'Primary school offer day just as stressful for teachers'

Primary school offer day can be as nerve wracking for teachers as it is for parents amid declining class sizes and birth rates, a Surrey headteacher has said.

Parents of children across the county going into reception and Year 3 next year have been finding out whether they have received their first-choice school, with 89.8% of applicants to reception doing so, according to Surrey County Council.

The nervous wait for parents comes as headteachers also find out how large their intake will be in the 2026/27 year, with schools receiving funding based on the number of pupils.

Esther Franks, head teacher at South Farnham School, said: "Locally in Surrey, there are generally less children around."

Franks added: "It's a nerve-wracking time for parents and schools. I think there are a number of headteachers looking at pupil numbers and hoping it's the best news for parents and schools.

"We have to reflect on class sizes and school sizes and think about growth in schools."

Surrey County Council said that 95.1% of junior school applicants received their first preference school.

In total, the authority received 11,436 applications for reception and 3,457 applications for junior school this year.

That is lower than in 2025, with 12,002 reception applications and 3,650 junior applications respectively, the council said.

A higher proportion of applicants also received their first-choice school in 2026 compared to the previous year.

In 2025, the number of children starting primary school across Surrey fell by the equivalent of 56 classes, county council papers showed.

The declining birth rate, among other factors, has led to a surplus in school places in recent years, with the Department for Education saying less children are moving into primary school age.

The changes mean some sites across the South East have closed or merged with other schools as a result.

In Mickhelham, a consultation is being held on proposals to merge St Michael's C of E Infant School with Newdigate C of E Infant School.

Funding for primary schools is calculated through the National Funding Formula and is calculated on a per-pupil basis.

In 2026/27, all primary schools across the UK will receive a minimum of £5,115 per pupil.

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