Residents claim school’s growth plan not needed

PLANS by a primary school to expand have been criticised by residents and a neighbouring headteacher.

The Heights Primary School, off Upper Woodcote Road, Caversham Heights, wants to increase the number of pupils per class by five, adding 70 to the school roll, which it says would provide the school with “financial security”.

The school, which opened in 2014, currently has 350 pupils with 25 pupils per class.

But the Department for Education and the Education and Skills Funding Agency will now only support schools with 30 pupils per class.

The Heights originally opened with two reception and year 1 classes in response to an increasing need for primary school places in north-west Caversham and then grew “organically”, with two new reception classes of 25 children each joining every year since.

The school reached capacity in 2020 and received supplementary growth funding until then as each year group grew to two classes.

In its application to Reading Borough Council for planning permission, the Heights says it used reserves to fund an additional year 6 class and currently only operates with emergency support from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

The school receives the lowest-per-pupil ratio of government funding of any primary within Reading Borough Council’s remit.

The Heights says the area still needs more school places as four of the five schools were oversubscribed for reception year admissions, the exception being Thameside primary.

The school says there would be no physical change to the building or grounds, which are next to Mapledurham playing fields, and the increased noise would be “imperceptible” by neighbours.

But residents say that adding to pupil numbers would create additional traffic, increase noise and potentially affect the funding of nearby state schools.

Martin Brommell, of Hewett Avenue, says: “Reduced funding from the DfE is not a material planning application reason.

“The initial business case for the school was predicated on a demand for places. Such demand does not exist as the borough council’s own website indicates all other primary schools in the area have spare capacity, some with only one reception class.

“If the Heights is cash-strapped, it should close a class, downsize the number of teachers, reduce the vast catchment area and make the school financially viable with the current intake.”

He claims that existing issues with the school had not been rectified, including light pollution from recreation ground lights installed incorrectly.

Mr Brommell says: “There has been no serious effort to control the noise from the school even with the offer of assistance from the community. There have been issues with traffic and pedestrian safety during school drop-off times.

“Parking in the car park is uncontrolled and parents have ignored their commitment to walk their children to school. Some parents park up to an hour before school finishing time with their engines running. School visitors also use the car park despite promises this wouldn’t happen.

“There is no shortage of primary school places north of the river. Increasing the size of this school will damage other schools, some that are down in numbers.

“Micklands and Caversham primary didn’t receive promised funding due to the Heights and this proposal will wrongfully increase financial pressure on other schools.

“The school may be beneficial for parents of young children but residents living near to the school and users of the playing fields, pavilion and tennis club are already negatively impacted by the school.

“The Heights should never have been built in its current location according to planning guidelines which stipulate at least 30m between the school and residential boundaries. Adding students will only increase the noise and parking issues and be detrimental to traffic safety.”

Warren and District Residents’ Association has officially objected, saying there was no evidence to suggest an increase in primary school places in the area was required.

It says: “Caversham had over 90 empty primary school places in 2023. Increasing numbers at the Heights would only have a negative impact on other schools north of the river. The siting of the school at Mapledurham playing fields has resulted in a number of serious issues that have not been rectified, nor does it appear that the school is serious about engaging with parents or the community.

“Since the school has been open, residents and our members have suffered intolerable noise from the school and its holiday club, five days a week, from early morning to 6pm. The noise continues and residents continue to suffer — more children would just mean more noise.

“There have been numerous issues with pedestrian and traffic safety during school drop-off and pick-up times. The pavements are crowded and when walking in the opposite direction, people have to step out into the road. The crossing randomly means that cars are constantly starting and stopping.

“Parents and the school had promised that parents would walk their children to and from school but this is clearly not evident even with most of the children living within easy walking distance.

“Another 70 students would likely come from outside the catchment, resulting in even more parents using their cars to and from school.”

Gail Ray, headteacher of Caversham Park Primary School in Queensway, said other schools were struggling to fill spaces and the approval of the Heights’ application would impact upon her school even more due to its location.

She says the Heights was opened despite her and fellow teachers’ concerns about the lack of need for another primary school due to a projected fall in pupil numbers in north Reading.

Ms Ray adds: “Despite our concerns, it still went ahead and here we are, as we expected, all suffering as a result in terms of pupil numbers.

“It goes without saying that falling pupil numbers has a serious impact on school budgets and we are in an extremely difficult financial position as a result. I am seriously worried about the future of our school if there are even fewer children in the Caversham area due to the expansion of the Heights.”

She also complains that the application had been submitted during the school holidays so could go unnoticed, adding that this seemed “very underhand”.