School could welcome girls from next year

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today

A WINNERSH school has launched a consultation as to whether it should go co-educational.

The Forest School in Robin Hood Lane has been a boys’ school for many years, but its ruling academy trustees are currently gauging opinions as to whether it should welcome girls as well.

If approved, the school’s Year 7 intake will be co-educational from September 2024. The process to becoming fully co-ed will therefore take seven years.

Consultation documents released by the school say the proposals are based on four factors: addressing surplus capacity at the school, addressing a shortage of places for secondary education across the borough, a desire to continue improving its educational standards, and the school’s commitment to preparing all pupils to thrive in the modern workplace and world.

On a lack of secondary places, the documents note that only the Forest has a surplus of places for the school year starting in September, especially for girls. Department for Education guidelines currently prevent the school from accepting female pupils.

On national offer day earlier this year, the day when Year 6 pupils find out which school they have been offered a place at, there were 57 girls without a place. The Forest School, on the other hand, is taking 133 boys, but has the potential to take an additional 77 pupils.

The documents note: “The Forest School can help meet the future shortfall if it moves to coeducational provision and will also reduce pressure on other nonselective secondary schools in Wokingham Borough. This will help ensure enough local school places for students.”

Alison Lovland, the chair of trustees, says in the document that no decision, other than to consult, has been made at this stage.

If the decision is approved, the school will then submit a business case to the regional schools commissioner.

To help parents decide, the school is holding a drop-in information session from 4.30pm to 6pm on Monday, June 19.

A consultation form is available on the school’s website. This can also be printed and then sent back to the school.

The consultation will close at midnight on Friday, June 30. n www.forest.wokingham.sch.uk

Driver arrested after town centre bench destroyed

A DRIVER has been arrested, and a bench destroyed in an incident in Wokingham town centre.

It happened in the afternoon of Thursday, May 25, on Market Place heading towards Denmark Street.

The vehicle came off the road and smashed into one of the benches installed outside the visitor information centre part of the town hall.

Emergency services were called out and paramedics treated the driver’s injuries.

The bench, which was made of wood, has been removed.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “A 76-yearold man from Wokingham has

Repair cafe

THIS month’s Spencers Wood repair cafe will take place on Sunday.

Residents can bring broken household items to be fixed by the group’s able team of volunteers at Spencers Wood Village Hall, Basingstoke Road.

Organiser Billie Bachra said: “We are looking forward to getting together again to see what we can do to fix any broken items you may have.

“Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday - enjoy our cafe and bookstore while you wait.” n For more information, search Spencers Wood Village Hall on www.facebook.com

The repair cafe takes place between 10am-1pm.

Tennis tasters

A TENNIS club will hold an open day for people of all ages to try out the game.

Sonning Lawn Tennis Club invites players of all abilities and all ages to try out its free coaching taster sessions. Racquets will be made available for all ages on the day.

Players are asked to wear trainers to the event which takes place on King George’s Field, Sonning on Sunday.

The open day runs from 11am to 3pm, with coaching taster sessions available from noon to 2pm.

n For more information visit: www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/ SonningLawnTennisClub