Members had a heated exchange after a report into the impact of free schools in the town was requested by Cllr Rob White at Tuesday’s full council meeting to determine their success.

But despite a clear divide in opinion on whether parent-led sponsorship is the way forward, Reading Borough Council’s education leader was quick to point out that without them school place pressures would be even worse.

Cllr John Ennis said: “Our project includes two free schools and without the inclusion of those two free schools we would not be fulfilling our promise to get children in Reading into a “Good” or “Outstanding” school — we had no choice.”

Earlier that day a report from the House of Commons Education Committee found that there was little evidence to suggest academies and free schools had made any marked difference since their arrival.

Cllr Rob White said: “In September 2011, the first free school in Reading opened so now would be a good time to look at the impact of that and the associated problems. Four or five free schools which opened nationally in 2014 failed to fill their spaces, this shows that the money being directed at them is not going to places that need it.”

Currently, All Saints Junior School, in west Reading, and The Heights, in Caversham, are the borough’s only free schools. Using the latter as an example, Cllr Richard Davies spoke of his views on the matter.

He said: “No one knows about the troubles more than they do [Caversham residents] with the disapprobation they have got for taking away playing fields and the vicious division of their community. And that is in an area where there are many people with the education, time and expertise to do so.

“How can a community that does not have that level of education, spare time and affluence be expected to start up their own school?”

Despite Conservative opposition, the motion to request a report into the impact of free schools was approved with a minor amendment put forward by Cllr Ennis.

The results, with officers’ recommendations, will be revealed later in the year.