Barnet Council says it has a duty to deliver a “balanced supply” and in some areas it had seen a “decline in demand” linking to falling birth rates, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Moss Hall Infants and Junior Schools (credit Google)

Barnet Council plans to shrink the intake of a North Finchley school amid “pockets” of “decline in demand”.

Despite the move to reduce admissions at Moss Hall Junior School from 120 to 90, a council spokesperson said overall the local population was “growing”.

In a consultation launched last month the council revealed the junior school’s main feeder school, Moss Hall Infants, would have a “reduced number of children” from the infant cohort “moving up” to the junior school in 2026/27.

The borough’s varying population trends add to a national picture which has seen some schools reduce their intake, close, or merge with other schools.

According to the BBC the capital is expecting a total drop in demand of about 7,900 places for the first years of primary and secondary over the next four years.

In response to the changes a council spokesperson said it was the council’s statutory duty to deliver a “balanced supply” and in some areas it had seen a “decline in demand” which it linked to a “falling birth rate”.

The spokesperson said: “Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure a balanced supply of school places; neither too few nor too many.

“Barnet continues to deliver an excellent and diverse school offer whilst supporting schools with falling rolls to ensure that they remain financially viable through temporary and permanent reductions in provision.

“While in some areas we expect primary school place demand to fall, many Barnet primary schools remain oversubscribed and we know some areas are seeing significant increases in housing and population growth in the borough.”

The consultation for Moss Hall Junior School’s admissions reduction will close on 31st January with interested residents encouraged to fill out a questionnaire on the school’s admission’s plans.

For more information and to take part in the survey visit Consultation on proposed admission arrangements 2026/27, for Barnet community schools | Engage Barnet

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