Hundreds of school places across Hampshire set to be axed with the public invited to have their say
Plans to reduce the number of school places at several schools across Hampshire are now open for public feedback.
According to the Hampshire County Council consultation, 411 fewer school places are planned across the county for the 2027/28 academic year with reductions proposals at a number of schools including Denmead Junior School, Northern Junior Community School in Portchester and St John the Baptist in Titchfield.
It is also proposing to make changes to the catchments and the criteria in some of the Fareham and Whiteley area where more new housing is being built, and Henry Cort due to relocate to Whiteley 2027.
The council is required to consult residents whenever it makes changes to school admission rules or if those policies have not been reviewed, which is the case this time as the policy hasn’t been review for seven years.
Under the proposals, the Published Admission Number (PAN) would be reduced at 20 schools across Hampshire. In total, 411 infant, junior and primary school places would be lost, while five new places would be created.
Proposed admission reductions (and the borough/district they are in):
- Kings’ School, Winchester – from 357 to 300
- The Clere School, Basingstoke – from 145 to 100
- Cherbourg Primary, Eastleigh – from 53 to 45
- Church Crookham Junior, Hart – from 150 to 120
- Denmead Junior, Havant – from 75 to 60
- Freegrounds Junior, Eastleigh – from 90 to 64
- Knights Enham Junior, Test Valley – from 60 to 45
- Liss Infant, East Hants – from 60 to 45
- Liss Junior, East Hants – from 60 to 45
- Lydlynch Infant, New Forest – from 60 to 40
- New Milton Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 60
- New Milton Junior, New Forest – from 96 to 66
- Northern Junior, Fareham – from 60 to 50
- Norwood Primary, Eastleigh – from 60 to 30
- Ringwood CofE Infant, New Forest – from 90 to 75
- Shipton Bellinger Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 17
- South Baddesley Primary, New Forest – from 22 to 15
- St John the Baptist, Titchfield Common, Fareham – from 60 to 45
- Wallop Primary, Test Valley – from 30 to 15
Proposed admission increases:
- Bishopswood Junior, Basingstoke – from 60 to 62
- Sarisbury Junior, Fareham – from 90 to 93
The review also includes updates to admission criteria and catchment areas to make the process clearer and better reflect local housing growth.
New or updated school-specific criteria are proposed for several schools, including Fleet Infant School, Velmead Junior School, The Henry Cort Community College, Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Infant and Junior Schools, and Whiteley Primary School.
Catchment areas are also being revised to include new housing developments.
Fleet Infant School and Velmead Junior School would be updated to include the Hartland Village area, while Henry Cort Community College, Brookfield Community School, Sarisbury Infant and Junior Schools, and Whiteley Primary School would include North Whiteley.
The consultation runs until December 26. Residents can share their views by emailing [email protected]. All responses will be reviewed by Hampshire’s Admissions Forum on January 12, 2026, which will make recommendations to the executive member for education ahead of the final decision on February 24, 2026.