A SECONDARY school in Wokingham is set to add a sixth form next year, following a campaign by parents.
The Bohunt School in Arborfield had its expansion approved by Wokingham Borough Council at an executive meeting on Tuesday, March 22.
The expansion will create sixth-form capacity in the rural south of Wokingham borough, which currently has two schools serving 11- to 16-year-olds. The other is Oakbank Secondary School at Ryeish Green in Shinfield.
At the moment, most students attending Bohunt and Oakbank continue their education at other schools and colleges outside the borough.
Cllr Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services, said: “Enriching lives and championing outstanding education are one of our key priorities and the creation of a sixth form at Bohunt School will allow more children and young people to enjoy these benefits close to where they live.
“We also know from consulting our residents that there is strong support for this idea so we will work closely with the trust to find a way to make it happen.”
The Bohunt Education Trust, which has run the school since it opened in 2016, will contribute at least £2 million towards the project and will work in partnership with the council to provide the expansion.
The sixth-form is likely to open in September 2023, and would offer academic subjects as A-levels as well as the vocational equivalents.
Its size would depend on several factors but the council expects to offer between 200 and 300 places.
The scheme will also require planning permission to expand the building from two storeys to three.
To ensure it served the community, admissions from outside the school could be limited to 15 students.
Neil Strowger, trust leader at Bohunt Education Trust said: “We are committed to ensuring students have every opportunity to succeed and, to this end, we are always looking at ways to develop our offer for students, our staff and our wider school community.
“We are thrilled to be on the verge of being able to offer this new provision at Bohunt School, which is so well supported and needed by the Wokingham community.”
The expansion will also create more places for 11- to 16-year-olds and improve the school’s provision for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).
An additional 30 places for year seven students could be available from September 2022.
The expansion will require approval from Nadhim Zahawi, the secretary of state for education.
