Windsor and Maidenhead schools expansion plans revealed

Unless schools are expanded some children may be left without a place next year, the council warned

Four schools are set to be expanded in Berkshire to provide 15 extra primary school places per year group.

The plans, to cope with a rising birth rate, have been finalised following a public consultation.

A total of 30 extra places are set to be created at two schools in Maidenhead, 15 at a school in Windsor and 15 at a school in Wraysbury.

Planning applications will be drawn up in the spring while building work could start during the summer holidays.

A proposed expansion of Datchet St Mary's C of E Primary will not go ahead due to poor community support and the fact the bigger site would have meant finding new playing fields for the school elsewhere, the council said.

'Ready for September'

But the four schools which will see an extra 15 pupils per year group are St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary and Holyport C of E Primary in Maidenhead, Oakfield First in Windsor and Wraysbury Primary.

It comes as the council predicts there will be 300 more children of reception class age in the area in 2013 compared with 2006.

Councillor Eileen Quick, member for children's services at Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "We have had very constructive comments from the four schools involved.

"We also listened to people in Datchet who told us that, for very good reasons, an expansion would not be welcome, so we have decided not to go ahead.

"The growing need for additional first and primary school places in local schools for local children means we must move quickly to ensure the plans are in place for the start of the new academic year in September."