I would like to find evidence that Wokingham Borough Council held discussions/meetings with Bracknell Forest Council and Edgbarrow School to give due consideration to the school taking a larger Admission number for entry into the school in September 2023, given the context of the high birth rate year in 2011 and the lack of places now available at the school for 27 children living in the designated catchment area (approximately one additional class). Those not securing places this year are from the Wokingham Council end of Crowthorne and have not typically been allocated placed in Wokingham Borough either.

1. What evidence is there that Wokingham Borough Council has been appropriately planning for secondary school place demand in the borough in the last ten years, and in particular in this area that falls between the two councils jurisdiction in this area?
Wokingham’s most recent secondary strategy was determined on 7th March 2022, and can be read here: https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=129&MId=4194.

Earlier documents can be found here:
https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=12317&optionId=0
https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=129&MeetingId=297&DF=28%2f03%2f2013&Ver=2

In addition the Council’s core strategy recognised the need for new secondary school provision associated with new housing developments. This can be read here: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning-policy/planning-policy-information/local-plan-and-planning-policies/
(see section 2.6 in the strategy document adopted in January 2010).

Please note that Wokingham Without does not “fall between two areas”; statutory education duties are solely held by Wokingham Borough Council.

2. Did Wokingham Borough Council sufficiently challenge Bracknell Forest and Edgbarrow on the matter of taking additional students in September 2023 to meet the high demand this year?
No meetings took place nor was correspondence sent prior to national offer day 2023. This council has though met both Corvus Trust and Bracknell Forest officers since that date.

3. I would like to know what reasons led to the decision not to allow a 240 intake for September 2023 when Edgbarrow is known to take a higher intake some years.
Edgbarrow School is an Academy, part of the Corvus Trust. The Academy Trust is responsible for setting admission numbers.

4. I would also like to know how many new houses have been built within the Edgbarrow catchment (the Wokingham part of the catchment) in the last 7-10 years thereby increasing demand on places - a service that seems not to have grown adequately in conjunction with the increased demand for places.
The Council does not keep new home completion data in a manner that can be searched by school designated area. However, 139 homes have been recorded as having been completed in the Wokingham Without Area, including 116 homes delivered by Bewley Homes at their scheme at ‘Land West Of Old Wokingham Road Pinewood Wokingham’ in the period 2012 to 2022.