Work underway to secure the right number of school places in Windsor and Datchet

Work is underway to try to meet demand for Windsor, Datchet and Wraysbury schools while reducing financially harmful surplus.

The Borough is looking to reduce the number of projected surplus places in Windsor first and middle schools.

Schools having high numbers of empty places ‘potentially threaten[s] their long-term financial viability,’ stated an officer report presented to cabinet on Wednesday.

There have been some initial discussions around the potential for temporary reductions in Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at Windsor schools. These will allow schools to reduce their intake.

The target for surplus places is five per cent. This would mean reducing the number of Windsor Reception places by at least 30 by September 2025 and 60 by September 2026.

Windsor Year 5 places could be reduced by at least 30 in September 2025, and 60 by September 2026.

The number of first schools that could have their PAN reduced is ‘relatively small,’ as schools ‘could not be reduced below 30 places per year group.’

To date, no school aside from King’s Court First School has agreed to a reduction.

The report ‘recommends restarting these discussions, with the aim of agreeing temporary reductions for September 2025.’

Cabinet also agreed that officers should work with Alexander First School and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on plans to rethink education on the Broom Farm Estate in Windsor.

Longer term, Alexander First School has been working with the MoD on a scheme that will consider the regeneration of the Broom Farm Estate.

“Regeneration could potentially see a significant increase in the number of dwellings on the site, the majority of which would be family housing,” notes the officer report.

“This would also provide an opportunity to rethink the education and community provision within the estate.”

A rebuilt and possibly expanded school could include, for example, boarding provision to better serve families where the parents are deployed elsewhere for a period.

For Datchet and Wraysbury, officers requested a vote in favour of investigation into expanding Churchmead secondary school.

It is full at Year 7 intake and has a waiting list in several year groups.

The 2023 Year 7 was oversubscribed and the school wants to explore expansion to up 150 places per year group.

There is, however, continued demand from Slough and Buckinghamshire – Churchmead’s designated area covers part of Slough and Bucks, and the school serves 10 out-borough feeder schools.

The recent opening of a sixth form at the school ‘seems likely to further encourage local residents to attend’, adding more pressure.

Discussions with Slough Borough Council and Buckinghamshire are underway to establish likely future demand from those areas.

In addition, the cabinet voted to support discussions around a potential bulge class at Datchet St Mary’s CE Primary School for September 2025.

This is where a school takes an additional class in one year group, to meet a temporary increase in demand. Discussions with the school about a bulge class have now started.

A final decision can be taken together with the school in early 2025 as applications for Reception places are made.

Cabinet member for education Amy Tisi said at the cabinet meeting that there will need to be some ‘creative work’ to place children to avoid surplus places in various areas.

Changes are also being made to make sure local pupils get their choices of school, avoiding taking on too many pupils from outside the Borough.

Cabinet also heard that the possibility of changing Windsor from a three-tier system (with middle schools) to a two-tier one would be ‘extortionately expensive’ - tens of millions of pounds.

Therefore, there are no plans to go forward with it.