When does the consultation run from and to?

This consultation will run from Wednesday 12^th November 2025 until Wednesday 14^th January 2026. If you wish to submit your views, you must do so during this period.

Who is involved in the consultation?

We intend to consult with the following groups:

• Parents of children at Raleigh and Admirals Academy
• Other persons in the Thetford area who may have an interest in the proposed arrangements
• All other admission authorities within the local area
• The Local Authority (Norfolk LA)

Why are we consulting?

The Admissions Code (2021) places a duty on admissions authorities to consult on their admissions arrangements either every 7 years or prior to any changes being made to the admissions criteria. We are consulting because we propose to lower the number of pupils who will be admitted to Reception at Raleigh from 90 to 60 and Y3 at Admirals from 90 to 60.

How do we propose to manage applications?

Applications for a place at Raleigh and Admirals Academies should be made to Norfolk Local Authority. The application decisions for September are made by Norfolk LA on behalf of the academies. This is no change to the current arrangements.

Published Admissions Number (PAN)

Eastern Multi Academy Trust is consulting on reducing the PAN for Raleigh and Admirals Academies to 60 places from 90 from September 2027.

Will Raleigh and Admirals Academy use selection or banding?

Eastern Multi Academy Trust does not propose using selection or banding as part of its admissions arrangements. If the number of pupils requesting a place at Raleigh or Admirals Academies does not exceed the PAN then all pupils will be admitted to the school. This is no change to the current arrangements.

How will Eastern Multi Academy Trust academies prioritise admissions if they receive more requests than placed available?

There are no changes proposed to the admissions arrangements. In the event that an academy receives more applications than the number of places it has available, places will be given to those children who meet any of the criteria set out below, in order until all places are filled. Where a parent is applying for a place based on the fact that they are an employee this criterion can only be applied for the school in which the parent works.

All children whose education, health and care (EHC) plans name the school will be admitted before any other places are allocated.

1. Highest priority will be given to looked after children and all previously looked after children who apply for a place at the school.
2. Priority will next be given to children of staff at the school, in either of the following circumstances:
   a) The member of staff has been employed at the school for 2 or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, or
   b) The member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage

Please note: this criterion can only be applied for admission to the school in which the parent works

3. Priority will next be given to children who attend named feeder schools for each academy (Relates to King’s Lynn Academy (Y7), Admirals (Y3) and Eastgate (Y3) specifically)
4. Priority will next be given to children with siblings at the school. Siblings include step siblings, foster siblings, adopted siblings and other children living permanently at the same address. Priority will not be given to children with siblings who are former pupils of the school.
5. Other children living inside the catchment area.

Our Admissions Policy can be found at Eastern Multi Academy Trust - Policies (eastern-mat.co.uk)

Eastern Multi Academy Trust is seeking your views on the reduction of Raleigh and Admirals PAN from 90 to 60 from September 2027.

In line with the Admissions Code, we invite your comments regarding the reduction in Raleigh and Admirals PAN. The proposed arrangements would come into effect from 1^st September 2027.

This consultation will be open for a period of 7 weeks between Wednesday 12^th November 2025 and Wednesday 14^th January 2026. Please email any comments you wish to make to Mrs. Rebecca Schrooder (Trust Operations Manager) at rebecca.schrooder@eastern-mat.co.uk for consideration or in writing to:

 

Mrs. R. Schrooder

Operations Manager

Eastern Multi Academy Trust

Queen Mary Road

King’s Lynn

Norfolk

PE30 4QG