A push has been made for promises to be kept to build a new sixth form for a school in Wokingham that is facing a two-year delay.
Plans for a new sixth form for Emmbrook School in Wokingham were approved in March 2023.
Although the project was meant to be completed in September this year, more funding is needed to deliver it.
A petition created by parents Emma Wilkinson, Vicky Warburton and Sarah Thomas received 2,287 signatures calling for Wokingham Borough Council to commit to completing the project.
The council has been pressed on the issue at a recent meeting.
Charles Margetts (Conservative, Finchampstead) said: “In 2022, Wokingham Borough Council asked Emmbrook School to take additional pupils beyond its capacity.
“An agreement was made where Emmbrook would accommodate the extra pupils by converting part of the existing sixth form building into a dining hall.
“In return, the council would provide capital for a new sixth form building scheduled to open in September 2025.
“Emmbrook School has upheld its part of the agreement by converting part of the sixth form into a dining area. However, WBC has not held up its part of the deal.
“Despite confirming they have the budget, there is no commitment to rebuild the sixth form.”
Although construction is due to begin in March next year, sixth form students are currently being taught in temporary buildings, where they will remain until the new building is completed.
Cllr Margetts added that Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham, mentioned the school in Parliament as students achieved the top one per cent of A-level results in the country.
The council’s Liberal Democrat executive has agreed to provide a budget of £240,000 to enable site development and enabling work to take place over the summer of 2025 to ensure the main project can move forward.
However, completion is now expected to be in 2027, a two-year delay.
The Lib Dems amended the motion.
Cllr Prue Bray (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh), the executive member for childrens services, said: “As we are already doing everything the motion asks for before we ever saw the motion I hope on one will claim that the sixth form is only going ahead because of the motion.”
Her amendment acknowledged the work the council has already done and a ‘letter of intent’ committing to the completion of the project.
Cllr Bray said: “It tidies up some wording, removing some repetition, grammatical errors and typos that have crept in as the motion was put together.”
Cllr Margetts rejected the amendment, accusing the Lib Dems of watering it down.
He said: “That, to be honest, is very disappointing.”
Cllr Dave Edmonds (Conservative, Spencers Wood & Swallowfield), referring to the original finish date of September 2025, said: “Here we are, just one month away, and what do we have? No building, no builder, just delays and excuses.”
On his part, Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst), the council leader, said: “Every effort is being made by Conservative speakers to undermine public confidence in the delivery of this sixth form block.
“I have to say this is an appalling piece of irresponsible politics. I know the Conservative Party is desperate, but this truly takes the biscuit.”
The amended motion was passed at the full council meeting on July 31.
