Alarm has been raised that a school place expansion for future pupils living in the Wokingham area could be in doubt.

Secondary schools in Wokingham Borough have been undergoing an expansion thanks to collaboration between the council and the government.

Schools which have benefited from approved expansion plans include St Crispin’s  and Emmbrook.

However, there are concerns that there will be shortfall of school places for future pupils south of Wokingham, particularly in Finchampstead, Arborfield and Barkham.

Councillor Charles Margetts (Conservative, Finchampstead North) has raised concerns that an expansion of the Bohunt School planned for September 2024 could be in doubt.

The Bohunt in Remount Drive, Arborfield was opened in September 2016 providing secondary education for pupils from Years 7 to 11.

The school, run by the Bohunt Education Trust has plans to increase its intake of Year 7, sixth form and capacity for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND),

Yet cllr Margetts has raised fears that the expansion is not guaranteed.

He explained: “An expansion was meant to bring the long awaited sixth form provision in the south, additional Year 7 places and additional SEND capacity, which is desperately needed in the borough.

“There is agreement between the council and the Bohunt Education Trust to joint fund a new building for a 6th form.

“As part of the deal the trust would then provide additional year 7 places and send provision.

“The problem is that the council has refused to make any kind of financial commitment.

“The Trust has to start hiring staff and getting organised for this to happen before September 2023 and therefore we are rapidly running out of time.

“The school has been ready to progress for months and the council is now holding the process up.

“At the last meeting the trust were told no commitment could be made and whilst they would continue working together they could not offer a date when a financial commitment could be forthcoming.

“They are blaming an overspend on the capital programme.

” However every year since I was elected the council has had an overspend on the capital programme – many schemes are delayed or simply never happen. Therefore they always predict more than they have.

“My fear is this long awaited promise to residents in the south of the borough will be broken.

“It looks highly unlikely that it will open in September 2024 and therefore a year of school children will be disappointed.”

These claims have been disputed by the Liberal Democrat administration.

Cllr Prue Bray (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) said: “We are fully committed to supporting necessary school expansions across the borough, including at Bohunt School. The council has made that commitment clear through previous Executive decisions and those commitments remain in place. We therefore will continue to work with our schools to help them meet the community’s needs.”

In a conversation with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, cllr Bray said that there is money set aside for school in the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

The council has a ‘Schools Block Growth Fund’ of £1,997 million for 2023/24, with £1.1716m budgeted for 2024/25 and £1.767m for 2025/6.

Cllr Bray also clarified that school expansions are undertaken through negotations with governing trusts which offer to take on more pupils.

A sixth form for Bohunt will be established for the first time for the 2023/24 academic year.

Cllr Bray said this sixth form will be made up of upcoming Year 11 pupils who are already educated at the school.

Bohunt was meant to open with a Sixth Form in 2016 but requirements meant to was opened as a school for pupils aged 11-16 instead.