• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Reading men charged with robbery and weapons offences

    Man jailed after dangerous driving incident in Reading

    Impact on School Transport raised over new licensing policy amid £870k overspend

    Kerbside glass recycling finally set to be introduced in Reading next year

    Proposal to create Greater Reading that would absorb suburban villages debated

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Reading Football Club

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Reading Football Club

    Caversham woman charged in connection with robbery and kidnap incident

    Me2Club urgently appeals for support to continue

    Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    Reading FC confirm new signing as midfielder joins on permanent deal

    Former Reading FC loanee joins rivals

    Reading FC sign German attacker on permanent deal

    Reading and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon set for Q&A at Purple Turtle

    Ex-Reading star Ejaria on trial with former Royals manager

    League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    Reading FC opinion: Where are the goals coming from this season?

    Reading FC midfielder Knibbs linked with Championship move

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Area Caversham

Concerns over plan to increase number of pupils at a primary school in Caversham

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 7:38 am
in Caversham, Featured
A A
The Heights Primary School which has been built on Mapledurham Playing Fields and was opened in September 2021 - the school had been operating from temporary facilities until that point. Picture: Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Heights Primary School which has been built on Mapledurham Playing Fields and was opened in September 2021 - the school had been operating from temporary facilities until that point. Picture: Local Democracy Reporting Service

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A SCHOOL that opened nearly 10 years ago on a temporary site in Caversham has launched a proposal to expand its pupil roll despite opposition from neighbours.

The Caversham Heights Primary launched in temporary buildings, before moving to a site built on the Mapledurham Playing Fields in August 2021.

The extension would enable it to take on more pupils – up to 450 from 350 – but neighbours say it will lead to noise disturbance, light pollution and heavier traffic.

If approved by Reading Borough Council, class sizes would go to 30 per pupils, up from the current 25. There would be two classes per year.

The expansion plan has been opposed by the Warren and District Residents Association (WADRA) due to complaints about ‘intolerable noise’ coming from the school, light pollution from its multi-use games area (MUGA) and traffic at the playing fields car park.

In an official objection to the plan, Elisa Miles, the group’s chair, said: “WADRA strongly object to the expansion of school places at The Heights, as there is no need for an increased number of places in our area, the negative impact on the traffic infrastructure and safety, Mapledurham Playing Fields users, increased noise pollution, continuing light pollution and the potential for a negative impact on other schools in the area.”

Related posts

47-year-old woman arrested after two pedestrians die in road traffic collision in Caversham

Boy, 15, left with broken jaw after being attacked by three teenagers in Reading

Police release CCTV of man in relation to assault in Reading

Man and woman jailed for GBH, fraud and robbery in Reading, including assault on a man in his 80s

WADRA members have argued that their concerns should be addressed before The Heights is allowed to expand.

It has also stated that there were more than 90 empty primary school places in Caversham in 2023 – therefore the expansion is unnecessary.

Karen Edwards, the headteacher of the school, said no new buildings are needed as the existing site was designed to accommodate 420 pupils.

On the need for school places, Mrs Edwards said: “It’s important to look at Caversham not just as a whole, but as different parts.

“In our area of northwest Caversham we have waiting lists for two classes and year groups.

“We are not looking to expand our catchment area, we’re looking to be able to provide places for those families who are in catchment to be able to get into a local school.”

She added that the school was ‘directed’ by the Department of Education to seek to increase its pupil numbers and has its full support.

WADRA also argued that neighbours have ‘suffered intolerable noise’ from the school and its holiday club each weekday from the morning until 6pm.

In response, Mrs Edwards said the school has considered installing an acoustic fence, it requires the consent of neighbours to establish.

In the meantime, The Heights has planted bamboo along its boundary to provide noise damping.

Addressing complaints about light coming from the MUGA, Mrs Edwards said: “We have the blinds down for the windows so there’s less glare which has been accepted by residents.

“The lights have been angled lower and cowling was installed in Spring this year.”

Concerns were also raised about the car park for Mapledurham Playing Fields being filled at school drop-off and pick-up times.

To that, Mrs Edwards said: “The vast majority of children and parents walk, cycle or scoot to school.

“Some do need to drive as pupils or parents have disabilities.”

She added that The Heights won a gold rating by Modeshift Stars, which reviews travel plans, with the school being named its Local Authority Primary School of the Year in 2022/23.

Mrs Edwards said: “We are committed to sustainable travel.”

Safety concerns over the pedestrian route into the playing fields were raised last year, as only the right-hand side of the entranceway is paved.

Mrs Edwards replied that discussions are being undertaken to extend the paving on the left-hand side to provide a second passing crossing point for pedestrians.

The expansion must be decided on by the council.

You can view and comment on the expansion plan by typing reference 231023 into the council’s planning portal.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: rdgrdg newsrdgukRdguk borough newsreadingreading berkshirereading news
Previous Post

Reading to gain fourth Aldi supermarket and it should open before the end of the year

Next Post

John Sykes Foundation helps addiction recovery charity Hope & Vision Communities provide training for staff as it rapidly expands its work

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll joins new club in England after leaving France

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Masked men armed with weapons rob store in Reading

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC forward given ultimatum over future at the club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.