Labour stands up for Winsford High School places

Winsford children deserve a local education, and following a public campaign led by Labour to support local families last year, Winsford Academy increased the number of places from 210 to 240 for the 2021 intake.

For 2022, Fallibroome Academy Trust (FAT) which operates Winsford Academy sought to reduce its Published Admission Number (PAN) from 240 to 210 because it was again concerned about the layout and suitability of its dining facilities. FAT initially requested around £450,000 from Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWAC) to upgrade facilities but fiscal rules prevented approval. Labour councillors also wanted to be fair to other schools needing funding - Winsford Academy had already accommodated 240 schoolchildren meaning upgrades should not be linked to a reduction in places.

CWAC has reached a compromise with FAT which greatly benefits local children as well as the school and avoids an unfair reduction in school places for Winsford schoolchildren. It is also fair to all the other schools in the borough because they can also access the funding mechanism for wider school improvements.

Cllr Bob Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, said: “Academies, not councils, set their own admissions criteria and the number of places each year is determined based on building size, staff numbers and overall pupil count. The Government is responsible for the funding of academies.”

FAT sought funding from the School Improvement Fund, a package of funding to help all schools improve their buildings. Whilst the requests made by FAT were for legitimate improvements, the funding level was felt to be excessive, doubly so given that FAT holds significant amounts of funding in reserve.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Mayor of Winsford, adds: “Winsford Academy is a fantastic school with dedicated staff. They’ve proved they can accommodate an intake of at least 240 with the 2021 intake, and this is the minimum Winsford families expect Fallibroome Academy Trust to offer.”

“Winsford Academy was designed to provide a central school with capacity for 1,500 pupils in years 7 to 11 - enough for our expanding town and an annual intake of 300 pupils. There’s also the additional unused capacity for 200 sixth form pupils. I hope Fallibroome Academy Trust supports Winsford Academy in the future to offer enough places to meet the needs of Winsford families.”

Multi-academy trusts should not attempt to reduce pupil intake numbers to extract funding but instead, participate in funding bids in a way considerate of other local schools.

Cllr Bob Cernik concludes: “I am very pleased that Fallibroome Academy Trust has kept the intake of 240 pupils for the 2022 year, and I’m sure they will work to expand this in the future to meet the needs of Winsford families.”

“Many children will secure their first choice, but the families of any child not awarded a place at Winsford Academy for September 2022 are encouraged to appeal. Around 80% of appeals are expected to be successful, please do not reject allocated places until the appeal is decided.”