Information on PAN's in Herefordshire
Case reference FOI2025/01223
Received 24 June 2025
Published 3 July 2025
Request
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
As you will be aware, under Section 14 of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places in their area. In line with this, local authorities play a key coordinating role in the annual Published Admissions Number (PAN) consultation process, including facilitating consultation and communication with admission authorities across their area under the School Admissions Code (DfE, 2021).
In light of this, I am requesting:
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1. PAN Consultation Document
A copy of the Published Admissions Number (PAN) consultation document for school admissions in the academic year 2026/27 co-ordinated or issued by the local authority on behalf of schools.
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2. Meeting Minutes or Papers
Copies of any meeting agendas, minutes, notes, or briefing documents from internal or external meetings where PANs for 2026/27 were discussed, revised, or approved.
This includes any documentation from:
• Education or school planning teams
• School place planning boards or panels
• Cabinet or committee discussions
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3. Correspondence with Schools
Copies of emails, letters, or briefings sent to schools within the local authority relating to:
• The PAN consultation process for 2026/27
• Any proposed or confirmed changes to PANs
• Requests for school views, responses, or feedback
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Response
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
As you will be aware, under Section 14 of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places in their area. In line with this, local authorities play a key coordinating role in the annual Published Admissions Number (PAN) consultation process, including facilitating consultation and communication with admission authorities across their area under the School Admissions Code (DfE, 2021).
In light of this, I am requesting:
________________________________________
1. PAN Consultation Document
A copy of the Published Admissions Number (PAN) consultation document for school admissions in the academic year 2026/27 co-ordinated or issued by the local authority on behalf of schools.
Answer: This information is publically available on our council website.
The Service Area have advised published admissions numbers apply to individual schools and we direct parents to the PAN’s via our information for parents booklets linked below:
Information for parents admission to primary school for 2025 https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/21116/information-for-parents-admission-to-primary-school-2023
Admissions Secondary transfer year 7. Guide for parents and carers 2025
Where there is no change, Admission arrangements must be consulted upon at least every seven years and were last consulted on in Herefordshire in December 2020 – January 2021. The next consultation is therefore due by January 2028.
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
________________________________________
2. Meeting Minutes or Papers
Copies of any meeting agendas, minutes, notes, or briefing documents from internal or external meetings where PANs for 2026/27 were discussed, revised, or approved.
This includes any documentation from:
• Education or school planning teams
• School place planning boards or panels
• Cabinet or committee discussions
Answer: N/A – The Service Area have advised no discussions have been held regarding PAN for LA maintained schools.
________________________________________
3. Correspondence with Schools
Copies of emails, letters, or briefings sent to schools within the local authority relating to:
• The PAN consultation process for 2026/27
• Any proposed or confirmed changes to PANs
• Requests for school views, responses, or feedback
Answer: Please see the response above.
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Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.