Plan for managing school places in Bracknell area agreed

The task of managing school places for state schools rests with local authorities, with parents and guardians being able to submit their preferences for the schools they want their children to attend.

Now, Bracknell Forest Council has approved its strategy for how to manage school places throughout the area.

The strategy takes into account demographic changes such as an increase in secondary school age pupils but a decrease in primary school and younger age pupils.

A council report shows how it expects pupil numbers to change, with a decrease between 2022 and 2026, with a decrease of up to four per cent, two per cent and one per cent of numbers for early years education up to five, primary school age children and secondary school keystage 3-4 (years 7-11) respectively.

Meanwhile, the council expects post 16 age students to increase by up to 42 per cent, and those with special education needs (SEN) with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans to increase by up to 38 per cent by 2026.

Sixth Form students attending school. Credit: Bracknell Forest Council

The report also shows six schools which have admitted pupils over their published admission numbers from September 2017-2021.

These are:

Egbarrow School, Crowthorne – 63

Ranelagh Academy, Bracknell – 36

Sandhurst Secondary School – 1

St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School, Hanworth – 1

The Brakenhale Academy, Bracknell  – 18

Wooden Hill Primary, Bracknell – 12

The strategy involves closely monitoring mainstream secondary school places and North Bracknell primary school places, reducing surplus primary places in South Bracknell and Crowthorne & Sandhurst, and creating additional capacity for SEN education.

There are 11 places which have SEN provision in Bracknell Forest.

One of these is the Child Development Centre at 15 Great Hollands Square, which is the only listed place in Bracknell Forest which provides SEN learning for Early Years up to five-years-old.

For primary and secondary education, SEN provision is mostly focused in mainstream schools such as the Meadow Vale and Sandy Lane primary schools.

Therefore, a part of the council’s strategy is focusing on SEND provision to meet the needs of the population.

Existing Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools in Bracknell. Credit: Bracknell Forest Council

Advocating for the approval of the strategy, councillor Dr Gareth Barnard (Conservative, Warfield Harvest Ride) executive member for children, young people and learning said: “I want to focus in on the SEN featured in the plan.

“What this is about is promoting inclusion, which means we can actually provide an education for more of our children in mainstream schools, and if you can do that while meeting additional needs there are huge benefits for the whole school community and particular children involved.”

The School Places Plan and Capacity Strategy 2023-2028 was approved by  Bracknell Forest Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, March 21.