Fresh hopes for a new sixth form college at Bohunt School in Arborfield have emerged – as Wokingham Borough Council could agree to increase its funding for the project.
The Bohunt Education Trust had planned to open a sixth form at its school in Arborfield this month.
With just two months to go, pupils were told in July that they’d have to find places elsewhere, as rising construction costs meant the Trust wasn’t sure it could accommodate a sixth form in the long term.
Under a deal signed in March 2022, and under the previous administration, The Trust committed to spending £2 million towards building an extension, with the council providing £3.7 million.
Due to inflationary pressures, construction costs almost doubled to £10.5 million – leading the Trust to seek more funding from the council.
Now council leaders are set to debate whether to increase their contribution of £5.25 million, funded through borrowing – as long as the Trust agrees to contribute the other half and share the risks.
The Trust has already said it could provide £5 million – which is £250,000 short of the 50% the council would seek.
A report submitted to the council’s ruling Executive Committee says this is the best way to meet demand for new school places.
If agreed at a meeting on Thursday, September 28, the report says: “The outcome is that students in the rural southwest (Finchampstead, Arborfield, Swallowfield and Barkham) will be able to take A level courses locally while there will be additional local Year 7 – 11 school places.”
The report also says that the sixth form could open as early as this time next year – September 2024.
For this to happen, construction would need to be completed by September 2025, as the Trust would need to be certain it could accommodate more sixth-form pupils in the future.
Council officers also considered whether the new sixth form could be housed in the nearby former garrison building, owned by the Ministry of Defence, in Arborfield Garrison. But this could cost even more – as much as £9.6 million.
The Ministry of Defence already has the first stage of planning permission to use the building for community purposes including a library, a nursery and offices for Barkham Parish Council.
But ministry officials say they wouldn’t house a sixth form unless the council has a plan for how those other community facilities could be accommodated elsewhere, hence the extra costs.
If councillors give approval, council officers will then have to negotiate a new deal with Bohunt Education Trust.
