A new primary school will be built in Spencer’s Wood to address a shortfall in provision – but local councillors say plans are ‘too small to meet the current needs’.
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee approved plans to build a single-form entry primary school on land at Church Lane and Hyde End Road in Spencer’s Wood.
Plans, which first emerged in 2014, have been secured to address the shortage of places for children in the south of the borough as it has experienced significant housebuilding in recent years.
This led to 16 children were diverted outside the area for their primary school placement last year.
It will serve up to 210 pupils with sports facilities, a hall and play areas, with potential to expand in the future.
Planning permission was sought in order to use a £3.25m contribution from developer Taylor Wimpey for the project.
Council planning officers told members ‘would provide the facilities required by housing growth’ and has good access to public transport and other infrastructure.
But Richard Hoyle from Shinfield Parish Council said despite members supporting the provision of a new school, they considered the propsal ‘underplays the scale that is necessary’.
While the school will provide 210 places for children, there was a total of 291 children requiring provision in the most recent academic year, Mr Hoyle said.
The parish councillor said: “So there is a shortfall of 81 [places] already and we expect this to grow given the scale of development that is expected – and already granted – in Shinfield.
“We welcome this school and we’d like to see its development start as soon as possible. But we’re also certain its too small to meet current needs.”
The parish council urged instead for a three-form entry school.
Committee member Catherine Glover asked officers what the potential for expansion would be in coming years.
A planning officer said the shared spaces, such as the hall, are designed to allow for expansion, and the whole building could be extended to the rear to create a new wing.
Despite concerns raised by the parish council, the committee granted the scheme in full.
The council are considering a number of ways the new school could operate, which are set to be discussed next week.
While a shortage of places exists in the south of the borough, primary schools elsewhere are facing an oversupply.
Options include opening a Free School or a Satellite School, which would operate under one of the four existing schools in the area.
Another option is to relocate an existing school from an area facing undersubscribed places.
The council could also enlarge an existing school, at Alder Grove.
The authority’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee will consider the options and make recommendations on Tuesday, June 17.
