbury Junior, Fareham – from 90 to 93
The review also includes updates to admission criteria and catchment areas to make the process clearer and better reflect local housing growth.
New or updated school-specific criteria are proposed for several schools, including Fleet Infant School, Velmead Junior School, The Henry Cort Community College, Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Infant and Junior Schools, and Whiteley Primary School.
Catchment areas are also being revised to include new housing developments.
Fleet Infant School and Velmead Junior School would be updated to include the Hartland Village area, while Henry Cort Community College, Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Infant and Junior Schools, and Whiteley Primary School would include North Whiteley.
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