Headteacher defends school’s expansion plan

THE headteacher of a primary school has hit back at criticism of its plans to expand.

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 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.

Headteacher Karen Edwards has defended the school’s application made to Reading Borough Council in July.

She said it was the only primary in Caversham Heights, adding: “One of our pupils’ families was offered a school which is a 45-minute walk away, therefore pupils in our area should have access to the school.”

Despite other schools in Caversham not having full rolls, her school had waiting lists for all its year groups with families who live in its catchment area. “This has proved to us there is a need for the additional 70 places in our school,” said Mrs Edwards. “The growth would not be an overnight increase of 70 pupils.

“Instead, we would grow organically, when the demand is there, which would create more of a gradual increase.”

Mrs Edwards also countered comments by Gail Ray, headteacher of Caversham Park Primary School in Queensway, who said that if the Heights took more children it would impact her school, which was already suffering.

Ms Ray said: “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 complained that the application had been submitted during the school holidays so could go unnoticed, adding that this seemed “very underhand”.

Mrs Edwards said: “I refute the idea that funding has been withheld from other schools in the area due to our application. Schools receive funding per pupil and it is not interdependent on other schools at all.

“When I met with the Department for Education, they advised us to increase our numbers. Earlier in the year I spoke to majority of the local headteachers, explaining our plans to expand numbers, which was met with a general understanding.

“Our application is for our pupil admission numbers to be increased to 30, which would bring us in line with other local and national state primary schools.

“Our staffing would not need to increase as currently we have the correct number of staff to facilitate 30 pupils per class, which is one main teacher per class and an average of one assistant teacher.”

She also hit back at claims by Martin Brommell, of Hewett Avenue, that residents’ issues with the school had not been rectified, including light pollution from recreation ground lights installed incorrectly.

He said: “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.”

Mrs Edwards said that all the Heights’ pupils lived in the catchment area and about 86 per cent either walked, cycled or scooted to and from school.

The school was the only one in Reading to be granted the Modeshift Stars gold award, which is given to schools which have excelled in promoting sustainable travel, and achieved a notable reduction in car use by parents taking the children to and from school.

The headteacher said: “Myself and senior members of staff endeavour to be outside every morning and afternoon meeting and greeting children and parents and to monitor the number of cars being driven to school and try to ensure that parents remain committed to our travel plan which promotes sustainable travel.

“There are some pupils and parents who have hidden or visible disabilities who need to come to school by car.

“Concerning light and noise pollution, we try to take on community comments to make sure we limit the impact on residents, whether it is solutions like frosting our second-floor windows for residents’ privacy, or positioning PE classes on different parts of the playing field. We try to take all feedback on board.”

Mrs Edwards added :“The reason that our planning application was submitted in the summer holidays was because our planning consultant had to wait for the noise and transport assessments to be completed.

“It is merely coincidental that the plans were ready at that time, not intentional.

“All teachers are worried about the future of free schools and hopefully we can all work professionally to allow children their right to education.

“We are committed to working with members of our local community to integrate positively into our local area.”