Request for Formal Advice and/or Consent from the DBE

Request for Formal Advice and/or Consent from the DBE
The Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) has an important role in supporting and guiding Church schools. Because of this, there are times when we legally need to be involved in decisions about significant changes to your school.

Under Section 7 of the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 2021, a governing board must ask the DBE for advice, and sometimes get written consent, before publishing any formal proposals for significant changes. Written consent is especially required for anything involving school land or buildings.

The Department for Education also makes it clear that dioceses must be consulted when Church schools are considering major changes.

But this isn’t just about legal requirements. Working with the Diocese helps protect the school’s Christian foundation, ensures changes are well‑considered, and supports good governance.

For the full details and statutory requirements, please refer to the Diocesan Guidance on Making Change to a Church School or Academy.

To complete this form, you will need:
- A copy of the Diocesan Guidance: Making Changes
  to a Church School or Academy from Leeds Diocesan Board of Education
- Access to minutes/records of board minutes in relation to this request
- Where approporate, access to evidence that the local authority or your multi -academy trust have been included and approve of this request
To save your application for completion by another party, please select the SAVE button. This will generate an editable link that you can share.

About your proposed change
When do you want the change to take effect? (This is NOT the date you submit this form)*

DayMonthYear
Please describe in as much detail as possible the proposed change. You will outline your rationale below.*
Example: The Governing Body proposes to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) for September 2027 entry from 45 to 30. This would apply to Reception intake from that point onward and continue throughout the school as the lower cohort progresses through the school each year. Operational Implications: The school would reorganise from 1.5-form entry to a single-form entry model. Class organisation will move from mixed-age Reception/Year 1 arrangements to straight-year groups across the school by September 2030. Staffing levels may be adjusted across the next three academic years in line with pupil numbers, primarily through natural turnover rather than redundancies. No building changes are required. One existing classroom would be repurposed as an intervention and small-group space.
Please give details of the Governors' rationale for the change, including the intended impact. *
Example: Local demographic data from the Local Authority’s sufficiency planning indicates a sustained decline in the number of primary-age children within the school’s catchment. Over the past four years, Reception intake has ranged from 23 to 29 pupils each year, despite promotional activity and outreach. Maintaining a PAN of 45 would require the school to operate small, mixed-age classes, which reduces educational and financial sustainability. Current projections indicate that maintaining the higher PAN would put the school in a budget deficit within two years. Intended Impact: Educational benefits: Moving to a stable single-form entry structure will allow pupils to be taught in single-year groups with a consistent staffing model and curriculum structure. Financial sustainability: Staffing and resource planning can be aligned to actual pupil numbers, ensuring the school remains financially stable while maintaining high-quality provision. Community confidence: A clear decision now avoids a series of annual mixed-age class reorganisations, giving families greater clarity and continuity. Long-term planning: The change will support the school’s ability to continue serving the community effectively over the next decade.
Please outline how the proposed change may affect the school’s Christian distinctiveness or the school's effectiveness as a church school.*
Example: We believe that the proposed reduction in PAN will not adversely affect the school’s Christian character and may support deeper community relationships and pastoral support due to more stable class structures. With smaller cohorts, collective worship may feel more intimate; we will continue to hold whole-school worship five times a week and maintain our termly church-based services. Staffing changes will be managed to ensure that leadership of RE and collective worship remains strong and appropriately resourced. Relationships with the parish will not be affected. Clergy will continue weekly input, and joint projects (e.g., café church, the Harvest appeal, the Eco-Church project) will remain in place. As the repurposed classroom will be used for nurture and pastoral support, this may strengthen our lived-out Christian vision by enabling more relational, small-group work with pupils as part of our Christian commitment to prioritise the most vulnerable.
Are the school community aware of the proposal?

YesNo
Please outline how you have considered the local context and/or the potential impact on the local community.
Example: We have reviewed the potential impact on neighbouring schools. Discussions with the LA Admissions Team and with the three nearest primary schools confirm that they are also experiencing lower birth‑rate pressures but currently retain sufficient capacity to meet local need. Reducing our PAN to 30 would not create an area of undersupply; demand will continue to be met collectively across the locality. The Governing Body has considered the potential impact on families. A smaller PAN is expected to create a more stable staffing and class structure, which parents have highlighted (via the July 2025 parent survey) as a priority for improving continuity, particularly in early years.
Is your named Diocesan Adviser aware of this proposed change?*

YesNo
Please attach board minutes which show Governors' discussion on the proposed change and their resolution to seek Diocesan advice and/or consult on the change.*

Cancelof
Date of Governors' Resolution to seek DBE advice and/or consent.

DayMonthYear
Date
Are the Local Authority aware of the request for advice and/or approval?

YesNo
Evidence of Local Authority discussions in support of the request for advice and/or approval.

Cancelof
Are the MAT aware of the request for advice and/or approval?

YesNoN/A
Evidence of MAT approval in support of the request for advice and/or approval.

Cancelof
Head's Signature*
Chair of Governor's Signature*
MAT Signature (if applicable)

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NB Diocesan advice/consent does not replace stautory processes, where they are required. Please follow DfE Guidance.

Once your application has been submitted, we will review it and contact you regarding the next stage of the approval process.

Thank you.
Application Date

DayMonthYear
Date
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Request for Formal Advice and/or Consent from the DBE

Tell us about your school

Purpose of request

About your proposed change