Cash boost for Woodley school finally gets green light
Published 3 Dec 2011 09:30
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PARENTS, staff and colleagues erupted into cheers and applause when the council finally approved the injection of a seven-figure cash boost into a Woodley school.
Wokingham Borough Council's executive committee voted in favour of investing £6 million into Bulmershe School last Thursday [24] - eight months after The Chronicle exclusively revealed the news.
Wokingham's education leader, Cllr Rob Stanton, said: "It became clear after the admissions review this year that Maiden Erlegh was over-subscribed and we needed to provide residents with a quality alternative in the area.
"This is a very exciting adventure for us. Some of the buildings in the school have not been improved since 1964 and the creation of a 21st century environment is our aim.
"These people are worth investing in."
A decision was originally expected in June, but this was put on ice because the business case - put together by the school - needed more work.
Leader of community development, Cllr Matt Deegan, added: "I fully support this long-overdue investment.
"I think it is fundamental that the Woodley and Earley areas work together to improve.
"Bulmershe has had a reputation of being old and tired and residents in my ward are now looking at it for the first time.
"I hope we will be able to sell the school in a way that we haven't been able to in the last 15-20 years."
The cash will be used to replace temporary classrooms with a new teaching block at the Chequers Way school, and build a new post-16 learning centre, a library, an information centre and a dining area.
Speaking after councillors unanimously approved the funding, headteacher Peter Lewis added: "We are delighted about the local authority's commitment to the school, young people and the community they serve.
"We look forward to working with the council in this joint project to utilise the funding, so that people have real value and confidence in the school and we look forward to to being the first choice for families."
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