West Berkshire Schools Face Declining Pupil Numbers

Falling primary pupil numbers in West Berkshire have led the council to review admissions to check which schools are viable. A new consultation has launched on how to manage surplus places.

The council will use NHS and ONS birth data, allocations, school census figures and housing plans to spot trends. It will also assess building condition, proximity to other schools and school budgets.

After analysing the information a report will be prepared and discussed with the headteacher and chair of governors to judge how well a school meets a genuine community need. Parents are not expected to be involved at this stage.

Where action is needed the council says it will start with the least disruptive options, provided schools can be educationally and financially viable and surplus places reduced. Options include PAN (Public Admission Number) reduction while keeping viable class sizes, exploring partnerships or joining a trust, operating across fewer sites for efficiency, and school closure 'only where necessary'.

The drop in pupil numbers is driven by a falling birth rate and has big consequences for budgets and staffing. In 2023 there were 1,435 live births in West Berkshire, down from 1,744 a decade earlier. Nationally, primary numbers have fallen since peaking in 2018/19, says the National Audit Office.

Local schools recently affected include Spurcroft Primary, Kintbury St Mary's, Aldermaston CofE and Pangbourne. In 2024 the council reduced Aldermaston's admissions by 13 places per year and Pangbourne's by 10, reflecting lower and projected numbers.

Chieveley Primary has capacity for 210 pupils with a PAN of 30. In 2024/25 it had 171 on roll; its catchment now averages about 10 children per year and forecasts put that at five to seven by the end of the decade. The school increasingly relies on pupils moving in from neighbouring villages.

Spurcroft has capacity for 420 with a PAN of 60 and had 368 pupils in 2024/25. Its catchment cohort sizes are projected to fall from 53 to 43 and then to 38, with inward movement mainly from Francis Baily and Parsons Down areas.

Because funding largely follows pupils, falling rolls mean less money for running costs, buildings and staff. To stay sustainable schools need to stay close to their PAN so they can manage staffing, resources and class-size rules.

There is a potential risk that families living outside a catchment who already have a child at a school might be unable to get a place for a younger sibling if numbers are reduced. Academy trusts are expected to cooperate and share data.

The consultation opens on 1 June 2026 for six weeks. The follow-up review is expected to take several months to complete.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter