Downham Market Academy’s admissions policy could be altered to deal with around lack of spaces

A school’s admissions policy could be altered to combat “significant issues” with youngsters not being offered a place at their local academy.

Norfolk County Council and the Eastern Learning Alliance trust have jointly launched a consultation asking people to have their say on the future of Downham Academy.

They are proposing to change its catchment area by removing Watlington Community Primary School and Upwell Academy from its list of feeder schools.

Watlington pupils would be moved into the King’s Lynn Academy catchment area, with Upwell and Outwell youngsters reallocated to Marshland High School.

If approved, the changes would be effective from September 2026.

They are being touted as a way to deal with the high volume of students missing out on a place at Downham Academy, with the town previously described as an “outlier” due to this huge demand.

A consultation on the plans was launched last week and will run until January 17, with the outcome made public by February 28 in a determination notice on the school website.

Documents released as part of the process say: “Through the recent annual admission rounds, there have been significant issues for children living within the catchment area of Downham Market Academy not being offered places at their local school.

“This has been particularly evident for those living in the areas furthest from the academy.

“Where preference is not met, the local authority has a duty to offer a school place and children are offered places at the nearest school with a place available; as a rural locality, alternatives have been some distance from home addresses involving home to school transport in most cases.”

The consultation is linked to proposals from Marshland High School, part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and King’s Lynn Academy, part of the Eastern Multi-Academy Trust.

The changes would not affect pupils already attending the Downham school.

People can have their say by:

•Completing the online survey via the link https://forms.office.com/e/5E4cYT4TCS

• Completing the above linked form and handing it into the school office

• Emailing admissionsconsultation@dma.tela.org.uk

• Writing to Downham Academy, Bexwell Road, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9LL

Earlier this year, the Lynn News reported that at least 30 families were set to miss out on places at the school for their children.

Cllr Andrew Jamieson, the deputy leader of the county council, told the Lynn News that this was largely down to an increase in homes being built around Downham.