Families with children needing Wokingham Borough primary school places could benefit from planned expansions to three primary schools from September 2012.

Places would increase at Colleton Primary School in Twyford (from 35 to 60 places per year), Winnersh Primary School (from 60 to 90 places) and Hawkedon Primary School in Lower Earley (from 70 to 90 places) under proposals by the borough council. These expansions are needed to give every child needing a place the best possible opportunity to attend a school near their homes.

Without additional places it is likely that some families would not receive school place offers because of an increased birth rate across the borough leading to a rise in demand for places.

Architects and traffic experts are working with head teachers and governors to complete feasibility studies for the expansion of the schools and to minimise impact on the community neighbouring each school site. 

Meetings are being arranged with the parents of existing pupils and school neighbours to discuss any concerns they may have about the plans and identify possible solutions. Formal opportunities to comment on the proposals will come through the planning process and through consultation on future admissions arrangements. These statutory processes are planned to occur between late December 2011 and March 2012. 

Cllr Rob Stanton, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for education services, said: "This is very good news for the communities of Twyford, Winnersh and Earley. Every child should have the opportunity to attend a local school and these proposals mean that more children will be educated close to home. I understand the concerns some residents will have, particularly around school-run traffic, and know that schools, officers and consultants are looking at all the ways they can minimise these and be good neighbours."