A 'POPULAR' primary school could relocate to a new site in Arborfield as councillors have tabled the idea.

Wokingham Borough Council has been looking at what to do with the new school building being built in the Arborfield Garrison major development.

It has announced the preferred option is for Farley Hill Primary School to expand into the brand-new building, in order to accommodate more students and reduce carbon emissions produced by the school run.

Although informal discussions have been had between the council and stakeholders, formal talks are yet to be had.

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The new school site, in the Arborfield Garrison development, is expected to be ready to open by September 2021.

A decision on how it will be managed is yet to be made.

The council say the current favourite option, being Farley Hill school moving in, is due to the 'popular' school already being over-subscribed.

Both the council and the Department for Education has already stated that Farley Hill Primary School meets the requirements necessary for this move, as it is a small local school holding only 210 places, and that it already provides education in the Arborfield Garrison area.

The proposal is that the school is to relocate to the new premises with the potential for even more expansion in future, in order to accommodate more spaces.

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Councillor UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, said; “We have a duty to ensure there are sufficient school places across the whole of the Wokingham Borough.

"When additional places are needed we can provide them by expanding existing schools.

"Our preferred approach is to expand Farley Hill Primary School as this would help meet the needs of the growing community in Arborfield.

"Opening a school on the Garrison will undoubtedly be popular with local families. These proposals would help minimise traffic congestion and carbon impacts of residents driving their children to school.

"We believe it will ensure a popular, Ofsted ‘good’ school could expand in line with parental preferences. But we must consult on our preferred approach first."