A WOKINGHAM secondary school’s site, which includes Grade II listed buildings, will be expanded to allow it to increase its pupil numbers.
St Crispin’s on London Road will gain a two-storey extension on its sixth form block, as well as a single-storey extension on its dining hall. A new canopy will be added to the entrance.
The sixth form extension will add eight classrooms, allowing additional subjects to be taught including sociology, while the dining hall project will increase capacity.
In all, there will be space for an additional 179 students, taking the school roll from 1,383 to 1,562. There will be an additional 23 teachers, bringing the number up from 148 to 171.
The expansion and additional buildings were discussed at a Wokingham Borough Council planning committee meeting.
Andy Hinchliff, the headteacher of St Crispin’s, argued the school has already taken in more pupils, and requires more space to grow.
“As the Montague Park and Keephatch Gardens developments have grown, we have looked to support the local authority so they are able to provide additional places for all children in the local area,” he said.
“To explain and ensure our commitment to supporting local families, in September last year St Crispin’s took in an additional 100 students and we’re looking to support the local authority again with an additional intake of 55 students for September.”
While most pupils come from the east of the town and borough, Mr Hinchliff said St Crispin’s is an ‘inclusive school’ with special needs and disability provision and support for those who have English as an additional language. This includes new arrivals from Hong Kong and Ukraine.
The council’s build heritage officer had objected to the expansion, saying it would have an undue impact on the main school building which opened in 1953 and is Grade II listed as an early example of prefabricated building techniques.
Cllr Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford) said the impact on the building would be outweighed by the clear benefits of expansion.
Cllr Conway said: “I’m all in favour of preserving historic buildings, but perhaps some merit more careful treatment than others?
“Whatever harm might be involved in this extension of the school compromising a list building is massively outweighed by the benefit that comes from the improved facilities and the additional capacity of St Crispin’s to teach more pupils, and that is desperately needed.”
The project was unanimously approved by the council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 8.
The approved application can be viewed by typing reference 223603 into the council’s planning portal.
