CONSULTATION OPEN — 10 April 2026 to 08 May 2026

Proposed change to our Net Capacity Number

Sparken Hill Academy, Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Sparken Hill Academy is inviting parents, carers, staff, governors and the wider community to share their views on a proposal to change the school's Net Capacity Number. Please note - our Published Admission Number will remain the same (575). We want to hear from you before any decision is made.

Please note: This is a correction of an administrative error. The school was never built to accommodate 630 pupils — a formal assessment of the building confirms that teaching space exists for 575 pupils. This proposal simply brings the official figure into line with the school's actual physical capacity. No teaching spaces are being removed and no pupil currently on roll is affected in any way.

The proposal in brief

Current Net Capacity: 630 (recorded in error on the school's Funding Agreement) Proposed Net Capacity: 575 (reflects the school's actual building capacity and PAN) Current number on roll: 515 (already below the proposed PAN) If approved, effective from: Jan 2027(Reception intake)

Y

our questions answered

What is net capacity?
Net capacity is the number of pupils a school building can accommodate, based on the size and use of its classrooms and other teaching spaces. It is calculated using the Department for Education's Net Capacity Assessment method, and an academy's capacity is recorded in its Funding Agreement with the DfE.

Is this the same as the Published Admission Number (PAN)?
No. The PAN is the number of children we admit into Reception each year. Our PAN is 75, and it is not changing. We will continue to offer 75 Reception places every year.

Why does our net capacity need to change?
When the Academy's Funding Agreement was first drawn up, our capacity was recorded as 630 pupils. This was a mistake. The school building was designed and built for a maximum of 575 pupils, and a Net Capacity Assessment has confirmed this. It is important that our official figures are accurate.

Will this affect families trying to get a place at Sparken Hill Academy?
No. We currently have [number] pupils in Reception to Year 6, which is already below the proposed capacity of 575. There is no reduction in the number of places genuinely available to families. Our admission arrangements are unchanged, and children already at the school are not affected.

What happens after this consultation?
The Academy Trust will carefully consider every response. If the Trust decides to go ahead, it will make a formal application to the Department for Education, including a summary of the consultation responses. The DfE will make the final decision.

Read the full consultation document
The full consultation document, including background information, an impact assessment and the questions we would like you to consider, is available to download below.

How to share your views
Please send your response by 12 noon on Friday 18 December 2026. You do not need to answer every question; any feedback is welcome.

• By email: office@sparkenhill.com, with the subject line "Net Capacity Consultation Response"
• By post: FAO Chair of Governors, Sparken Hill Academy, Sparken Hill, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 1AW
• In person: paper response forms are available from the school office
• By telephone: 01909 534060

If you have any questions about this consultation, please contact the school office on 01909 534060 or email office@sparkenhill.com.