A rural primary school is considering a reduction in the number of pupils it takes on each year. 

If the change is adopted, Mayfield Church of England Primary School could reduce its Published Admissions Number (PAN) from 30 to 20 pupils from September 2025. 

The change is being considered as part of East Sussex County Council’s overall admissions arrangements for the 2025/26 academic year.

On Monday (October 16), Cllr Bob Standley, the authority’s lead member for education, agreed to put these wider arrangements out to public consultation. 

Typically, the council goes out to consultation on its admissions arrangements every year, whether or not any changes are proposed. This year, only two changes are proposed, including the reduction of Mayfield’s PAN. 

The only other potential change is a slight increase in the PAN of Chailey School from 174 to 180. 

Both changes have been requested by the governors of the respective schools and will go out to consultation. 

In Mayfield’s case, the reduction had been requested due to the number of vacant places in the school. Officers say pupil forecasts indicate that numbers are unlikely to increase in the short to medium term, but the school will be able to increase its PAN should this change in future.

The results of the consultation are due to be considered by Cllr Standley at a follow-up meeting in February.